:: The Wendy House ::

Promise:   a positive declaration intended to give confidence that one will do something or that something will happen (OED)

Over promising emotional impact =    gloom, disappointment

Examples from my social life normally come in the form of ‘I didn’t have the time’ (missed the train, unavoidable conflict, some dependency didn’t happen,  etc)

In process promises emotional impact =   mounting frustration, increasing disengagement

Examples from my social life revolve around negotiating (when to meet-up,  shared taste in a mutual purchase like concert tickets, vacation location etc)

Under promising emotional impact =   Joy, gratitude

Examples from my social life tend to be unexpected gifts of events (phone calls, surprise parties, a person’s presence, vacations, etc) and objects (letters, photographs, hand-made artwork, poetry, hard to find treasures, etc)

Reliable delivered promises emotional impact =   contentment,  admiration and loyalty

Examples from my social life are thankfully numerous. A place to stay, met at the airport, companionable evenings, my cats fed and pampered while I’m away.  I love these people as the unsung heros whose ability and commitment provides the foundation of happiness. 

I strive for reliable delivery with some intentional under promising to allow me to express my creativity and, more importantly, the pleasure of witnessing the joy.  Everyone I’m visiting in the UK consistently falls into the last 2 categories in thier relationship with me.  I count myself as extremely wealthy to be able to appreciate these people 

What do you tend to do?

Wendy Wondering-how-to-next-under-promise

We went to see Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles at the Seattle Mariner’s ‘Safeco” stadium on Saturday evening.

The massive roof rolls closed to enable the games to continue in Seattle rain. Below, you can see it open in the early evening sunlight as the field is prepared for the game. Baseball games are a fabulous American ceremony.

Preparation of the field is like a dance involving

• Mascot: Seattle Mariners use a person dressed as a ‘Moose’?! in slapstick style interactive antics.
• Autographs: team members sign autographs at the edge of the field.
• Overhead screens: play media clips of ‘bloopers’, games, and provide statistics.
• Colours: Before the game starts the colours (National, State and Utility - e.g. firemen) are marched onto the field
• Field preparation: the sand is sprayed with water, this appears like a tightly choreographed dance. The ‘lines’ are placed on the ground. Again this appears very ritualised
• National Anthem: a guest sings the National anthem while the crowd stands.
• Food: people walk up and down the isles calling-out the food types they are vending (popcorn, candy-floss, beer, lemonade). You catch their attention and purchase directly from them without leaving your seat. Alternatively you can walk to a huge walkway that surrounds the back of the stands and is completely bordered by food/drinks vendors.

This game included one minute of silence prior to the National Anthem to remember the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Essentially a shared experience, news system and re-inforcement of morale values.

W