Dating Taught Me a Lesson About Honesty
Hurt me with the safety of truth, not the insecurity of a lie
“Hurt me with the safety of truth, not the insecurity of a lie.”—Colleen Sheehy Orme
A man walked past me last night.
“I know him,” I said to my friend. “But I don’t recognize the woman he’s with so maybe I’m wrong.”
Not long after, the two of them sat next to us at the bar. As they took their seats, it registered with me. I got up and approached him.
“Hi,” I said.
“Oh my gosh,” he said. “Hi.”
“How do you two know each other?,” asked his date.
“We met through my friend from high school,” I said.
His date wasn’t nice.
She was adorably nice. The kind of girl you immediately bond with. There was no way to politely tell her I knew his ex-wife. It seemed like an awkward meet and greet line.
I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
It seemed inappropriate (and somewhat rude) so I told her the other truth. I knew his ex-wife because we had my high school friend in common.
I hadn’t lied.
