Being Totally Honest

My friend Danielle Smith wrote a brutally honest blog post today.

Take a minute to read her post first – Honesty, Take 2: I Still Believe. Actually, I’d suggest reading “Take 1” – You want Honest? I’ll give you honest – first. Either way, read both.

Okay. Pretty honest words, right?

While ready both of Danielle’s posts, I found myself nodding … and nodding … and nodding.

In fact, I may have even blurted out an AMEN (the non-religious kind).

Who is with me? Can I get an AMEN! (ha)

This quote in particular stood out to me:

And I’m suddenly trapped in that jagged space between ‘I’ve totally got this covered’ and ‘there is no way I can do this’. And that feeling often leads to an immobility I liken to the sensation of something dark and heavy sitting on my chest.

Man. Been there. Too often.

Danielle included an image with an amazingly simple, yet powerful quote: Do not compare your insides to someone else’s outsides.

The quote I found below pretty much says the same thing. It’s worth reading the post where I found this image too. Pretty awesome – and honest: Finding the line between inspiring others and being supremely annoying.

insecurity

My Turn To Be Honest

Now it’s my turn. I’m going to follow Danielle’s lead and also be brutally honest.

Deep breath.

Here we go.

In no particular order …

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, like there is so much on my plate that I need a bigger plate.

Sometimes that feeling of being overwhelmed is paralyzing. I have so much work to do that I freeze … and do nothing. This, of course, makes it worse as the work piles up.

Sometimes I go to Facebook and Twitter as my escape.

Sometimes I check my email or do other things that don’t really matter … while I’m “spending time” with my children.

Sometimes I have kick ass meetings with my clients. Sometimes I totally bomb it.

Sometimes I have bad days.

Sometimes I obsessively refresh my email.

Sometimes I text while I drive.

Sometimes I’m the best father and the best husband in the world – the most patient, the most caring, the most attentive, the most loving. Sometimes I’m not.

Sometimes I lose focus and do whatever I can to avoid what I should be doing.

Sometimes I eat like crap.

Sometimes I forget to exercise.

Sometimes I exercise to avoid doing something else.

Sometimes I say yes to everything, even those things I should definitely say no too.

Sometimes I spend way too much time on what’s not really important and not enough time on what matters.

Sometimes I complain.

Sometimes I “pretend productivity.” (just like Danielle admitted to)

Sometimes I check my email from the bathroom.

Sometimes I don’t watch the news because I want to be blissfully ignorant.

Sometimes I eat an entire carton of ice cream.

I’m not perfect. I’ve admitted that before.

But dammit. I will not give up. I will not keep pushing and pushing. I will allow myself to have “off” days and even “off” weeks. I will take a nap on occasion. I’ll drink a Coke every so often.

I will continue to strive to make the world a better place for everyone. I will continue to fight for what I believe is right. I will continue to be honest.

What about you?

DJ Waldow
Waldow Social
@djwaldow