I came across this writing defending married men who lie, but it could just as easily have said, “Dear humanity,” instead of “Dear married men.”
I do not judge the lie,
We are taught to hide—
To shrink ourselves, to mask our truth,
To live in shadows, small and quiet.
But there is a price we pay for that erosion,
A little piece chipped away each time.
I think of my child, who whispered falsehoods to her biological mother,
Saying she was at work,
While she sat beside me watching a movie and giggling.
She wove a veil of silence,
And in that veil, a part of her dimmed—
Became a little crueler, a little uglier.
If you find yourself compelled to lie,
Is it weakness, or a wound—
Are you prideful…or fearful?
But what life is this,
Where honesty is a risk,
And silence a shield?
I would rather walk away from my romantic loves
Than live in a cage of unspoken words.
I wish for a world that celebrates honesty,
That compensates the loyal who show up,
Who work steadily and faithfully.
After all, such worlds exist—
Tiny bubbles of brightness—
But to live within them is a gift,
Never forget that.
So I ask you,
As a favor to yourself, to me, to all who matter to you—
Be honest.
Show up.
Be the good you wish to see.
If the world is not changed today,
You will be changed,
And that is priceless.
Please.