Have I ever violated a promise? Yes, I do recall that last year I made a promise to my cousin's sister Lizzy that I would attend her convocation. Don't hold it against me; instead, allow me to explain what happened.
Last year, Lizzy called me to talk to me about her convocation and said she would be delighted if I could be there.
I committed to her that I would be there for her convocation. She gave her all to make her family proud, and now that she has accomplished that goal, she is graduating as her department's top overall student.
Being a good sister, I assured her that I would attend her special day. We were looking forward to it together.
As the days went by, my life got busier and busier. My commitments grew more and heavier as my work obligations increased. Even though I was aware that I had promised my cousin I would attend her convocation, I kept juggling obligations and began to feel gradually overwhelmed by the growing pressure.
My cousin and I
But I ignored my concerns and told myself I would manage to solve the problem. I firmly believed in the force of commitment and was aware that betraying my promise would be extremely painful for Lizzy.
Unfortunately, Lizzy's graduation day finally came.
I was already in trouble when I unintentionally found myself involved in a professional emergency. As the hours passed, I felt the pressure of keeping my vow weigh heavily on me.
I allowed myself to give in to the overwhelming tension in a moment of weakness. I reasoned that Lizzy wouldn't notice if I wasn't there, and I convinced myself that she would understand. I thought, trying to calm my anxious conscience, "It's just one event.
My heart became heavy and remorse knocked on my door as evening drew closer. As I struggled with my guilt, I realized that I had betrayed Lizzy's confidence by not keeping my word.
Finally, I had the bright idea to contact her and apologize for being so busy that day while also offering to send her some tokens as a sign of my sincere regret. In a desperate attempt to get Lizzy to accept my choice, I persuaded myself that it was only a necessary sacrifice.
Unfortunately, Lizzy was devastated when she learned of my absence and my broken promise. When I phoned her, I could hear the hurt and disappointment in her voice. Lizzy, who had always been there for me through good times and bad, suddenly felt betrayed by me as the person she trusted the most.
One of my closest cousins is Lizzy; we arranged the convocation together, and she spends most of her time with me. We are always together and never keep anything from one another.
Then I understood how much more it had cost me than I could have ever thought to breach my commitment. It caused a serious wound to our bond and damaged my reputation as a responsible sister. I concluded that I had let Lizzy down, but also myself.
I went to Lizzy's house and apologized profusely for what I had done, explaining the difficult circumstances that had caused me to err. Knowing how deeply I had wronged Lizzy and the price my broken commitment had cost me, I longed for her forgiveness.
Despite being upset, Lizzy could see the regret in my eyes. She slowly accepted me after recognizing my sincere guilt and remorse. The road to forgiveness was a long one, but our intimacy held strong, and we gradually restored the once-firmly formed trust.
I cherished the significance of trust and loyalty in my relationships and vowed from that day on to never break another promise. I understood that promises were of the highest worth and should always be honored, as violating them may result in unimaginable suffering and harm.
This is my response to this episode of #hivelearners community of #hl-w82e2 which is tagged "A BROKEN PROMISE"
