Commitment.
Doesn't this word have an authoritative tone? It has been recommended to me that I blog about commitment; not just about the word itself, but it's definition in my current world. I think it's important for me to commit, at this time, to a current and future (what I envision it holding) way of life, because that commitment will lead to a certain integrity. I'm committing to a writing career, and having that writing career support our family. But it's not just about that, but about something that excites me, a creative energy that zaps me each time I read an article or a book, or when I am tasked with a writing assignment of any sort. These last two sentences feed the first, but only happen if I act or move. And there's the commitment: declaring and ensuring results by following through with, in my case, marketing my services and skills, and then completing assignments. That "commitment" - which no doubt will travel a road occasionally problematic but that can be turned into challenges - leads to a proud, serene pasture of integrity. I'll exit the writing realm briefly in lieu of another perhaps more critical topic regarding commitment: my health. It's one many can relate to, and maybe the most targeted when planning New Year's resolutions. For the past two years, courtesy of a lot of dining out and laziness, I have grown a spare tire in my midsection and, as well, added unwanted (but not uninvited, due to my way of life) unhealthy fat on my frame and undesired pounds to a body that once suffered with heart disease. And this invites a question: Do I really want to go there again...have another heart attack...suffer all that pain...maybe die this time? So, I currently follow a nutrition and workout program, one where I have a health coach and program goals I "commit" to under her guiding eye. The day prior to Christmas Eve, my daughter Stefanie said to me, "Dad, you look like you're slimming down. Your body is thinner than is used to be!" Do I have to state here what those words meant to me, coming from my only daughter?! It meant so much in my world where my commitment and hoped-for integrity often waned, and promises (to myself, especially) weren't kept. In fact, I said to myself, "If what she said is true (and let's face it: if someone sees it and says it, it should be), let's see how much even better I can be!" Lack of commitment means going nowhere. And, I should add here that not staying the course, following through to the end, is like a bush that blooms in spring, and then sheds its color in fall, only to re-bloom in the next season. Perhaps that is a poor analogy, but what truly is accomplished by continuously starting over with the same hamster wheel result? People should be better than foliage, be committed to starting something and finishing and growing, and that should lead to "evergreen" betterment of our lives and pride in ourselves and our family. Commitment accomplishes this. Segueing back into freelance writing, I have goals set for 2018, and those who read my blog often know, courtesy of my prior "Some Thoughts This Week" post that they are already "alive and moving," the journey seeking the destination. I'll enjoy the ride, and my sincere hope is you'll enjoy yours as well. Steve
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Steve Sears is a New Jersey based freelance writer
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