The New Year is replete with all sorts of prognostications about the future and looking back to how we can improve ourselves. Catholics call it an examination of conscience but that concentrates on nothing but sinning. I call it just taking a look at where I have been and where I want to get to. 

Honesty in its basest form, is looking at reality, warts and all. Cold hard truths but also an appreciation of all we have accomplished. It is a fine line between self efficacy and self criticism. Not too hard on oneself and not too easy. 

We are human. We lie, we cheat but we also give and love in the same breath. It is easy to throw stones but we all live in glass houses. We also have to realize our approach is governed in so many ways by history, tradition and rote. I often wonder if I am just true to my school or if I really don’t like the discomfort of questioning things I have long held.  

The best example today is the polarization of our governing system. We are not allowed to be middle of the road. With us or agin us. Not just on one issue but the whole platform of ideology. If you are able to do this and go full bore, God bless you. I usually say I can’t abide by either side but I think if I look closer there are good points to both. 

I was playing golf with a good friend the other day. Our conversation wandered from that stupid white ball and got to our current state of affairs. A dangerous venture to be sure but we don’t take things and especially ourselves too seriously. Specifically I asked him about Trump. He replied he was an a_hole but he liked what he was doing. Interesting. 

Immigration is the most predominant theme of the day. Does anyone really think leaving the border was smart under Biden? Maybe a small minority. Does anyone feel it is appropriate to carte blanche round up hundreds of people in the hopes of finding one or two gang members? Do we label everyone a terrorist? Even the guy who has been living here for many years with a contribution to society in many ways? Can you be honest? 

Moving right along, does anyone perceive Jay Powell as a crook and a danger to society? Is Mandami’s view, typical of the average American? How about Greenland? Mark Kelly’s career as a Navy pilot, astronaut should be blown up, have him court marshaled and lose his pension for stating what has been true since our founding. Really? 

Oh boy! Now I have opened a can of worms. If I believe that no one is completely wrong or right for that matter, is it a chink in the armor or perchance an inroad to civility and compromise? I chuckle at our governance here in Flalaland. When the minutes of our board meetings are published, all decisions are unanimous. Am I really to believe no one dared to object? 

I bring this all up not as an indictment(please excuse my wording) of one side or the other but to say that is difficult to opine you believe all of the tenets of the left or right. To me that is heretical. If I pressured you can you at least say you have reservations. 

Let’s get back to the personal side. I have done a lot of good things in my life. I have done well in business and in my own little way hopefully made  the world a better place. I have also screwed up royally. In 1985 after a foolish venture. I was flat ass broke with a wonderful wife and three kids to educate. I have treated people well. I have been horrible at times. This is not self flagellation but being honest with the plusses and minuses. 

I could come up with dozens of reasons why this or that did not work out.

Some of them valid and many of them smoke screens. In doing so I hope I am not living a lie. Not puffing up my CV but also taking credit where it is due. I missed that golf shot. Not because of the wind, sun or playing partner talking during my swing. Plain and simple I failed to execute. Not a big deal but also getting real. 

“Fake it til you make it.” A great maxim for today but not usually for tomorrow. Sooner or later the fraud in all of us comes to the surface.  I can bullshit with the best but as the old saying goes,You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. Sorry for my obscenities but it’s appropriate. Yet today we find all sorts of ways to project what isn’t us. We are a “thing” society. Judged not by who we are but what we have. Sad but true. 

In the end it probably bespeaks humility, self awareness, compassion and love. It ain’t just about me but about us. You and I are not God’s gift to the world. We are a speck in time that goes back millions of years. To be honest that is somewhat liberating. It’s the best I got. 

As always 

Ted The Great  

Factoids:

 Honesty creates trust!  Not only are you more trustworthy to others when you are known for being honest, others are much more likely to be trustworthy towards you. They open up. 

You order from Amazon. They sent you three of something instead of one. Billed you for one. Do you send it back or say they are so big it doesn’t matter? Good question. 

To be honest with another requires trust. I know I can tell you something and you will reciprocate. Not for the faint hearted. 

Abraham Lincoln famously said, “Resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer.” Ha!

Today is tough. Welfare and Medicare fraud. Scamming. Hyperbole. AI plagiarism. Taxes. Cheating. Impersonation. What’s a guy to do?