Keeping a Promise

Dear Son,

I have been thinking a lot about why I'm doing this and what it may do to me. I feel that it is very important that I try to fulfill the promise I made to you. I told you more than once that I would always be there for you. Unfortunately, because of circumstance I can't be there physically. So in order to make good on this promise I'm doing this.

Oaths and promises are important son. Its trust that builds relationships, without trust there can be no relationship. I never meant to break that promise to you, in fact I did all that I could to fulfill it. This is the best I can do for now.

This is one of the biggest lessons that I think one can have in life. The weight of a promise. You see son, I have very little regrets in my life, but the ones I do have, are the times I could not make good on a promise. So the trick is to only promise when you mean it. This adds weight and conviction to a promise and makes you a trustworthy person. If for some reason you can't make good on a promise it is important not to make excuses. Excuses lead down a slippery slope. It takes away from ones personal responsibility, without personal responsibility there is no honor. So when you mess up, and you will mess up, don't make an excuse, just learn from it and become a better person. It sounds simple, but its not. Self honesty is by far one of the hardest things to foster. It is however one of the most rewarding.

One of the most important things to learn is to expect little from others, yet treat them as you would like to be treated. This fosters an attitude of compassion instead of resentment. People learn through example and if you live a life as an example of compassion and self honesty than not only will you be a happier person, some of those around you may catch on. Again little by little you can change the world.

If nothing else replace the words I promise with I will try, until you build a trend of the trying becoming the doing. Then say I promise when you are confident that you can fulfill it.

I grew up with a father that promised a lot and broke my heart over and over again. I never wanted to do that to you. I saw how easily your mother would make and break promises and it always upset me. I know she didn't do this to hurt you, I just don't think she had the lessons that I had from my father about what that does to a person. Its important to be able to trust someone. If you take this to heart, you will be that someone to many people.

Good night son.

Caleb Storms