I am in two minds about being open, i.e. brutally honest with a number of people. My business partners, my employer, my children and those who really matters. My policy has always been to speak out about my likes and dislikes! Sometimes I may sound like a goody-two shoes person, which I am not! God forbids! Do I have to keep my views to myself, when it is very obvious that I will regret it later for not voicing it out in the first place? It happened many times before.
Do I have to tell only what people want to hear? Do I have to keep the bad news all to myself? Must I lie just to be popular? Will I be shot for being the bearer of bad news? History has shown that being the messenger will get you rewarded, either with accolades or with sticks.
To my business partners, when I say my piece, it has to do with issues at hand. Nothing personal. Let's look at things objectively. If the earlier decision was made without any sound business rationale and now we are having problems, then let us work on finding the way around these problems. No point crying over spilt milk. Let us move on by finding the way around them.
To my employer, sometimes what we actually see and think we see, may be a mirage. We need to make sure that what we see is real, not a fantasy! We are not in the business of make-believe! Leave it to the film-makers. Let us deal with reality.
To my children, life is never a bed of roses. What you enjoy today is the result of labour that the earlier people has put in. It is never by chance! Even when you were conceived, was the result of hard work between your mum and me! The only one who defy that rationale is Prophet Isa PBUH (Jesus to the Christians). Therefore, when I tell you things, please take it as it is (on the face value). I do not want to have to clarify things all the time.
To my significant other, sometimes I find it hard to be open with you. Please try to read my body language. You would be the last person that I want to hurt. I'd rather endure the pain myself rather than seeing you suffer the indignity. Not to know things is actually a bliss. Enjoy it while you can.
This posting is not a confession, but my way of coming out clean with all the people I mentioned above. I have NOT touch on my siblings, my parents (actually just my father, since my mother has passed away) and some other people which I have conveniently left out.
Now I feel a lot easier with all that off my chest!
