Shock Value: Entry 80 "Promises"

Buenos Dias:

As usual, I hope you all had a great and eventful week. Make sure you are living while you are alive, because you won't have that chance when your gone. Today I want to talk about Promises.

A young lady once said to me, "Promises are made to be broken." I was puzzled. I guess I come from a different world or culture. I was taught promises were made to be kept and if it was broke that was like an ultimate no-no. Thus, I take the Dru Hill approach to them, "I never make a promise that I can't keep, that ain't me." To me, your word is extremely important. As I say, "your word is your bond, everything else it paperwork."

I strongly encourage you all not to make promises if you know you can't keep them. Especially to children. Now that I think on it, I was promised a lot of things as a child that never came to fruition. I guess the reason I never viewed it as a broken promise was because I saw it as a straight up lie. Not only do broken promises hurt and disappoint people of all ages, they can destroy relationships, friendships, marriages, and lives. As the old adage says, "say what you mean, and mean what you say." My own saying, "If there is any doubt, close your mouth, and don't let it out."

Just try your hardest to follow through on those things you say you are going to do. People can forgive you for not being able to complete something if you tried your best, but no one forgets a liar. It doesn't matter what profession you choose: teacher, police officer, preacher, or nun, once people label you as a liar you will always be one. Just do what you can and if you know you can't do it, don't waste your breath making promises that will break easier than fragile glass.

Enjoy your weekend and once again, keep the people in the Gulf in your prayers.

If you are attending Essence this weekend, be safe and

tell Janet to keep that titty to herself.

~Late'