Saturday at the Loch

I spent this afternoon listening to some children make up stories about each other whilst walking in the park and it reminded me of a saying I read in a magazine some time ago. “ Isn’t it fortunate how selective our recollections usually are. ”

Apparently the tendency to tell tales is “a very natural human trait,” according to David L. Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at the University of New England, in Biddeford, Maine. “It lets you manipulate the way you want to be seen by others."

Many of us have different moral beliefs about lying. Some people believe lying is wrong, no matter what the reason. Others believe lying is okay if it makes someone feel better or to avoid causing pain. A few of us believe lying is okay if it’s for personal gain such as lying on an interview or trying to impress a significant other. Everyone has different reasons for lying but it's important to remember that lies bring benefits and alternative consequences.

So if you have to lie, don't involve other people, try getting it out of your system by writing a poem about:

1. a lie that you very much regret and has created endless problems in your life.

2. a lie that started out simple and got out of control

3. how it felt to have a lie be revealed.

Go on be creative-it could save you from making a mistake.