ShmoopTube

00:04

Commitment….a la Shmoop.

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It’s New Year’s Eve, and you know what that means. Time to party. [New Years decorations on the wall]

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Also time to botch half of the words to Auld Lang Syne. Yeah, old acquaintance isn’t

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the only thing that’s being forgot.

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But our buddy Mark isn’t letting anything stand in his way. Sure, he’s had some commitment [Mark walking through a hallway]

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issues in the past, but this is the year of Mark, and nothing’s getting in his way.

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He makes a list of resolutions, and come January 1st, he’s ready. [Mark with a list of New Year's resolutions]

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Resolution 1: Run three miles every day. Check.

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Resolution 2: Cook at least four meals a week. No problem! [Hand ticks off New Years resolutions]

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Resolution 3: Practice guitar every day. Jimi Hendrix won’t know what hit him. [Mark playing the guitar]

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Mark commits himself to his resolutions, and by the end of January, he’s doing great.

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He’s fit, he’s healthy, and he’s chasing his passion.

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And when we check in on him again at the end of February, we know he’s going to be––– [Mark playing guitar hero]

00:56

Hm. So much for the year of Mark. So Mark broke his commitment to himself.

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Big whoop, right? Everyone breaks resolutions. [Mark has pizza delivered]

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And sure, maybe he’s disappointed in himself for breaking yet another commitment in his life.

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And maybe he’s not quite sure when he last changed his underwear... [Mark changing his underwear]

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But aside from disappointing himself and leaving tasks half finished, what’s the big deal?

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If he wants to let himself down, fine.

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But what happens when others are in the line of his commitment-phobic fire? [Firing line views a girl]

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Well, when Mark signs onto his new job, he guarantees he’ll be there for at least a year. [Mark at his new job]

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But when he quits four months after starting in the middle of a high-priority project,

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his boss is left high and dry.

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And when he says “I do” at the altar, then asks for annulment papers to be drawn [Mark at the altar of his wedding]

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up during the reception, well…

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Mark’s commitment issues might just be hurting others. [Mark walking away from his wife]

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Promising you’ll be there for someone else and then not following through?

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Not only does it make you less trustworthy to others, it leaves a bad taste in their mouths.

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And even when Mark says he’ll do something, his habit of not following through on promises is well-known. [Mark playing guitar hero]

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No one trusts Mark to stick to his word anymore.

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And without trust, Mark is living a sad, lonely life. [Mark jogging down the street]

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So the next time Mark makes a New Year’s resolution, we hope it’s “work on commitment issues”.

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That or “change your underwear more often”. [Mark changing his underwear]

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