There's a time I enjoyed reviewing
the boxes of cards and letters
people wrote me over the years.
Poems, praises and pledges.
Shame to say only a few of these poets and authors
stay true to their words today.
Most have disappeared
and have become strangers.
How did your letters and cards box fare?
Where are its poets and writers?
Have most of them become strangers too?
*
I know.
It is disheartening.
I've read letters and cards,
extravagantly written.
But most have taught me why
vows and pledges
are only necessary in once-in-a-lifetime occassions
such as in marriage, witnessing in court and legal contracts -
It's tough to be faithful.
People fail their word to us.
We fail our word to them.
For awhile,
This made me grow cold to
any written and, sometimes, spoken word; man-made.
But I learned to balance.
It's a joy to receive sweet notes from people.
But let words be words,
until they are created into action.
The most professional proposals,
the loftiest plans,
cutting-edge architecture blueprints,
impressive goal cards,
even heaven-inspired written dreams and visions -
all are nothing
unless something is created from it.
The value in our words is zero
until the value it describes is created.
Words are meant to create,
not to impress,
please,
or just inspire someone.
*
Once, I feared to be found guilty
of this human folly.
So I slid to the other extreme,
minimised communication with people
and ended up isolating myself.
But the results proved unhealthy.
Anything done in fear
is not good.
*
Then I tottered my way to the center
in search for a balance.
And there,
I learn to
1. Value words by its fruits
We don't place value to words
according to how extravagant they mean
but to
what's been done
after it's written or spoken.
This helps you to manage your expectations of people.
Placing too much hope on words is risky
as you may be disappointed when
those words fail to deliver.
2. Not personalise words
Since people sometimes don't mean what they say
[eg. when in a fit of fury;
in a moment of mindlessness,
or of mesmerism]
it's wise not to personalise words.
3. Mince my words
Blabbermouths have a higher probability
of saying things they regret later.
Words are either said to
the wrong person or
at the wrong time
in the wrong place.
Save the drama for the drama.
In reality,
we can speak/write responsibly
by thinking first!
4. Write it down
Funny how people seem to have better memory
of what others owe them
than what they owe others.
To save yourself from the embarrassing,
'Ooops, I forgot' moment,
record what you say you'll do
and if need be,
make it irritate you
with the screams of your mobile phone reminder
or haunt you in your dreams
with Post-its under your pillow.
*
It's tough,
but it's also possible
to be faithful
and a man or woman
of your word.
*
the boxes of cards and letters
people wrote me over the years.
Poems, praises and pledges.
Shame to say only a few of these poets and authors
stay true to their words today.
Most have disappeared
and have become strangers.
How did your letters and cards box fare?
Where are its poets and writers?
Have most of them become strangers too?
*
I know.
It is disheartening.
I've read letters and cards,
extravagantly written.
But most have taught me why
vows and pledges
are only necessary in once-in-a-lifetime occassions
such as in marriage, witnessing in court and legal contracts -
It's tough to be faithful.
People fail their word to us.
We fail our word to them.
For awhile,
This made me grow cold to
any written and, sometimes, spoken word; man-made.
But I learned to balance.
It's a joy to receive sweet notes from people.
But let words be words,
until they are created into action.
The most professional proposals,
the loftiest plans,
cutting-edge architecture blueprints,
impressive goal cards,
even heaven-inspired written dreams and visions -
all are nothing
unless something is created from it.
The value in our words is zero
until the value it describes is created.
Words are meant to create,
not to impress,
please,
or just inspire someone.
*
Once, I feared to be found guilty
of this human folly.
So I slid to the other extreme,
minimised communication with people
and ended up isolating myself.
But the results proved unhealthy.
Anything done in fear
is not good.
*
Then I tottered my way to the center
in search for a balance.
And there,
I learn to
1. Value words by its fruits
We don't place value to words
according to how extravagant they mean
but to
what's been done
after it's written or spoken.
This helps you to manage your expectations of people.
Placing too much hope on words is risky
as you may be disappointed when
those words fail to deliver.
2. Not personalise words
Since people sometimes don't mean what they say
[eg. when in a fit of fury;
in a moment of mindlessness,
or of mesmerism]
it's wise not to personalise words.
3. Mince my words
Blabbermouths have a higher probability
of saying things they regret later.
Words are either said to
the wrong person or
at the wrong time
in the wrong place.
Save the drama for the drama.
In reality,
we can speak/write responsibly
by thinking first!
4. Write it down
Funny how people seem to have better memory
of what others owe them
than what they owe others.
To save yourself from the embarrassing,
'Ooops, I forgot' moment,
record what you say you'll do
and if need be,
make it irritate you
with the screams of your mobile phone reminder
or haunt you in your dreams
with Post-its under your pillow.
*
It's tough,
but it's also possible
to be faithful
and a man or woman
of your word.
*
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