Another answer

Tracy from Angel Brat's blog ask the following question - I've seen a lot of bloggers who choose a word that they want to focus on for the year, like "Dream", or "Stretch" or "Prioritize" or "Balance", etc. If you were to choose a word (or phrase) that embodies what is important to you at this time in your life, what would it be? 


I hadn’t given this much thought until you asked. I think I feel my life moving more toward – honesty. It’s not that I feel I’ve been dishonest in the past, but suddenly I feel less and less like I want to hide anything. I still want to be polite, but I’m much more likely to politely tell someone I completely disagree with what they are saying or proposing, where in the past I might just keep my mouth shut. A friend at school told me the other day; “I never walk away from a conversation with you without knowing exactly how you feel.” I think the meant it as a teasing insult, but I took it as a compliment.

In the past I’ve always avoided any confrontation, no longer. I surely don’t want to pick a fight, but I’ll state my opinion. My boss and I recently disagreed about an issue I feel strongly about. I listened quietly, knowing I was right, and he was wrong. I took the time when I got home that afternoon to write him a very polite, very direct letter stating my side (quite well, if I do say so myself). I sent it and the next morning I had an email from him; “See me 9:45” You never get too old to get that sinking feeling in your stomach when called to the principal’s office.

He began by saying, “I got your letter and I thought about it all night. In fact I ran through a whole range of emotions.” (I was amazed to hear the man even had emotions.) And he restated what he had said the day before, but obviously with much more understanding of where I was coming from. It felt good, like I’d been heard. In the past I would have just stayed mad.

So as I get older I guess I’m going to continue to work on polite honesty. Thanks Tracy, I enjoyed answering this question.