“I promise to do my best , to do my duty to God and the Queen, to keep the law of the wolf cub pack and do a good deed for someone every day”!  Wow!  I took that pledge when I was about 8 years old.  My first promise or pledge I guess.  It was a vital step in becoming a cub scout.  I must admit I don’t seem to recall my duty to God and the Queen or the “pack law” though I am sure it was all honorable stuff.  As for the daily good deed, I don’t seem to recall keeping a journal of my efforts.  “Ya wanna be a cub”? “Take the pledge”!

 

Not too far down the road I did it again.  Being a happening little 12 year old Catholic, I took another pledge during my Confirmation.  Among other things I promised the bishop I wouldn’t drink any alcohol until I was 21.  I don’t have any idea where that came from only that it’s a distant memory.  Right!  I didn’t fair so well on that one either.

 

Your guess is as good as mine exactly when the “New Years Resolutions (promises)" came into my life.  Perhaps it was during my early teens, shortly after dad would blow “Charge!” on my next door neighbor’s trumpet to usher in the New Year.  Back then I presumed doing better at school or helping around the house would be my “priority“ resolutions.  It was fun to make resolutions; to have an answer ready for the question. What's your …………………?

 

I recall taking the Banana Gang Pledge (see site reference if you want) and pwomising to be kind and have some fun every day.  Come to think of it, no matter what my age, if I resolved, pledged or promised, I always did it in good faith.  The fact is, a lack of maturity and the reality of change, can cause the goal posts to move.  And believe me they can move!

Maybe my New Years Resolution for 2008 will be to promise only what I believe I can deliver and say “I’ll try my best” to everything else.  Maybe that’s not too bad an idea for children as well.  So what's the difference between a pwomise  and a promise?   A pwomise suggests "I’ll try my best" (and I may need a reminder!).  A promise suggests  I am mature enough to make the decision and carry it through based on this moment in time.  

Today I resolve, pledge and promise to try my best to be kind to myself, others and our planet.  Amen!  Ahmen! Ohmm!  So let it be written, so let it be done!

 

Happy New Year

 

With Hopes for a Joyful 2008

 

Anthony