For whatever reason most people seem to prefer to avoid the facts.
Usually this is driven by a desire to soften or defer any confrontation.
But sadly, without direct communication things only get worse.
Sometimes you just have to tell the truth. It's so much better than subterfuge.
Confrontation isn't such a bad thing. In fact you can handle it quite elegantly. One of my favorite examples of that art is this scene from Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
Why can't life be like the movies?
Or even better yet, an episode of The Golden Girls?
Conflict, candor, resolution.
All in thirty minutes with several commercial breaks.
"You need to find balance in your life."
"You've lost your soul."
"You're fat.""You've become a horrible
partner, father, friend."
"Quit your job before it kills you."
"You have everything you want
but is it enough?"
"It's not worth killing yourself is it?"
And... everything
she said was totally correct.
Honestly,
she saved my life.
Over the years, my closest friend "T" has told me many things that frankly were initially quite shocking. But... upon reflection... always right.
Love often requires
taking a chance.
Ultimately I've found that only those closest to me have been willing to tell me things I did not want to hear.
At one point in our relationship,
Frank had to challenge me about
something extremely personal
and therefore highly volatile.
My reaction was -
"If you force me to choose,
it will probably not be you."
His response?
"I love you so much that I'm willing to take that risk."
