“It is the absolute truth!” How many times have we heard this comment? How many times was it correct? The truth is something that seems to be bandied about like a tennis ball. Whoever hits the hardest or the farthest gets the point. Ask a police officer about the truth. There is an accident and if there is more than one witness there’ll be more than one absolute truth.
Since perhaps only scientists can understand absolutes, the rest of us have to recognise that there simply are no absolutes. The truth we see and tell others is based on our own preconceived ideas and experiences. We can believe something to be the truth but that doesn’t make it so. If you check social media, the truth can be had for a coin, a tiny virtual coin I don’t understand.
There is an old adage: ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’. It’s true. If you say something loud enough and long enough there is a section of society that will believe you. It doesn’t matter that you have no proof to back up what you have just said. Proof, as well, is open to interpretation. If five different people read the same book, you’ll often find five different interpretations of what the book was about. Some will see the internal angst that the characters have to deal with while others see the romance and others will be bored silly. Everything we see, do, hear, feel, experience is interpreted by our inner monologue.
Oh yes, the inner monologue. That annoying little commentator at the back of our brain that suggests having that second piece of pie would not be good for your hips. That conscience that reminds us we really should have taken out the garbage. The remembered voice of an old friend supporting us in our time of need. We all have an inner monologue. We just don’t always listen to it. Is it telling us the truth? Is it showing us the truth without all of the trappings?
I always try to tell the truth. I joke that it’s easier to remember than a lie but there’s more to it. I’m telling you my truth because I respect you. Although when it comes to the awful truth, the hard truth or the ugly truth it becomes more difficult. Just because something is uncomfortable doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be shared. But then when the truth is just mean, I question the validity of sharing it. Does it do more good than harm? And that is when you need to talk to your conscience, your inner monologue. What is it saying?
Butterfly Sand 
I try not to share truths that are mean
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That is always best.
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Much food for thought, here, Pam. And that’s the truth.
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I do love to feed people.
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Wow! So many truths spoken here. My dad always said that it’s better to take your punishment for telling the truth than for getting caught lying. If you’re caught lying, you will be punished not only for what you did, but then for lying about it.
Having said that, I have danced around the truth more than once in my life not to hurt someone with a truth that’s just plain mean. This is a very slippery slope to navigate.
Ginger
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Your dad was a smart man. Sometimes we really do need to navigate those slippery slopes.
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Wonderful
My mother tried to explain conscience when i was supposed to be practicing piano. She said to listen to the little voice inside me. Of course i said i couldn’t hear one. Only later did i realize that I wasn’t listening.
I agree honesty, either gentle or blunt is generally a good approach but as i age i realize that my silence sometimes speaks louder.
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Sometimes silence is the only voice that makes sense.
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Awesome essay, Pam. So many truths spoken hear…none of which are absolute, all of which are personal, subjective, and are largely what makes up the beauty of you. (And which I happen to agree with.)
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I always cringe when people use the phrase absolute truths. I thank you for reading.
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Oh dear. here, not hear! My fingers have been misbehaving a lot lately!
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Ha ha ha! I did understand! And life needs a little misbehaving, that’s where we get our best humour.
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One of the reasons for unvarnished truth is the varnish can change depending on the intended use of the wood. Just like 2000 calories is the usual calorie intake. When one is working outside in extreme cold that calorie intake can double. The truth can vary with the situation.
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How right you are!
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I was obsessed with telling the truth as a child, although I’m sure I veered from the path now and then…I still hate lying, but of course ‘white lies’ are sometimes necessary so as not to hurt a person’s feelings. Like “Are you sure I don’t look too fat in this skirt?!”….And then politicians and lawyers are a whole other kettle of fish… x
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You are so right! I think politicians and lawyers have a different handbook from regular people and they probably abuse that as well. A sad statement on people.
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What you say is true Pam, no pun intended.
As far as science, the squeaky wheelers have even pounced on that one (for now), but I think in the end, it will be shown that they were on the wrong side of history.
Unless truth never does make a comeback.
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I am an unrepentant optimist. I believe the truth will win in the end. If not… I hope I’m not around to see it.
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You and me both.
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I love how you “see” and write, Pam. I seek truth knowing that what I believe, say, think, or do, isn’t the same truth as what others might believe. But I do my best to stay true to any truth guided by love and goodness. I didn’t tell the truth a few times and won’t forget those lessons. I told a huge truth and ended up smack in the middle of a large educational lawsuit in my state. One might be ridiculed by their truth; and some of us bond over what we believe to be true. I’ll stay optimistic in a truth filled with love, grace, and goodness. I’m a seeker.
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The truth isn’t always easy. Perhaps it is because it can be so hard that people avoid it. But I believe in you and I believe in what you stand for. That is my truth.
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Pam, your words touched my heart. THANK YOU. I stand with you and believe in you, too dear friend. 🤍
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A wise post, Pam. I, too, always try to tell the truth. It is not always easy. I also try to remain kind in the telling.
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Thank you Dale. I think trying to be kind is the best thing we can hope for.
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Yes. If the truth is hurtful, one must weigh if it is best to share it or not…
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It’s always useful to have the inner dialogue before the outer one. 🙂
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I do try to do that…
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You are ‘absolutely’ wise to question such things. I get annoyed by the recent overuse of the word ‘literally’. Ex: “I was literally dying when I saw the price of steak,” ummmm…not likely. Or “I literally froze to death out there last night.” 🧐🥶Okay Frosty! 😂😂😂
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When people use that word incorrectly I love to ask them if they would like it to be literal. Not all of them get it. Which actually makes my point for me, literally. Ha ha ha
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😂😂😂I love it. My oldest son would say, “Oh my, I’ll call an ambulance for you.”
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My family might suggest a straight jacket! Of course they would have to join me…
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