T is for Tall tales

When is it OK to lie?

There’s always been quite a lot of debate around this topic. Are there certain things you should keep from your partner for the sake of maintaining a positive relationship? Or should you always keep a completely clean slate and share absolutely every thought, action and slip-up?

What’s your preference? What’s your experience?

I’m not sure what the right answer is – but the most compelling argument I’ve ever heard is that you can never be completely connected to someone or give your all to them if you’re keeping things from them. And however small it may seem at the time, if it’s an important secret it’s likely to grow and grow and eat you up from the inside out. 

Having said that, if it’s not your blunder but someone else’s, if it’s not your story to tell and will only cause harm and no good, then keep it to yourself. At all times, keep the other person at the front of your mind and focus on what would be the best result for them.

Now, another interesting angle; why is ‘telling tales’ a colloquial phrase for lying, when ‘telling tales’ heard in a different way is also the traditional phrase for story telling?

Authors create beautiful narrative worlds full of life-like characters living out their own hopes and dreams. Make-believe? Yes. Lies? I wouldn’t say so.

The nuance of language is fascinating. I’ve recently started reading Steven Pinker’s ‘The Stuff of Thought: Language as a window into human nature’ and if you’re at all interested in language, voice, nature and tone then it’s a must-read for you too.

Keep reading, keep writing and I’ll keep watching. 

• Blog challenge status: 23 days in, 20 posts down; SIX to go!
• People watch status:  Full of Easter treats and delighted to be nearing the finishing line of this brilliant challenge. Eager to spend more time exploring the other great blogs out there too.