Pledge Break | Michael Seidel | Blog Post

Michael Seidel
Fiction fan and science fiction/fantasy writer

Pledge Break

Blog Post by Michael Seidel - Dec.03.2012 - 9:36 am

I promise myself -

I will have a good time.

I will enjoy the things I do.

I will not let myself be stressed.

I will have a fun, productive day.

I will end the work week stress free and relaxed.

I will keep my pledge without copious amounts of caffeine, chocolate or alcohol. (I'll just have a little of each.)

Keywords:

promises

Comments

Jules Jacob

Dec.03.2012 - 1:30 pm

Pledging

Michael,

Is a pledge weaker than a promise? Who says "You pledged you'd wouldn't drink tonight!"

I don't like to break promises to myself and don't like it when other people break them either. (Maybe it's best not to make them.) I like to use "try"... as in "I'll try to trust you."

Ben Franklin said it best: All things in moderation. Truth is, I don't think he followed his own pledge.

Jules

Michael Seidel

Dec.04.2012 - 12:00 am

Is a pledge weaker than a promise? One dictionary called a pledge a solemn promise. "I pledge allegiance to the flag." I think of a pledge as more serious, and a more dated and formal expression, but that's me. I don't like breaking promises, either, but I still make them and then wear myself out struggling not to break them or to live up to them. Your advice is sage - 'try'. Yet, I have friends who say, 'try' is an out, leaving you with the option of saying, well, I tried. But is there any dishonor in trying and not succeeding? Is that better or worse than promising and failing instead of trying and failing?

But I'm with you with Ben F and moderation.

Fortunately I lived up to my pledge break today with just two cups of coffee, a few pieces of chocolate, and one glass of wine.

Or at least I tried.

Thanks for reading and commenting, Jules. Cheers

Jodi Thompson

Dec.03.2012 - 1:51 pm

Quite a pledge, Michael.

Quite a pledge, Michael. Quite a pledge.

The trick will be to not get stressed while trying to enjoy yourself without copious amounts of caffeine, chocolate or alcohol.

Now, you know we're going to hold you to it, right? If only to see that it actually CAN be done.

Good luck!

Michael Seidel

Dec.04.2012 - 12:16 am

Thanks, Jodi ~

It actually went as well as hoped. Fueled by half a cup of coffee, I worked hard and steady thorugh the morning, did my walk and writing at 2, refreshing my energy with a Mexican Mocha, and returned at 4:30 and worked until seven. I wouldn't have had the chocolate but I was done working and my wife flipped a couple treats - dark chocolate mints - at me but the coffee was part of my work and writing routines.

I did drink a glass of red wine after dinner.

So, mmm...I guess my success rate is low. But I'm not stressed! Still have a ton of work despite completing a ton of work but I had fun and I'm not stressed.

Tomorrow however...well, it is another fresh beginning. I don't plan to be stressed tomorrow, either. I may need more coffee and chocolate, though.

Thanks for reading and passing on encouragement. Cheers

Writing is exploring myself and discovering the stories and characters that managed to burrow into me. It's a trek, a space shot, an endurance race, a transcendental existence and a dark, worrying tunnel.”

About Michael

1956 - I was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Some other things happened that year, too. Moved around the country as a military brat before finding anchor in Pittsburgh, PA. Lived there 8 years, moved to southern West Virigina, graduated high school and...

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Connections

Causes Michael Seidel Supports

Kiva, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Propublica.org, Doctors Without Borders, GreaterGood.com

Michael’s Favorite Books

Catch 22, Catcher In The Rye, Ender's Game, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Lonesome Dove, Children of Men, The Handmaid's Tale, The Left of Darkness, The Cancer Ward...