The Beauty of Brutal Honesty

Urban Dictionary defines "brutal honesty" as follows:
(1)Tactless, hurtful, candid openness completely disregarding another’s feelings, hopes, dreams, or desires.
(2)What guys use to get you to look over the fact that they're being total and complete assholes

While I'm smiling on the inside, these two definitions are very thinly based in fact. There is however, some truth in the above definitions. 

Why do people (myself included) present as brutally honest? What is the gene or DNA strand that makes certain people this way?

It has been suggested that one way that people, such as myself, become brutally honest is that they had hypercritical parents. When submitting a piece of artwork in grade school, instead of being praised for the attempt, the art is picked apart and overly-criticized for its obvious flaws.
This does not fit my upbringing.

A second theory is that "overtly" honest individuals use their honesty as an offensive weapon or a defense mechanism to deflect from their own shortcomings. While I have known individuals who use their honesty this way, it still does not apply to me personally. Although I do have many shortcomings.

Thirdly, it has been stated that those of us who are brutally honest have no social filter or lack tact. This fits me. 
While I don't consider myself socially awkward, I fully recognize the fact that I have little tact when dealing with people on a day-to-day basis. This trait was simply never fully developed in me as I was always told to "be honest". I understood this to mean that honesty superseded any social protocol; such as telling a woman that what she has on makes her look like she's for rent.  

I have always found that forthrightness cuts through most of the red tape used to cover and hide one's own insecurities. In fact, in my experience, I have found that the majority of people prefer brutal honesty to tap-dancing around uncomfortable issues and situations.
Here's a large difference to my take on it......I typically do not actively seek out people to offend. If asked my opinion, I will give it; and it will lack a definite amount of sugar.

If you are afraid of the answer you might get, don't ask the question.......:)

What's It All About?

Have you ever had the time to sit down and think about your life; past, present, and future?

Do you ever wonder what you're "here" for? Why were you born into this world? Was it to do nothing more than earn a paycheck, incur debt, make babies, and then die? Am I seriously nothing more than a credit score. God, I hope not; mine sucks!
(I apologize for the morbidity there)

I have recently had some time to reflect on my life and what I'm doing here. I want to do more than simply use some else's oxygen. I have done one mission trip, and have volunteered my time coaching soccer to young kids for nearly 10 years. And somehow, I still feel incomplete. 

People spend alot of time with their children, and that's all fine and well. But in the end, you children will find love (hopefully) and move on with their lives. What then? There has to be more to this life than that. There MUST be something fulfilling; something with some depth to it. A way to live one's life in such a way that it impacts all those with whom you come into contact with. 

I have been catching up on TV lately and have seen a couple of "survivor-man"-type programs. I used to think that these dudes were completely off their rockers. But after listening to their stories and how they came to desire such a lifestyle, I must admit that it's not completely nuts to want to live "off-the-grid". No taxes, no rent or mortgage, no car payment. Just find something to eat every other day or so. That's it. (I would desire some deodorant though) As I feel more and more like a number in this world full of numbers, going off grid appeals to me a bit more every day. 

I suppose it's just something to think about........or maybe reality????

"Thank you"

I'm still here....

My life over the past 6 years has been a roller coaster ride to say the very least. It wasn't all crappy, but there was a massive chunk of it that was crappy. 
Granted, I was in a situation that I could have left at any point in time; I will own that part of it.

At its essence, life is little more than a series of decisions. As human beings, we make some really good decisions, and we make some really terrible decisions. Our psyche is made up of the results of those decisions. We must be held accountable for the decisions we make, regardless of the consequences. But I have also come to understand that there are people in this world who will not own their decisions; no matter what. It's always someone else's fault that they were arrested for assault, etc. etc. People such as these have no room in my life because I have found that these types of individuals will nearly always select the nicest person in their immediate clique to dump on.

I have been lied to, cheated on, belittled, and assaulted; as the above picture will testify. My divorce is now final (finally) and I feel better than I ever have in my entire life. I'm in a good place, both personally and emotionally.

In fact, I wanted to say "Thank you", to the person pictured above. It's because of this person that I am happier than I have ever been. Had I not gone through all that I had with her, I wouldn't be in the solid place that I currently find myself. I fully believe in Karma and she's a bitch to say the least. She will receive her comeuppance no matter the time or place. Karma gets paid. Period. So good luck with that. 

"Thank you", for without your lies and deceit, I would not be the man that I am today. Without your petty insecurities, I would not have had the opportunity to meet some of the amazing people who have helped me through this chapter in my life.