This blog dare is killing me. but this is one thing I will admit to freely because it was a huge growing moment for me. I’m going to take you back about 13 years ago or more, I honestly can’t remember when, but I know where. I was working out at the gym alone on this particular day when an ex-employee of the company I worked for approached me. She said she knows for a fact that I was spreading rumors about her sister. I knew exactly what she was talking about and wanted to run for the hills as she stood in front of me. My mind was racing with things to say, excuses, lies, anything, but saying yes, yes it was me. I couldn’t do it. I had to tell and risk the consequences.
She looked like she was about to fall over when I admitted that yes, I said it. She was expecting me to lie. She expecting deception. I floored her with the truth. Was it a rumor? I think, not. It was the truth. I told a friend, who told her boyfriend, that happened to be friends with the chick yelling at me. I think I was more surprised that she confronted me than that she knew what I said. Come on, like my friend wasn’t going to tell her boyfriend. Really? I then told her if it was true, which it was, then it’s not a rumor. Who cares really? I told one person that lived in a different state. Sure, maybe I should have kept my mouth shut, but I didn’t know it was a secret. Want to know what happened after I admitted it?
She invited me to play tennis with her! I think she admired my honesty and I promised not to tell anyone else. I learned a lesson too. Don’t ever say anything to anybody unless you are willing to stand behind it.
That’s what happened when I got caught!
Ruth says
You know what… I really liked this piece. I know I have been in similar situations, and it is very hard to own the truth of having started something. I have felt exceedingly guilty about starting a chain of events that caused someone pain. Owning it, well, that is not something I have ever tried. If I ever find myself in that position again (unlikely, ahhh the wisdom of age!) then I have a new tool.