I can remember agreeing to shovel snow one winter off the walkway of an old lady’s home down the street and then not wanting to do it because I was too tired and it was too cold out. My father wouldn’t hear of it, he made me put on my winter coat, get the shovel out of garage and go down the street to make good on my word.
At the end of the day, all we have is our word and it is the basis of our integrity. If I tell you something then I will follow through on it, which is how I conduct my life. I expect the same in return; if you tell me that you’re going to do something, I expect no less. I have no reason to think otherwise.
But if you renege or don’t follow through, then you become marked as an untrustworthy individual in my book; a person that will say anything regardless of whether you follow through or not. Oh sure, there are circumstances that may come up that would prevent follow-through, but if you regularly go back on your word, you lack integrity. It’s really that simple.
We have all experienced this type of behavior; someone says they will call you or will do something for you and you shake on it. Then, they never follow through on what they said they would do. I usually write these types of scumbags off; more often than not they don’t get a second chance.
Honestly, why tell someone that you’re going to do something when there is no intention to do so. Isn’t it just as easy to not promise or agree to it in the first place?
What’s even worse is when that person or their associate tries to twist it around when you call them on it. It’s either excuses or they become indignant, claim that you should have called them and reminded them or that somehow it was your responsibility to make the person follow through on their word!
That behavior is further evidence of the deterioration of the moral compass of some; saying whatever they think a person wants to hear and then reneging on what they said. These are the ones that go through life doing what they want to whoever they want thinking nothing of it. They’re wrong! Inevitably it will come back on them in a bad way through what most know as karma.
How about some personal responsibility? How about having the integrity to actually do what you tell people you’re going to do with out excuses. That’s what each and every person should be doing; using their word as their bond. I learned it when I was a child and I expect it from everyone I encounter; just as you should.
P.S.- In light of the turmoil in the financial markets, President Obama and Congress have not kept their word to the American people. They have not created jobs; they have not represented voters with integrity and focus on righting the economy; in short, the leadership in Washington D.C. has not done the job that they said they would do! Instead we have a dysfunctional government that has done nothing but blame each other and thrown the American people under the bus. Just look at your retirement account, taxes, over-regulation, and unemployment. Maybe it’s time to dump the incumbents!!
Dave Bossert- Commentary
Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.