So Cazey discussed his commitment issues in his recent post, In defense of singledom, and it made me reflect on my own commitment style. Generalizing across life in general and not specific to relationships, my commitment issue isn't so much that I don't do it, but that I either way over-do it, or totally under-do it.
On the side of over-commitment, I tend to get wicked excited about something and go waaaaay overboard. For example, for little work campaigns, someone may ask if we can support with a tweet or two. Next thing they know, I am committing to weeks of content just because I think it's awesome.
Or, I totally under-commit. I help out with a canned food drive that's a competition pinning all Virginia school alumni chapters against each other. We had a meeting and were discussing the date we'd like to do have it again next year. When we settled on a date, I had this slightly constricting feeling in my throat. What happens if a work commitment comes up that date? What happens if someone comes into town to visit and I'm already busy? What happens if I move out of Richmond? Now I've got this commitment that is just hanging over my head. Now I'm tied down to something that is a really good cause, only four-hours long and minimally difficult, but it feels like a bowling ball of commitment.
And this commitment style also carries over to my general reactions to things, often either way too casual or way too dramatic.
For example, there was a fire in a pot and I casually asked my roommate to grab the pot holders because there was a huge fire inside. She then grabbed the enflamed pot and carried it outside. As it's burning, I'm googling if baking soda or powder can put it out. Then I realize we have a fire extinguisher and we just put out the fire like it's typical. Total under-reaction.
But then there's a bug on the ground and I'm hiding in a different room in the hopes that he'll make an exit on his own time. Over-reaction.
