Sunday, January 4, 2009

A New Holiday in 2009


Now that the holidays are behind us (and most of us are back to work), I want to suggest a new holiday for 2009. Let's stick it in there somewhere between the MLK Day festivities and the Presidents' Day hoopla. Or maybe right before the candy onslaught of Valentine's Day. Let's just get it done sooner rather than later. 

I propose....drum role please...a National Day of Honesty.  

For an entire day, every citizen of this great country must be 100% honest. That is, the words in your mind will be spoken from your lips. No white lies, no sugar coating and no pussy footing around. I'm talking truthfulness, candor, and possible extreme bluntness. It's hard for most people to be brutally honest, but perhaps if we make it a national holiday, people will feel as if they have a pass to speak the truth for just one day (you can resume the lies in 24 hours).

It may be just what the doctor ordered for this sluggish economy. Surely Hallmark will jump on the bandwagon? We can have "Honesty is the Best Policy" buttons, balloons and t-shirts made for the occasion. Florists can create an assortment of Honesty Bouquets. Restaurants can offer Honest Meals whereby the customer gets a discount if they give their honest feedback. Honestly, the opportunities are endless...

But my guess is...most people will not be able to do it. Be honest...could you? I don't get many comments on my blog. Many people send me private e-mails, but many of you are too shy or too kind or perhaps not honest enough to share your thoughts. But, I'd love to hear from you in the comments section. The question is...could you be completely honest for an entire day?

Talk to me...

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glaurie-

Nice suggestion!
I would love to be truly honest for a day with most of the good-hearted people I work with. The truth is that it would probably be my last day if I were not fired or the victim of someone going postal on me.
In the meantime I'm left with coaching people to do their jobs while improving along the way. If they're not improving I get to be honest by letting them know along the way and in their performance appraisal. (Please note that I hate this method and would much rather prefer to get the instant gratification of letting them know all my feelings (without the use of sodium pentathol) in a instant. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses, I would probably ruin the relationship by letting someone know all my true feelings of their personality quirks and work habits. While your blog has made me an advocate for this holiday, it has also made me appreciate (and yet also curse) the filter that I was born with that makes me somewhat appropriate.

Happy New Year and hope you're feeling better!

Glenn

Anonymous said...

I receive your blog via e-mail and there is no way to comment, so I just respond privately - every day!! I think your holiday is a great idea, but like you, I don't think anyone could do it! I heard a report on television that the average person tells 3 lies in a 10 minute conversation! Love you and hope you feel stronger every day (not a lie!)

L. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
L. said...

If you receive my blog via e-mail...there is a line at the bottom that says, "You are subscribed to e-mail updates from Reid it and Weep..." (it should be highlighted in blue). Simply click on the Reid it and Weep and it will take you to the blog where you can comment 'til your heart's content!

L. said...

Glenn...I hear 'ya, buddy. Sometimes I have to work hard on making sure that my filter is in place and working. I will warn you (as I have a few years on you)....like many things, the older you get, the more your filter wears out. By the time you are a senior citizen, the filter is barely holding on and stuff will start spewing from your mouth that will shock even you. So exercise that filter of yours every day so that it will keep on ticking. Your only day off will be the National Day of Honesty (I am talking to Obama about getting it on the calendar ASAP).

Fondly,
Glaurie

Anonymous said...

No way could I do it. I am known for being a little too honest. If I push the envelope any further, I'd be in trouble.

Anonymous said...

I honestly read your blog every day. I honestly hate to comment. Please keep blogging.

Anonymous said...

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny."

Anonymous said...

Until I got this one, the comment spot on your blog was hard to find. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

L. said...

Honestly...hard to find? Somebody needs to put on her reading glasses! I'll see if I can make the comment section BIGGER and more user friendly. In the meantime...bring it!

Anonymous said...

bigger??? The comment section is huge! See- people can not be honest about that!
You must have a bunch of "lurkers" like me!!!
Keep blogging--
Amy

Anonymous said...

"We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter." ~Denis Diderot

This is no more evident than those damn blood pressure machines at the drug store. If they provide as with a reading contrary to our liking (i.e. high as hell), we discount them as being totally inaccurate. Yet if they come back with a reading of 120/80 or better, we love those damn machines and feel healthier than we probably are in reality. Truth & honesty are in the eyes of the beholder. Thoughts Laurie?

L. said...

Ah Barry-san, you speak the truth! I agree 150%. We believe what we want to believe, for sure....

Anonymous said...

This is a very interesting subject because I think most people are honest with what they say out loud or on paper (or computer). I dn't think that everyone should spill out everything that is on thier mind because believe it or not, I have even more to say! I think that people should be positive in their presentation, and always be honest, even if that means saying nothing at all! Honestly.

Unknown said...

I've always been a person to speak as honestly as possible. Although deep inside I lie to myself by walking through life with rose colored sunglasses as if everything is just peachy in the the world today. I have been accused of being brutally honest but only if I'm asked for my opinion. I don't randomly give it. I never understood people who feel like they have to sugar coat their words. With that said you can't approach someone and let them know their wardrobe of choice is dreadful but you have full right if you were asked. I must admit that I do bite my tongue on several occasions depending on the situation but it's rare.
I love the idea of this holiday and I want to rally everyone to celebrate it. GO HONESTY!!!
Miss seeing you at our place.
-d

L. said...

I've always admired your honesty, D-ree! But I do know that you are quite capable of holding your tongue. Unfortunately, I can read you like a book and often times I read your facial expression and know what you are thinking!!! Great minds think alike!

Anonymous said...

I have never commented before, but feel that I must this time. I think the idea of a National Honesty Day is horrible. What would be the point -- to make everybody you know feel like crap? I for one would end up without any friends, divorced, estranged from my family and DEFINITELY out of my inheritance! I offer this as an alternative suggestion -- why not a day when we all be honest, not with others, but with ourselves. Isn't that really the problem?

L. said...

That'll work. A National Day of Personal Honesty. (I think that's still rrreally hard...)