The TRUTH

The truth. Can you handle it? I’d say that most people cannot. In fact, it has been my observation in life that while the vast majority of people claim to value honesty they neither practice nor appreciate it.


That was the trouble with truth, someone once told me; it’s a double-edged sword. How true. I had many times seen the disappointed look on another’s face when I answered their question honestly when they were expecting another response. But I also had heard a millions times, “I want to ask your opinion on something because I know you’ll be honest with me”. It indeed went both ways.


Recently I had someone tell me something that was quite brutal. It was the truth but it was delivered in such a way as to intentionally be cruel and hurtful (and for that there is no excuse). Some of you know this story because I’ve told a few people. Everyone I told responded with shock and commented a few choice words on the individual of which I spoke. BUT…THEN…they all added the same final comment, “He could have at least bullshitted/made something up”. And that really sucked because that turned off the anger that I should have probably continued to harbor. He was honest. And unfortunately that was one of things I really appreciated about him, even if it was sometimes brutal.


For me, the truth often hurts. But as much as it may initially sting, I cannot stay mad at the truth. I cannot hold a grudge towards somebody for being honest. “He could have at least bullshitted/made something up,” they all commented. But doesn’t lying make it worse? I tend to think so.


The TRUTH is that most people cannot handle the truth. The TRUTH is that most people would rather be fed some line of sugary-sweet, happy bullshit because it’s easier to swallow. The TRUTH is that most of those that claim to value honesty are not even being honest with themselves.