Honesty

I wore a brand new charcoal grey fine wool suit to work today for the first time. I matched it with the beautiful black pumps I bought in Melbourne a couple of months back and a black silk top. I felt like a million dollars.

I was in the cafeteria making a coffee when a good friend and colleague came in. We chatted and she noticed my new suit. I did a twirl for her and casually asked  “ Ya like it?” 

Big mistake.

“Hmmm dunno – I’m not sure about the colour. Is it wool? It’s not my kind of thing I guess. Too formal. Too tailored.”

I felt deflated.

I know that I asked the question and some no doubt would say that if I didn’t want an honest answer I shouldn’t have asked. But hang on a minute, when did tact become a thing of the past?  It’s not like I was asking her in the shop fitting room before I bought it - I had already shelled out the big bucks. It must have been obvious to her that I felt great wearing it so why would she feel like it was necessary to be so brutal?

We all get asked questions every day where a completely honest answer is not the best course of action. 

Isn’t she the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen?

What do you think of my new sofa?

Do you like my new hair cut?

Wasn’t that the best lasagne you’ve ever tasted?

Selective honesty has it’s place  – telling a white lie in response to these types of questions means that no-one gets hurt. There’s almost always something positive we can come up with to save hard feelings.

Do you agree or do you believe there is not any excuse for any degree of dishonesty?

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Do you like my new do?

 

I got e-mailed this today. 

Cute.