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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Truth

Truth
GBE2 #29


I don't believe there is any one character flaw that will end a friendship with me more quickly than the inability to tell the truth.  I don't care that you tell me a funny or silly story of something from your life and embellish it a bit, that's just fun and entertaining.  If, however, you tell me an out and out lie to protect me, to protect someone else or just because you don't know the difference between the truth and a lie, I'm more than likely not going to be around to hear the next story you want to tell.  If you tell me a lie because you want me to believe something that isn't true, all I can say is that I don't play like that.


I appreciate honesty.  I appreciate people who just look me in the eye and say, "I am not impressed with that."  Assuming I did something with which they found fault.  I say, "Just tell me.  I will never know what you like and don't like, if you don't tell me."  I find lots of kind ways to say that I don't care for something.  It is a bit of an effort to be honest and not cause undue hurt feelings, but still and all, I find it so much more helpful in my life to deal with people who can just tell the truth.  That being said, there is no need to be mean or hurtful when doing so.  Just because you may have done something I don't like does not mean I don't like you.  It is also not an excuse for me to just be blatantly mean or hateful.  I could just simply say, "I really think what you did was atupid uncalled for."  There will probably be a conversation following, then it is even more important to be kind.  Be honest, but do so kindly.


There was a time when I sort of forgot that important thing about being honest and kind.  I didn't mean to be unkind, honestly, but I didn't engage my filter, I just spoke immediately.  I will tell the story one day, but not today.  It's not a pretty story.  It's one of my most immature and embarrassing adult stories and naturally, it involved my children.  *Hiding my face now.*  Another blog, another day.


What I would like to see more of and don't see enough of ever, is people living honestly.  I mean living the life which exudes who they are.  Doing things that make you smile, make you feel fulfilled or just plain need to be done and you are the one who needs to do those things and doing them with a positive attitude.  Doing things because that is your job. Doing things because they are the right thing.  Living to your potential and giving to your limit.  Giving of yourself until you are just exhausted.  That is good, honest living.


It is also good honest living to sit back every now and then and appreciate what is all around you. Not only the people, but also what nature has provided outside your windows and what you have provided inside your windows.  People say all the time that they don't need things, they just need people.  I need both.  I'm not ashamed to say that I love my home.  I love most of the things with which we have filled our home.  I am very comfortable here.  I'm at home here and my soul is settled here.  My heart smiles here.  I'm honestly living the life I have always hoped to be able to live one day.  (A few things are yet to come, but for the most part.) 


If I were to be totally honest, (I think I will, for a change of pace) I would admit that I would like my children and their children around me more often. If I could, I would make all of them move to within a couple of miles of us so we could just stop in whenever and the kids could just hang with us for a few hours whenever.  I, quite honestly would be on cloud 9 if that were to happen, but I am okay with knowing they all care about us and enjoy being with us from time to time.  I don't suppose I would ever think they spent enough time with us, after all we sacrificed to get those people raised up to be decent humans!  (Kidding, a little.)  Maybe I wouldn't appreciate them so much if they were all around all the time.  I'd like to find out, I think.




Truth, I believe, always comes out eventually. Sometimes with a little help from your friends and sometimes with a slip of your own tongue, but always with more pain than if it had been told in the first place.  Protecting someone by not being truthful is rarely, if ever, the answer.


In the end, the truth does set you free.


Jo

23 comments:

  1. Jo, you are a woman after my own heart. I have always struggled to tell the truth when I know it will hurt someone. You make perfect sense as to why it is important to do so anyway. I am also in agreement about your children. I would give anything to have mine just down the street.

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  2. Kat...Thanks for stopping by and I was thinking maybe I could put that on my Christmas list? Ha ha, (having the kids closer.) Maybe I'll just move in with each of them for 3 months at a time.
    Then I wouldn't need a home at all. Hummmmm

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  3. Honesty is definitely the best policy!

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  4. Kristen...most of the time, I agree. Evasion is a good tactic when total honesty isn't the best policy, IMHO. :)

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  5. amen!! and where else do we want to be but free? hehe and you ARE FREE INDEED!!!!! refreshing!! ahhh

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  6. Brenda...I am free and pretty darned happy! LOL
    Thanks for commenting and of course, reading! :)

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  7. Jo, thanks for stopping by my blog. Loved reading your blog post about "truth" :) Have a great rest of your Sunday!

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  8. Thanks Taylor...I'm enjoying getting to know you. Glad you liked my work. I'm sure we will know each other a lot better in short order! LOL

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  9. Hubby and I had a little discussion about this the other day, and we came to the conclusion that sometimes kindness is more important than absolute truth. The problem in question was, "Do these jeans make me look fat?" He decided it would probably not be a good idea to truthfully say, "No, your fat makes you look fat." I will leave all the rest up to your imaginations. : - )

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  10. LOL @Angela...Been there! I agree, kindness when nothing is at stake except someone's ego, every time!

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  11. Thank you Jo! Well said...the truth always sets you free!

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  12. Lipstickjourney...thank YOU. I think that is true mostly, but sometimes you should call your attorney before making any statements! LOL

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  13. I agree Jo. I would rather have someone kindly yet truthfully tell me something....and not be mean. I also would rather have them not beat around the bush....but tear the band-aid off and say it (but nicely)! Another great read.

    Love you.

    Chele :)

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  14. Chele...Thank you so much. We are usually on the same page. :)

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  15. I'm with you on this. I can take the truth; I respect the truth. What I have no use for is phoniness. Hurt my feelings and they'll heal. Lie to me and we'll never be the same again.

    Excellent job, Jo!

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  16. Beth...Exactly right. Thank you. ♥

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  17. Jo what an excellent post on Truth!! I appreciate the person who doesn't sugar coat the truth and can deal it straight to me. Raw honesty is the best way to put it--even when it hurts to hear it. I've always said--I can deal with anything as long as I know what I'm dealing with is the truth.

    Thanks for sharing :) Jenn

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  18. Jo, paragraph 4 is the key to happiness - truth.

    The cliche is so true..."The truth will set you free!"

    Nice post, thanks!

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  19. Jenn...I feel the same. I can't handle what I haven't been told about. Thanks for reading and sharing :)

    Linda...Thank you and I think in almost all cases that is true. Except when you have been pushed to your limit and smack someone who then presses charges and no one was there but you two and you don't want to go to jail and so maybe that is a good time to not tell the truth because it ain't no how and no way gonna set you free! Just sayin'...

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  20. I spent years of having therapists and even doctors try to soften the blow or give me the short short-term scenario/least effect of any given situation that I'm so DONE with sugar coating. I tolerated it before kids. I just don't any more. I operate life with a full disclosure policy.

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  21. Amy...I know exactly what you mean. Doctors need to just shoot it at us so we can deal with the truth. YOU need the truth or you have no direction! WTH!!!

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  22. I guess that's why they say "to be painfully honest." I hate when people act mushy nice to you only to talk about you behind your back.

    Lie--Eating junk food for four months?

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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  23. Joyce...I do, too! If you don't like me, that's okay, just ignore me! Don't be nice to my face and then thrust that dagger in my back...that is not a good thing.

    Nope, that is true. Kitchen was being remodeled and for four months I had no stove, microwave or anything else to cook with. Got a slow cooker after four months! Kitchen was done in 6! AND Christmas was in month 2!!!!

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