Putting on Its Shoes

“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Are you fed up with the general lack of honesty in our electronic age? Today is National Honesty Day (NHD-April 30, 2017). Really! Don't you believe every day should be called that? I find it appropriate that NHD this year is on a Sunday. Don't many people attend church on Sunday to acquire a real, honest connection with the Almighty. The following is the origins of this minor.

The author of The Book of Lies: Fibs, Tales, Schemes, Scams, Fakes, and Frauds that Have Changed the Course of History and Affect Our Daily Lives, M. Hirsh Goldberg, created National Honesty Day in the early 1990s as part of the process of writing the above book.  The former press secretary to a Maryland governor selected the last day of this month in contrast to the first day of the month, and the foolishness and lying connected with April Fools’ Day.

Though the average individual lies about two hundred times a day which includes omission and white lies[i]; the concept for this minor holiday is simple. Ask direct questions without ulterior motives, and expect honest answers.  

Honesty between yourself and others can be extremely difficult. A recent Gallup poll found nurses are among the most honest people with lobbyists, salesmen, and members of Congress among the least honest. The average lie for a man is “I didn’t drink that much” and for a woman it is “Nothing’s wrong; I’m fine”. People are more likely to lie to their mother.

Celebrating Honesty Day is pretty simple on the surface, but it may be the hardest thing you do in your life. Here are some important things to remember while celebrating National Honesty Day.

Honesty...

ü Builds trust: People get ahead by making the right choices, and showing that they are trustworthy.

ü Is better than the best lie: Trust in the notion that the truth always finds a way to surface, so just own up.

ü Means you can’t read someone’s minds: Being honest doesn’t just mean telling factual truth, but also being truthful about the way you’re feeling

ü Opens up to someone truthfully:
Do you desperately want to confide in someone? Go ahead. This is your day.

ü Is transparent: Communicating less over email, and become more personally engaged with others via face-to-face interaction. This will build trust.

“Consider for a moment what you pay attention to all day long. What seems important to you? What do you take for granted, and hardly attend to at all? Write it down. Do not judge your answers. Be honest and simple. As you keep track all week long, you'll be amazed at what claims your attention. What you give your precious life force to.” (Brenda Shoshanna) [ii]

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     [i] A white lie is a harmless or trivial lie (especially one told to avoid     hurting someone's feelings). Google Answers

 

[ii] Sources adapted from:

·       “Honesty Day 2017” (www.cute-calendar.com)
“Honesty Day” (Wikipedia)

·       “National Honesty Day – April 30” (nationaltoday.com)

·     “National Honesty Day” (www.nationaldaycalendar.com)

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·  Honesty Day

·       “Sun 30th Apr, 2017” (www.daysoftheyear.com)