What is a promise? There are actually many more “promises” in our lives than we think, but the problem is, we, as a result of subconscious habit, only see a word as a promise only if given officially, usually when it’s straight out said “I promise”. Other than that, many don’t tend to think of certain ordinary things said out of certain ordinary contexts, which bear the nature of a promise, as “promises”.

Oftentimes, we just give our words out of spontaneity, which a particular situation demands us to, so we can ease someone’s eagerness and excitement, just to temporarily please them, but which will push their excitement and expectations higher up. That means there are times we don’t take our own words seriously. And if it becomes standardized and becomes the norm, it will subconsciously create a state of consciousness on that matter which can affect a whole community, especially of later generations. They will think that giving some random word means nothing and it’s a normal thing to do.

Another major problem is that we forget our promises. We actually do, especially when it’s not an official one. For example, one may have good will to do something in favor of another, but is not serious enough to execute it, and as a consequence, they will easily forget what they said they would do. Even if the one that gets the promise forgets it, the one that gives their word must fulfill said things, no matter how long it takes or arduous it is.

The only case that a promiser can opt to fulfill their word or not is when the one that receives the promise doesn’t want that promise due to relationship’s problems.

After all, a promise is a promise. Once said, it’s supposed to be done. The real hardship is whether or not we can stay committed to it. To keep a promise, sometimes, is an extremely difficult task due to life circumstances and situations that we can hardly control. Any word can become a promise if said in the right time and right place, and the only thing we are supposed to do is to stay committed, no matter how hard it is.