Keepin' It Real!

“There’s always a little truth behind every ‘Just kidding’.

There’s always a little knowledge behind every ‘I don’t know’. 

There’s always a little emotion behind  ’I don’t care’.” ~ Unknown

I saw this quote on Face Book the other day and it has been quite thought provoking.  Why do we think white lies are okay?  Why can’t we tell the truth?  Instead of mischieviously joking to get our point across in a passive aggressive way, why can’t we consciously say what needs to be said?  I like to use the “sandwich” method by truthfully saying something nice/loving and then talk respectfully about the problem and then say something nice again.  I try to use my words masterfully with the right timing and language so that I can be heard.

Sometimes saying “I don’t know.” is easier than explaining myself.  Sometimes I don’t want to voice my opinion or I am still figuring it out.  For me, I remember emotions and the basics of the facts.  I hear everything out, make my own decision and know that it’s right for me.  If I am questioned later about it, I can’t remember the details to back up my stance on the subject, so sometimes I say “I don’t know”.

When someone says, “I don’t care.”  I never believe them!  Even when it’s me that said it!    I think “I don’t care.” holds BIG emotion.  When I say I don’t care (especially to my husband), that’s when I am thinking, “You have all the clues, figure it out for yourself!”  Basically I think when someone says they don’t care, if we care, we have the opportunity to try to lovingly draw it out for them and let them know that we care and we want them to care too.  We care about their feelings and their well-being.

I try to think before I speak and I try to make sure that people know I value them and that I care.  If I screw up, there is always the next chance to make it right or say sorry if necessary.

“Whatever foul mud might lie at the bottom of my private pond, it supports some healthy and useful growths.” ~ Claire Heimel

“It worries me that people see pain as an alien thing.  There won’t be any poetry written soon if everyone’s on an even keel.”  ~ Susan Sarandon