| When I was quite
young, I got into small scrapes I felt I had to lie to get out of. When
asked about it later I would tell the same story a different way. I just
couldn't remember what I had said the first time. If the lie was complicated
it sometimes got really bad, and led to a confession at the end with a
bath of tears. There seem to be some people smart enough to lie and get
away with it. I am not a member of that group. I found if I told the truth
all the time I didn't have a problem. Life was simple and uncluttered.
Friends and business associates are amazed at times (or appalled) when I answer questions with absolute openness, not knowing why I do it that way. However, I can never remember an instance when this openness has gotten me into trouble, and I feel I enjoy a reputation for telling the truth. If I say something, people know it is genuine. Little do they know it is a cover-up for my bad memory. If I can't remember someone's name I find it is better to tell the
truth and say, "I'm sorry I don't remember your name", than
to go through the discomfort of making a fool of myself by pretending
I know. |
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