I try to be honest. I try to be open. I think that has come through on some of my previous posts, both here and on Facebook. I was told once several years ago by my wife that there is a 'work Jim' and a 'home Jim'. I thought it was kind of odd and certainly didn't like hearing it. I mean, I was young(er) and thought 'nah, I'm the same old me everywhere I go'. Lets face it, most of us don't always take personal criticism all that well. I was hurt and didn't want to believe it but think subconsciously it stuck with me and I started changing that. I didn't want to be two different people.
A few years later the office that I worked at was closed. A lot of people were suddenly forced to find new jobs. Several people that used to work for me when I was a manager ended up being hired on at my wife's employer. One of those new employes met my wife and when she found out that I was her husband she said, "I know Jim. I used to work for him and he's a weeny". (I know!) My wife laughed of course then assured her that I may have been a weeny before but I'm certainly not that way now. Over time this employee got to hear about me and meet me again several times and I was able to convince her that I was no weeny.
I think that goes to show, appreciated or not, that little bit of feedback has helped make me a better person. Here I was a few years back compartmentalizing my life and acting different around different people. Reflecting back I think it's a crazy way to be. Don't get me wrong, I think it's perfectly fine to separate work life from home life and vice-versa, but who you are at work, home or out with friends shouldn't be any different than who you are any other time.
I felt this topic of compartmentalizing our lives is relevant for a few reasons. First, it was the focus of the sermon delivered two weeks ago at my church. The pastor asked the congregation why people would only represent God in certain aspects of their lives. Why would religion/church be separate from your work, social or home compartment? If you believe in something, you should feel comfortable with it and allow it into all parts of your life.
Second, Politicians. I see politicians doing this with their party affiliation. It's been very prevalent these past few weeks during the debt ceiling debates. Republicans only voting for Boehner's proposal and the Democrats voting only for Reid's proposal. Are you really telling me that these guys thought the ideas thrown up by their own party was absolutely the best - on both sides? Were they voting their heart or were they voting their political career? Do we really need these ridged party compartments? A person I'm friends with on Facebook once told me that he would always vote Republican because in his opinion the worst Republican was always better than the best Democrat. I also think that line of reasoning is crazy.
I guess the bottom line here is - take a hard look at yourself and see if you are showing the best version of you all of the time, or just when you think it counts.
(Gee, I hit both politics and religion in one post!)
No comments:
Post a Comment