The Self Promise

I think every person should be required to make at least ten promises to themselves every year or so. These promises would be different from New Year’s resolutions because 1) New Year’s resolutions are lame 2) No one keeps them.

The biggest difference (aside from the name) would be that these Self Promises are preventative. Rather than vowing to lose weight, a Self Promise would vow to refrain from eating at McGreasyWhataburgerKing. The essential part of a Self Promise is that it must prohibit something you would be prone to doing.


For an example, I have compiled my own list of promises that I vow to keep myself for time indefinite:

I promise never to address ‘loyal readers’ in any blog that I ever write.
I promise never to consciously encourage cliché without being satirical.
I promise never to pop my collar unless it is A) Cold or B) in Boston
I promise never to obsess with cars that I can’t afford
I promise never to refer to a blonde pop star by her first name
I promise never to resort to Bush-bashing to seem politically aware
I promise never to judge someone by their musical tastes, unless it involves a previously mentioned blonde pop star
I promise never to play Smoke on the Water in a guitar store
I promise never to spend more than $20 on a t-shirt
I promise never to get lazy and use your for you’re or its for it’s

If you can think of a good promise, please leave at least one as a comment =).