See, when you build a false narrative for everyone to believe
You better be good. Oh, you better be good.
You better make doubly sure you revise,
Re-write and give concise adjustments to all future drafts.
Deception is a hungry beast; what you offer isĀ never enough,
Don’t rest when you know there’s no way to account for future encounters
Crunch time on a daily, nursing crippling anxiety from getting through
Yet another day with a well-crafted lie;
Why complain about mental decline
When its a chosen struggle hitched to your ride?Ā
What I say may mean little to you,
And that’s okay.Ā After-all,
You’re the expert.
ā O.D. Ā©2019
Art by: JoeyJazz
O.D. 
Hmmm this took me on some mental journeys. Words of truth here O.D.
Thanks Anne. These are words I hope to remember each and every day Iām tempted to cast my Self aside.
Good! I would be very disappointed to learn that you had cast yourself aside!!
Recently, I told a white lie to some old, old friends and a few family members because I was afraid if I told them what I was really up to, they might think I was too ambitious. I am paying for the lie with mounds of guilt. Very insightful post, Michael. You put me in mind of Mark Twain. Wasn’t it Twain who said something like, “Tell the truth. It is easier to remember what you said”?
Perhaps you were avoiding a scenario where their concerns would harm your progress. I probably would have done the same thing in a bid to avoid conflict.
We are patient Paul, but I believe there are times when avoiding a particular route is beneficial to our mental health. For example, I donāt hang out with certain āfriendsā as much anymore because Iāll be ābusyā. āBusy with what?ā They may ask; ābusy staring into the distance and reflecting on my value systemā
To them that does not constitute as being ābusyā. But you know what? I donāt care (I mean that nicely lol) Iām busy, so Iām busy.
If you feel your project will not be received well by certain people in your space, and you think the wise course of action is keeping it under wraps. Iām in total support of your decision. You know your heart better than anyone else š
What you said goes right to the heart of what is necessary for a life well-lived, doesn’t it? I mean, folks who spend little or no time in reflection so often strike me as bouncing from entertainment to entertainment with little other point or purpose to their lives, Michael. Does that make any sense?
It does make sense. As morbid as my viewpoint is of this particular issue is, I will still share.
I believe happiness to be a distraction from the persistence of existential dread. That the sooner we come to terms with our mortality and loneliness, the easier it is to gain more clarity. Obviously this isnāt full proof, but it coincides with your point.
I often see people who move from entertainment to entertainment as people who are trying to stay āhappyā or distracted. Either they havenāt done enough self-reflection, or theyāve dabbled in it and are afraid of what it means.
Either way, I get where youāre coming from lol
My mom and grandma watch Judge Judy a lot and she always says: “you don’t have to have a good memory if you tell the truth.”
Great point, Kelley!
Thats some profound wisdom right there š
mmhmm!