Be Impeccable With Your Word

The good thing about this blogging idea, is not only does it provide me an opportunity to just chatter on about anything, it also allows me an avenue to vent my frustrations. I haven’t been very frustrated lately. But, the other day, I was.

 

I know someone who has a heart as big as Texas. She would do anything for you if you are lucky enough to be her friend. She has done many things for me and been a major blessing in my life. But, as we all have, she has a weak spot. The unfortunate thing, that weak spot is one that is a particularly sensitive issue for me, and one that has come up in our relationship before.

 

We had a plan to meet for dinner after work. I waited, and I waited. An hour later, I tried to call her and received no response. I was, by this time, very hungry, and had only planned about an hour’s time for dinner and had many other things I needed to do that night. I had made commitments to others that were now going to need to be pushed off. When I finally did hear from her, her reason didn’t hold much water. Her handling of the situation was poor. I would have been mollified by a brief call explaining her delay, which would have allowed me to determine my next steps (like eat at home, or cancel dinner for another time, or let the other people I had made commitments to know of my new schedule.) And, really, we had made plans, so I felt totally disrespected as a person. We did go to dinner, two hours later than planned. But, it wasn’t much fun.

 

Fortunately, I was able to tell her why I was upset. She, in turn, listened. I still love my wonderful friend and the band-aid came off the same day.

 

It does once again remind me that the choices we make wield influence far outside of the confines of our own lives. One simple act affected her, me, and the lives of the people I had other commitments to (including my call with the kids). Having been on the opposite end of situations like this on occasion in the past, it became an ongoing area of personal development for me. Being impeccable with my word for me means no matter what choices I make (like staying up until 4 am on the phone when I have a kid to pick up at the airport at 8 am), nothing negates my responsibility to do what I say I’m going to do. This agreement is a constant reminder to me that acting honorably and with integrity in all facets of my life will be the greatest living lesson I can provide the children and will be the source of my success and ultimate happiness in life.

 

Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do.

~ Don Galer

 Published on: Jun 28, 2006