I’m a fan of the Texas A&M Aggies. A&M, however, is not my alma mater. I never studied there. In fact, I never studied in the state of Texas at all. They’re not necessarily the front-runner in college sports. I really don’t know anyone who attends the college---I just embrace the fact that my roots are there; thus I am loyal. I remember long summer trips to my Grandma’s hometown of Tunis, Texas. 15 miles down the road from A&M. In order to get to Tunis, you must drive thru the A&M campus. I remember cruising thru the campus as a little girl. I remember sitting in my great grandma’s house watching the games on T.V. while my whole family cheered them on; regardless of whether or not they were winning or losing. I remember hearing stories about my ancestors who either studied there or helped construct the various buildings that sit so eloquently on the campus. Part of my history lives on that very campus. Therefore, even though I have never attended the college, I am a loyal supporter of it. I wear my A&M hoodie on game day. The cups in my cabinet contain the A&M logo. I’m loyal. I’m faithful and above all things, I am committed.
When I go to starbucks, I ALWAYS get a white chocolate mocha with a half shot of caramel. It never fails. In fact, the baristas know me when I walk in. I’ve stuck to the same product at Starbucks for years (though I prefer independently owned coffeehouses.) My trips to Starbucks are a great experience. Ones that I embrace and make personal. I’m loyal. I’m committed.

My mother worked at Colgate Palmolive for MANY years. Needless to say, you will only see Colgate toothpaste and toothbrushes in my bathroom. You’ll only see me use Palmolive dish soap. She doesn’t work there anymore and hasn’t for years. But Colgate has been part of my life experience. Therefore, I am loyal. I am faithful. I am committed.
Every chance I get, I support small, independently-owned and minority owned businesses. Nothing tickles my fancy more than going to little ol’ Mad Jack’s Fresh Fish in Kansas City and making sure I spend good dollars there. The food and service are good; but more importantly, Mad Jack’s is a part of my experience. The countless days my grandma had me travel down there for fresh fish in preparation for her Friday Night Fish Fry’s. The countless times I’d come in town from Dallas to take my brother out to eat and he picked Mad Jacks. I have no other choice but to be loyal. To be faithful. To be committed.

By now you get my drift on the acts of loyalty, commitment and faithfulness.
Loyalty is, indeed, a result of commitment coupled with faithfulness. I use faithfulness here instead of faith because faith is a noun and faithfulness is a verb. You can hold faith; you have to act out and live out faithfulness. As I ponder on what it means to be loyal and the characteristics of loyalty, I must conclude that in my life I have met very few people who practice loyalty. I have met very few people who contain faithfulness as an attribute. Furthermore, I have met even fewer people who embrace what it truly means to be committed. I happen to be committed to my life experiences. It saddens me to realize that the majority of the people I encounter lack loyalty in human relationships. The loyalty I speak of in the above-mentioned sections of this journal are the same type of loyalty that people should carry over to interactions with other people. It’s fair. It’s right. But it has proven to be a true test for most. I am all for human accountability and doing my part. I get excited when I see people doing their parts-----doing whatever it takes to bring solace to their lives or intense situations. I have adopted the ideology that a great part of being accountable means that you are loyal, faithful and committed----in all aspects of your life. Whether it includes brand loyalty or loyalty to the ones you love. Today, as I reflect on the last 27 years of my being, I have been bitten. I have often received the short end of the stick. Especially when it comes to relationships with other people. My loyalty is either taken for granted or taken advantage of. I practice what I preach; but I have not always been a recipient of the same courtesy. When you give loyalty to someone, you are basically giving a part of you to that person with hopes that maybe they can reciprocate. With hopes that maybe they will hold great appreciation for your commitment. It’s the same as being a frequent buyer and receiving 10% discounts as a result. Loyalty is about appreciation. Which is why I have a free coffee at my next visit to starbucks. Which is why Colgate mails me manufacturer’s coupons. Which is why Mad Jack’s never charges me for the extra hot sauce I so consistently order. But if loyalty is about appreciation in the same contexts, why haven’t human relationships provided me with 50% off? I actually favor the idea of getting more for my money.