Commitment in HCMC

Commitment

com⋅mit⋅ment
   /kəˈmɪtmənt/ kuh-mit-muhnt]
–noun
1. the act of committing.
2. the state of being committed.
3. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
4. a pledge or promise; obligation: We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time.
5. engagement; involvement: They have a sincere commitment to religion.

One thing we’ve been doing here in HCMC was cross roads a lot. According to numerous briefings we’ve had prior to the trip, people would often tell us that when we cross the street, we mustn’t stop in the middle but go through with it all the way. In other words, commit yourself to crossing the street and you’ll come out safe the other way. Don’t stray, don’t falter…just walk your course and you’ll reach the end of the road.

However, looking back…there was also another form of commitment that I’ve been doing. Before leaving, I made a promise to someone to take care of a friend of mine. She told me to make sure nothing happened to her. Though I’ve been doing my best to keep the promise, it seems that I’m slowly failing.

What does it mean to commit? Is it just to pledging, committing, or even engaging oneself to something? Is it just that? Or is there something more involved?

To some, commitment just entails words and some action. However, what some don’t understand/comprehend is that commitment also entails mental & emotional commitment as well. When we commit, we have to give ourselves whole. We don’t say something and after a while change our minds. We don’t say something and do the complete opposite right after.

When you commit yourself to someone, you give yourself fully. You don’t just say things and not truly feel them. You don’t just do things just because you feel like it. You do and say things because you truly believe in them. You don’t tell someone you care about them at one point and then at other points you just don’t give a damn. You don’t tell someone you love them one minute but go after the next pretty face that walks by. You don’t just care about someone fully one minute and the next act so cold and harsh towards them. Be true to them, at the same time, be true to yourself. Though the commitment may not be mutual between two people, as long as you don't stray, you don't falter...everything will be alright.

Love, care, enjoy, commit...fully.

Lying here with a really bad gastritis attack, I lie and ponder…in Ho Chi Minh City, I reflect on commitment and what it really means.