The luxury of truth
I think that the greatest privilege I tend to squander is the ability to tell the truth with little consequence.
In many places and times in the world (including, of course, parts of Oz - don't get me wrong: I'm being rhapsodical, not ...-centric)...um, where was I...yes, in many parts of the world telling the truth will get you killed, raped, imprisoned, beaten, excluded. Telling the truth about your sexuality, your political persuasion, your religious opinions, your ethnicity, your family line, your nationality, and so on.
In my life, the worst consequence that will befall me from telling the truth about anything is that I may feel a little embarrassed.
Now don't get me wrong, embarrassment is unpleasant, but in comparison it doesn't stack up. And yet I find myself drawn to ignoring this privilege to tell the truth in the most trivial of circumstances. For instance, why I was 2 minutes late, or whether I really want to go to x with y, or...you get the idea.
As the years pass, I'm getting better at telling the truth. Rigorously, courageously, luxuriously.
Still aways to go, though.
In many places and times in the world (including, of course, parts of Oz - don't get me wrong: I'm being rhapsodical, not ...-centric)...um, where was I...yes, in many parts of the world telling the truth will get you killed, raped, imprisoned, beaten, excluded. Telling the truth about your sexuality, your political persuasion, your religious opinions, your ethnicity, your family line, your nationality, and so on.
In my life, the worst consequence that will befall me from telling the truth about anything is that I may feel a little embarrassed.
Now don't get me wrong, embarrassment is unpleasant, but in comparison it doesn't stack up. And yet I find myself drawn to ignoring this privilege to tell the truth in the most trivial of circumstances. For instance, why I was 2 minutes late, or whether I really want to go to x with y, or...you get the idea.
As the years pass, I'm getting better at telling the truth. Rigorously, courageously, luxuriously.
Still aways to go, though.