My grandpa, Fred, has a saying that I grew up hearing. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." or something to that effect.
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Honestly, I think that's why the weeks have been skipped. My hope and intention with these newsletters was to do something that people could look forward to. When I don't think I have anything worth looking forward to, or talk about, or argue into the void, I don't want to (continue to) come here with a list of excuses or complaints. I don't say anything.
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Now, in real life, because this is pretend.. I often don't hold back the not-so-nice things, and as often as it ruffles feathers, I think, once it grows on you, it becomes one of my more endearing qualities. This is a subject that I 100% cannot speak to. I just think people should be more authentic and speak up. The world likes to harp that happiness is a choice, and by the dualistic logic that is often adhered to, so is sadness. If you don't address the things upsetting you, they will keep happening. So, as much as I was also raised to respect and, inherently, listen to my elders. I might just wage an argument against Fred's quip.
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I'm not implying that we should say every not-nice thing that we think; there's a level of discretion involved. It's a process of finding balance between maintaining the respect we have for ourselves, establishing the respect we will and won't accept from others, and, in turn, being appropriately respectful. Which is incredibly personal, I can't tell you where or how to draw your lines, but I can tell you that it's probably not a bad idea.
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It might not be a bad idea, but I can tell you it is difficult. Sometimes it's hard to say the mean things, but you respect the person enough to say it; sometimes, you're the person you're respecting. Oftentimes, the "mean things" come from a place of love.
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I'd love to go on, but it is 10:30 on Sunday night, so I'll adhere to another one of Fred's sayings, that might not be fully his, but what is fully anyone's, anyway? "KISS it." No emphasis on the KISS, it stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid." I understand that saying it at the end is out of place. Regardless, don't overdo things. I find this to be a sufficient means of philosophising about boundaries, in the format of a (hopefully) refreshing read.
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Thanks for sticking with me, reader.
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