Being your word (even when it’s hard)

The other day, my son taught me a lesson I didn’t know I needed. He actually does this a lot!

After school, he asked if we could go to Walmart. I was tired and honestly didn’t have it in me. Instead of telling him the truth, I said, “Maybe tomorrow, buddy.”

Here’s the thing: to me, that was a soft no. To him, it was a promise.

When tomorrow came, the first words out of his mouth when I picked him up from school were: “You promised we’d go to Walmart today.” And in that moment, I realized how powerful (and heavy) our words can be.

It struck me that being your word isn’t just about keeping the commitments you intend, it’s also about honoring what someone else understood you to mean. My son wasn’t being difficult. He was holding me accountable to what he thought I said.

That moment reminded me of two important truths:

• Our words create expectations. Even when we think we’re being non-committal, others may hear it as a promise.

• Avoiding conflict isn’t kindness. I said “maybe tomorrow” because I didn’t want the fight in the moment. But it wasn’t fair to him or me. What I should have said was: “I’m sorry, buddy, but the answer is no today.”
  

Being our word means showing up with clarity and honesty, even when it feels uncomfortable. Especially when it feels uncomfortable.

And here’s where this ties back to the GLP: showing up for yourself and this community works the same way. When you commit to getting to class, to fueling your body better, or to building a healthier habit - you’re not just making a promise to yourself. You’re making a commitment that the rest of us see, feel, and are inspired by.

• When you say you’ll show up, and you do, it strengthens your confidence and deepens trust in yourself.

• When you keep your word to the community you help build the accountability that makes this place special.

• And when you’re honest with yourself (even when it’s hard), you avoid the cycle of guilt or frustration and instead make space for progress.
  

At the GLP, accountability isn’t about perfection. It’s about practicing integrity - one clear, honest word at a time. For yourself. For your family. For your community.