Ponderings: On Promise
My Inspiration
In 2014, Jo_Goldsmith11 took it upon herself to initiate the Light2Love Project Good Words.
Jo pledged to use good words and publish articles used to empower, encourage, support and defend those who need to be shown love.
Jo offered us a good word for each week to focus our thoughts, behaviors and actions on...In the 21st week, Jo wrote her perspective on the word promise.
However, as 2014 came to an end, Jo filed away her Good Word articles - as she begins the process of publishing it in e-book'. Shyron E. Shenko continues to write a beautiful poem to accompany each Good Word to inspire and lead us.
Please join me with some of my musical thoughts and reflections on the word promise...
Tomorrow has not been PROMISED, so today I want all my family and friends to know how thankful I am for each and every one of you and how blessed I feel that you are all a part of my life...
— AnonymousI can hear my parents drumming these core principles in my head throughout my childhood:
- Don't make promises you can't keep.
- Your word is your honor.
- Actions speak louder than words.
"Keep in touch. Let's do lunch. Call me soon, we need to catch up..."
I went through a time in my twenties when I sounded like a note from a high school year book. I hated the thought of saying 'no' or making anyone unhappy with my response, if you can imagine...LOL.
Naked Eyes: Promises, Promises
Dionne Warwick: Promises Promises
Thank heavens for age and the perspective gained through life experiences. For I haven't had the inclination to make an empty promise in a very long time.
There are those family and friends in my world (real or virtual) that I would stop anything I was doing and make time for... and you all know who you are.
When I am working, my clients or students come first.
With clients, I learned early on never to make a promise I couldn't keep. People depend on their nurses and our word matters. This came easily to me - as my parents instilled the values of honor, honesty and integrity in their children.
- Don't make promises you can't keep.
- Your word is your honor.
- Actions speak louder than words.
N-Sync: This I Promise You
With students, keeping my promise as evidenced by returned phone calls, helping with problems, giving constructive feedback on work and performance - all in a timely manner.
- Don't make promises you can't keep.
- Your word is your honor.
- Actions speak louder than words.
Shyron E. Shenko
The Promise of
One of the things I enjoy best about HubPages is meeting friends through friends.
Through following Jo's Good Words Project this year, I also had the pleasure of becoming friends with Shyron E. Shenko - who promised to write a poem for every one of the good words.
At last check, Shyron had written on the 36th Good Word of Reflection,
Now is the time we must reflect
On all the good words
To keep them up to date
Shyron's words seemed a fitting way for me to wrap up my Musical Challenge to the Good Words Project. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive through this project...
I promise to follow along with the Good Words Project - as Shyron writes the rest of her poems and Jo gathers the articles for publishing an e-book.
Wishing everyone in HubVille a merry, healthy and peaceful Christmas. Hugs, Maria
© Maria Jordan (December, 2014)
Comments
- Author
Thanks for stopping by, dear Shyron - you are a blessing to me. Love, Maria
Maria my beautiful friend, I thought I would share this again, especially today as tomorrow is not promised. I hope you life is filled with wonderful thing and that you are enjoying them all.
Blessings and hugs to you dear friend.
- Author
So lovely to see you, dear Audrey~ thanks for your insights.
"Promise" is so filled with hope--and thought they may be broken from time to time, the hope in them is wonderful
- Author
So great to see that you are continuing your inspiring collaborative efforts with Jo in Project Good Thoughts.
Thanks for the invitation - which will be lovely to consider when my teaching schedule lightens up at some point. Love and hugs, Maria
Maria, I miss you my beautiful friend and I think of you often. I love your new profile picture.
Jo Goldsmith has started a new project and you are invited to join the fun in Project Good Thoughts.
Blessings and give yourself a hug from me.
- Author
Dear torrilynn,
I 'promise' I try to get to my responses quicker than this - thanks so much for stopping by and delightful to meet you...
Wishing you a lovely week as well!
Beautiful words. Very thorough and though out. I thank you for this hub for providing inspiration and creativity to myself and other hubbers. Voted up. Best of wishes.
- Author
Thanks for the visit and the insightful comment, Leptirela - so lovely to meet you!
Positive and inspiring :)
Promises, something you don't declare until you are at least halfway there, if that makes sense.
Beautiful hub, I must flip through others too that you have written.
- Author
Shyron, I'll always love music and my belief in the good words that Jo has reminded us of this past year...never to worry about that and I am very well, dear and sweet friend. I greatly appreciate your visit.
Vellur, Your comment is wise and I totally agree with you - so lovely to see you and wishing you a peaceful and fulfilling new year.
We must never make promises that we cannot keep, this will only affect us in bad way. From what I have observed, nowadays people do not believe in keeping up promises. A great article and enjoyed reading.
Maria, Maria my beautiful friend I don’t want to see you musical challenge end, but on a musical note, I hope you are well and happy.
Love Shyron.
- Author
Thank you, sweet Genna. Your support of this series has been wonderful.
Happy and peaceful new year to you as well. Love you too, Maria
“Promise” is such a beautiful word. “Your word is your honor.” You have honored us with this inspirational series, and by being you, dear Maria. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friend. Love and hugs…Genna.
- Author
Merry Christmas Eve to all,
"But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep" -- Peg, the wisdom in your comment reminds me of my Mom. Thank you for your ongoing friendship and support this year.
Theresa, I'm also looking forward to what the new year brings. I have often thought that our parents, yours included...look on us with such love and pride - guiding our pens with our written word.
Mary, Your friendship is a blessing to me as well. I love that we have so many of the same wonderful, traditional values of our parents. Thanks for your support and votes too.
Shyron, You have shared a powerful story and a beautiful song...thank you for your shares, votes and mostly your insights.
Sunshine, This is why I love ya! I couldn't agree with you more...
BlossomSB, I love your comment...I had my moments of 'pretending not to hear' as well. Thanks for stopping by.
Alicia, It's been wonderful writing this project because of supportive readers like you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas as well.
Peaceful night to all. Love and hugs, Maria
Thank you for stressing the importance of promises that can be kept, Maria. I've enjoyed reading your Project Good Words series very much. I hope you have a very happy Christmas.
Our parents certainly had some good things to teach us - when we would listen, but somehow, even when we pretended not to hear, it rubbed off on us anyway. I also remember: 'Is this a promise or a threat?' Thank you for your interesting hub.
Promises...if you can not keep them, do not make them, it's that simple. The older I get the more intolerant I have become to broken promises. Just give me a yes or no. See how simple that is :)
Live Today Because Tomorrow Is Not Promised! ___ by Richard Tosh
One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say"I love you."
So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage ... And old cars ... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep --- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.
Life is important, like people we know who are special ... And so, we keep them close!
I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way ... Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life, including the person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?
I was thinking ... I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.
Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do. And just in case I'm gone tomorrow . . . I LOVE YA!!!
Live today because tomorrow is not promised.
And my song choice for this one is "Surround Me With Love" by one of my favorite singers Charly McClain.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-sNgAXdoec
Voted up, UABI and shared
Blessings and hugs dear friend.
Looks like everyone said all the good things you deserve dear friend. Your writing is always a pleasure to read and your friendship a true blessing.
I think your parents and mine went to school together...I heard the same things! What a wonderful generation is leaving us, but hopefully, they've left us with their values that we have passed on to our children, and so it will continue.
This has been a great series and a joy to hubville.
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
Dear Maria,
Your love of music has resonated in our hearts here, coupled with your beautiful insights into each good word in this series. You have shared of yourself here and blessed so many in doing so.
I am looking forward to see what the New Year brings to all.
Peg left one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite poems of Robert Frost, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".
Your wonderful parents, I just know, are smiling down on their most beautiful daughter, you. Promise is one of those heavy-duty words one should never take lightly and as this year is winding down, we should all be mindful of the power of keeping a promise.
Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing
Hugs, peace and love,
Theresa
"Promises, promises"...my old Dad used to say all the time. "Promise her anything but give her Arpege". A handshake promise was as good as a contract in the old days. I love that you strive not to make promises you can't keep or even worse, never intend to keep. You are a person of your word and that means so much to those with whom you come in contact. This word is a good ending to a great series.
"But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep" from one of my favorite poems. Love to you and yours. Merry Christmas, Maria.
- Author
Good afternoon, everyone,
Bill, Thanks for being the first to arrive and for such wonderful insights. Like, Sha, I couldn't agree with you more.
Sha, Thanks for your words of support and the gift of your friendship - they both mean the world.
Car51, Thanks for your faithful support over these years, quite a few come to think of it!
Paula, I can't get enough of you (x2) and thanks for always giving me a reason to smile with your sassy and wise ways. You are a keeper, Sista.
Ruby, I look forward to a wonderful new year with you too and seeing how you stretch your writing wings...thanks for your beautiful card which arrived today.
Jo, I'm happy to see you here today. I PROMISE it's never too late in HubVille - we are an evolving and adapting community, filled with many good hearted people, yourself included. Your Good Words Project has been one of the most inspirational initiatives this year and it's been a joy for me to have been involved with spreading the words.
Martie, Your visit and ideas for Jo are most welcome. I am looking forward to the projects you are working on as well - especially as I've had a sneak peep...great stuff in the making y'all, for now my lips are sealed (LOL)...!!
Paradise7, So great to see you...thanks for stopping by and wishing you a blessed holiday as well.
Mike, My parents had so much wisdom. In many ways you remind me of them with the guidance and support you give me and so many of us here in the HubVille community. I am hoping you will appreciate these song choices when you have some time.
Love, hugs and peace to you all this merry Monday, mar
Hello mar. Promise is such a big word. Your parentw were right giving you such strong and fundemental advice on who you wanted to be. I will listen to the music as soon as I get a chance. What a nice way to wrap up your musical challenge in the Project Good Words program.
Terrific!! Very inspiring, and I love your musical selections, especially "n Sync. I've been absent from Hub Pages for a while, so I missed Jo's good words. I'll have to go back and get them, and your good word music, too. Thank you, and happy holidays and a blessed New Year to you, also.
Another thought-provoking and musical respond to Jo's Good Words project. Bravo, Mar! I agree with Jo - you are one true classy lady.
The older I get, the less promises I make, because keeping them is a responsibility, and the latter is very much like a burden.
It would be wonderful if Jo republish her Good Words, or maybe wrap them all up in one hub with a link to an e-book that contains the 'meat'.
I look forward to your next project, Mar :)
Maria,
This is Jo. You are one true Classy Lady! :-) I thank you so much for being who you are! And this is truly a blessing! More than I sure deserve.
You have brought the Project Good Words so much more depth than just my thoughts. I am sorry to hear that this one is your last post. :(
As all your music helps to heal this old soul. As soon as I can pull myself together. I will be sure to get everything reposted up..if it's not too late to do so. I promise! Love, hugs and thank you so much. I am eternally grateful. xo
Mar, I've enjoyed all your musical challenge hubs. You have added so much to Jo's good words project. You've brought us beautiful music and words of comfort and encouragement. I feel blessed having you as a friend. 2015 is approaching and I'm looking forward to the new year. Thank you my friend....
Car 51......Hi honey. I didn't snub you on purpose....I swear. You weren't there when I jumped on to comment. Honest. I would never do that to you.
Now...Car 54? That's another thing altogether. We could never know WHERE the hell Car 54 was!!
Hello Maria....(Hi to you too, Sha & Bro).....Just the 4 of us here at the moment? Ahhhh, I love small get-togethers......
Maria.....I love all your hubs and always enjoy your choices in music...."Promise" is a tricky thing, if you ask me. However, you didn't ask me.....did you? No, I guess you didn't. Well, not this time, but you might have at another time when we spoke....or I could be confusing you with someone else......or you know, it may have been something I dreamt.
Anyway......where was I? Oh yes, "promises." Yeah, they get tricky the older you get. Hmmmm. wait. I was going to tell you why that is.
Look Maria....if I remember what it was I was going to explain to you about promises that can be a little tricky as you get older.......I'll drop you off an email..........Promise, hon!! Peace, Effer
Congratulations on the successful completion of your musical project! May the New Year of 2015 promise to be happy, healthy, and prosperous for YOU!
I love Bill's addition to the word 'promise', Mar.
You've done a wonderful job in this series. You bring us music, your experiences and observations, and your perspective. Sharing the love by passing the baton to fellow writers shows how loving and caring you are.
You're a friend for life. And that's a promise!
When I think of "promise" I think of the promise of things to come. Such a miraculous life it has been; such a miraculous life it will be. Life is good, my friend, but it is so much better sharing it with friends like you. Merry Christmas, sweet Maria.
love,
bill
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