I try incredibly hard to be honest in my dealings with most people - though I fail at being so at times. However this week found me lying through my teeth as I had to pretend that I was okay with a terrible event that we just found out about. Sometimes honesty has to take a back seat to being good to your wife and family. Sometimes it's an easy choice where you can simply say that this is for the better. Then there are times like this week where you bite back the truth because you don't want to poison your relationships with people that you're bound to for the rest of your life.
I apologize for not being able to speak more openly on this matter but that's the way that life goes sometimes.
The Sin Eater series is an opportunity for each of us, you and me, to recognize our sins and failures. Each week I kick it off by discussing something I do wrong, that I have failed at, or that I find reproachful in myself. Then anyone who wants to can join in and post their own 'sins' either through the use of their own username or anonymously in the comments below (DO NOT POST ANYTHING ILLEGAL AND THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW).The idea behind this project is to humanize ourselves (so take your self-righteous judgments and pronouncements and shove them right up your ass). It's also a place to help each of us to let go of the 'sins' that have been dominating our lives and recognize them for what they are: the simple human frailties that all of us struggle with daily. This series is the place where you can speak honestly and let your frailties be devoured by the internet gods.
The last time that I remember lying was when I was 14 or so. I was walking and a car load of guys pulled up and asked what my name was. I knew they were looking for me because I was dating their friend's ex-girlfriend and they wanted to beat the crap out of me. As Ron White said, "I don't know how many of them it would of taken to whip my ass but I knew how many they were going to use" so I said I was someone else. It worked. My problem is normally the opposite when it comes to lying. I don't have much of a filter so I tend to be brutally honest when asked about something directly. Some folks appreciate the honesty and perfect strangers seem to sense it and will ask my opinion about personal matters that I wouldn't discuss with a friend ... others don't appreciate the candor and I have certainly alienated some people because of it.
ReplyDeleteYeah its a tightrope walk sometimes. I believe a philosopher with an awesome mustache once wrote something along the lines of 'There are two people I have never allowed myself to think too deeply about; this is a testament of my love for them'. Point being sometimes you have to choose something else over honesty for the sake of relationships. Doubly true for in-laws. :)
ReplyDelete