Hello Hive learners and beyond. It is me again and before I dwell on the task at hand, I just want to apologize for my absence reasons will be in the coming post but I guess I am now well kit uo and ready to take back my role of writing great content in the community.
Speaking of great content, this is my entering the week's prompt from the hive-learners community which is made on promises.
In this post, I will be answering 3 major questions;
- have I ever broken a promise?
- has someone ever broken a promise they made to me?
- Is there a valid reason to break a promise?
So let's dive into it, shall we?
"I no buy lambo, is that why you're shouting "
Why wouldn't she shout everywhere when you broke a promise 😂😂
We have all made promises one way or another be it small without weight or some that was quite significant. Some have also been made to you, for instance, that uncle who promised to send something but kept on ignoring your calls when the time reached. Even though at that spot, a promise was made with the best of intentions, they get broken leaving us with distrust and you then have to find a way around the whole situation so that you can survive.
Here is my own story of a promise I broke.
Although I am one to avoid making promises because I just want to build up that reputation that I am a man of my word, there are times where i just couldn't help it and eventhough I tried doing everything within my power, it just couldn't work out as planned.
So back when I was in school,I started a reading group, more like a review group that encourages reading amongst youths. It was a review group for all types; financially, spiritual, leadership and what not. The group was doing quite well and people had found a new hobby and eventhough I didn't directly make a promise to sustain the community, I did give hopes to an extent that we will build their reading habits. Along the line, I graduated, started classes online and the class fell within that fixed time for review. In asmuch as I tried working around it, I was too overwhelmed with everything especially maintaining the group.
I still go and drop books for them to read but that followup is no longer there to ensure that they are still doing so. This keeps on eating me up from the inside and I still have plans to go back but I don't want to start and stop again. I apologized and explained but I still feell like I have let down a group of intentional people.
When a Promise Was Broken to Me;
On the other side, i have also felt hurt on several occasions and I for one know the damage a broken proses can cause. Writing this post, I had alot of broken promises that came rushing to mind but the one I stood out and that is what I will be sharing.
This happened years back and it hurts till now because I still believed in black and white and I didn't know much back then. I guess I was around 9 or so when I was promised a bicycle for my birthday if I took the first 3 positions in class. That promise was enough ginger for me as I kept on reading and understanding everything. When the results came out, I was so excited to see that I came 3rd in class. Now, I had done my part and when it came to my parents time, they disappointed or let me say that they kept on posting me each year. It was really painfull that I didn't enjoy my birthday that year. Although there are others, but none comes close.
Looking back, I now understand why they broke the promise but i don't know why I still feel betrayed. maybe when next I see my mum, I will ask her for the bike lolz.
Is There Ever a Valid Reason to Break a Promise?
This is quite difficult to answer, because eventhough integrity means doing what you say, there is also the fact that life is unpredictable. Let's take marriage for instance, you found out that your spouse (male/female) is abusive (verbal or physical) after the vows and promises made at the alter w=or whereever, will you advise such person to remain in the relationship because that made a promise? Breaking that promise becomes necessry.
Yes, there can be a valid reasons to break a promise, but it comes with having a sense of responsibility be honest, communicate, and own up after trying everything within your power and even borrowing some. It’s not about disappearing or offering flimsy excuses.Just be transparent with the other parties. if my mum had come out clean back then, I don't think I would have felt hurt that much.
What I do to avoid going back on my words is that I don't make promises. If i am asked to do something, or help with something, I just say i will do my best. That way, I have not commited and it will reduce disappointment.
Also, to avoid being disappointed myself, I try to avod expecting. I assume the worst and set my mind on it. With this, if the plan doesn't fall through, I would had plan B , C, D to back me up.
Promises are sacred. Either big or small, they are what binds people, communities, and even a country. Breaking one may be understandable at times, but how we handle that breakage defines who we are.
If you’ve broken a promise, make it right. If a promise was broken to you, allow space for grief, but also for understanding. Life is messy, but grace can go a long way.
Thank you for reading through.
How do you handle a broken promise?
