Fix It!

Man, tonight was rough. I got called out on a bunch of stuff that wounds the pride. First of all, my buddy called me out on making an argument or comment that was like grabbing for air. Second, I got called out on how my words and actions don't coincide.

About the first point. Well, I have always prided myself on being open-minded and understanding different perspectives. I like to think what I say usually sounds reasonable to the people I come into contact with. So, when Jimmy said, "you're up in the air, man," it struck home - and struck hard.

I think it has to do woth being open-minded but it also has to do with making sure you understand what the other person is saying before you respond definitively. This is because I made a comment to Jimmy that seemed to be on point - I was wrong. This may have resulted from not understanding exactly what Jimmy was saying. Instead, I was making assumptions about what he was saying. That's dangerous, and typically a bad practice.

Now. To the second point. My friend told me tonight that my words and actions don't coincide. Well, I found it interesting she said that. Mostly because I have been thinking about this very alleged flaw and inconsistency in behavior, and so I have something to say about it.

Why is it so bad to have your words and actions contradict one another? Isn't the world full of contradictions, and we accept them. Religion is probably the primary environment in which people are most willing to accept contradiction without argument. And yet we get so worried about some behavior inconsistency?

But at the end of the day, I concede the point. my words and actions didn't coincide and I need to fix that.