Commitments are promises to complete a pledge or to stand upon your position about a certain subject.  However, while people are heard to say, “I am overcommitted,” rarely do we hear someone say, “I’ve made too many promises!”  This makes the two words seem different when they are not.

    Maybe there would be less divorce if people said, “I promise,” rather than agreeing to a “commitment.”  Even little children try to make promises believed by saying, “I cross my heart …hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”  That seems to be evidence that a promise is to be a very sacred trust.  Our courts ask, “Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…”   They don’t ask for a “commitment” to the judge, jury, or defendant. So, I believe that a promise carries more weight than a commitment.  Yes, I realize I may be wrong.

    I think it is easier for a person to excuse him/herself from things he/she doesn’t want to do if he/she can claim “overcommitment.”  That seems like they only have a problem with scheduling…and we all know that schedules can cause difficulties for everyone.  But if a person admits that he/she must break promises, guilt is immediate.  It is as if we are admitting to being a liar.  That certainly weighs heavy on one’s psyche or heart.

    So, with all the above being said, to what should we commit ourselves?  For me, it is a daily pledge to God, my family, our school and our students to make every effort to do my best teaching to enable their success.  Whatever it takes to see student progress made each day, that will I do.  If it means extra time to bring about a certain expected outcome, I am willing to work it out with arrangements made not to hurt others awaiting my time.  Every action taken will have ramifications in many directions.  One simply cannot make a sudden decision to do something without regard to others who will be affected by it.

    The main area where I have difficulty is not making a change to an agreed-upon schedule.  Sometimes I see a necessary change as important, while others have already made plans and desire to carry out those activities.  The more people involved in a team situation, the more important it is to keep everyone on the same schedule.  I have learned that some of us can deal with sudden change and function quite readily.  Others simply need planning time first.  

Thus, I am living proof that you “can teach an old dog new tricks!”  

    I am a “fixer,” so I look for immediate solutions to problems.  I react to and quickly try to solve crises when they arise.  However, someone once pointed out that we are bombarded by so many “crises” every day that it is similar to putting lots of little pebbles in a jar first.  Then, it is impossible to put in the large stones that are important issues.  We need to commit to taking care of the large important issues first (big rocks in the jar first) and there will be plenty of room for all the little issues (the sand) later.  That way, I needn’t be “over-committed.”  I only need to get my priorities right!       Kay