AURIA CORTES

The following post is part of May’s blog chain.

So I know someone who is lying about a situation. It’s a small lie. To him it’s probably an insignificant lie. I understand his initial reason to lie - he wanted to wiggle out of an uncomfortable situation. But when the lie didn’t change the negative outcome, he decided to tell his side of the story, with the lie in place, in mixed company.

In this case, mixed company refers to a group where some people know the truth and others know the version he’s sharing. And that’s what astounds me.

It’s one thing to lie when those around you don’t know or will never find out the correct version, but to lie in front of people who are privy to the truth…well…that takes guts. And to top it all off, he’s lying about a subject that no one else could give a fuck about. Although I understand why he orginally lied, I’m at a loss as to why he has chosen to go to the “streets.”

I’m not planning on an intervetion, however, because the last time I gave advice to a nontruth teller it didn’t turn out so well. Here’s what happened: My friend lied so much that I gave her my therapist’s number and instructed her to say on the first day, “I want you to know that I’m a liar. I lie about eveything. Please don’t take anything I have to say at face value. Question me at every turn. Except don’t question what I just said because I’m telling you the truth. But don’t believe what I say after this.”

And she did just that.

Through therapy, she overcome her impulse to lie, fudge, or tell half-truths.

Good news for her. Bad news for our relationship.

After her newfound conscious, I found her boring. She lost her charm. Even her written short stories turned stale. 

This time I’m butting out and will allow liars to do what they do best…lie.

Next up on the chain is Life in Scribbletown.

This month’s blog chain is unthemed and I’m up first. My post will be up in a bit but in the meantime, visit the other bloggers in the chain.

Auria Cortes

Life in Scribbletown

Polyamory From the Inside Out

For the First Time

Family On Bikes

Writes in the City

Elf Killing and Other Hobbies

Rotating Bear

Fantastical Imagination

Asian Business

Spittin’ (Out Words) Like a Llama

As Yet Untitled

Mad Scientist Matt’s Lair

Peregrinas

Delirious

Livin’ tagged me. Here are the rules: 1) Link back to the person who tagged you. 2) Post the rules on your blog. 3) Write six things about yourself. 4) Tag six people at the end of your post by posting links to their blogs. 5) Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 6) And let your tagger know when your entry is up.

Scooby-Doo And A Mummy Part 1

Scooby-Doo And A Mummy Part 2

1. I’m a vegetarian, but I ate a turkey burger about two months ago. Good news is that I didn’t find it satisfying, but the steak fries were terrific.
2. People annoy me.
3. I’m considering dating again so that I’ll have a man who can fix things around the house. Yes, I can probably fix things myself but I don’t want to.
4. I’m allegoric to the sun.
5. If there is a food shortage, I won’t stock up on food. I’ll go down with the starved. Who wants to live when everyone around is dying?
6. I want to go to Eygpt because I want to be a mummy when I do (for real).

I’m not tagging cuz I got no one.

The Unfocused Life wrote a post called On Balance where he described his return to writing. Though I never left writing nonfiction, it wasn’t until my 30s that I decided to seriously begin writing fiction.

I learned early in life that I have to be an active participant in my own life to ensure my dreams come true. Though there are many stories I can recount that soldified this for me, there is one that has had the most influence on me.

When I was 18, I went out on a few dates with a 45-year-old dentist. Yes, I prefer older men but that’s a topic for a different post. J

Once during dinner I asked him why he chose to become a dentist. His response surprised me. He said his lifelong dream is to fish. And although he went fishing just about every weekend, he wanted to do nothing but fish all day. His career as a dentist afforded him the opportunity to retire at age 50 so he could fulfill his dream.  Yes, he is wealthy. And yes, he did retire at the age of 50 so he can fish.

When I started my business at the age of twenty-five (somewhere around that age) the first person that came to mind was the dentist. I knew that my business would give me the flexibility to earn a living while pursuing my life goal – to become an author and artist.  

For five years I lived and breathed my business. Everyone that knows me thought I was nuts. “Balance,” they cried, “You have to find balance.” I didn’t see it their way. I was happy to build my business because I knew that my plan was going to work. Besides, my business consists of writing and public speaking. Two activities I enjoy so work never feels like work.

That said, anyone who ever started a business from scratch understands the amount of hard work and commitment it takes to pull it off. So although it didn’t feel like work (most of the time), all my efforts were put into my career.  

Fast forward to my early 30s: my first book was published and I started taking guitar and painting lessons. The sweat I put into my business in my 20s has paid off. I now have the flexibility and resources to begin my second life.  

In the end, I had to pace myself. I couldn’t have it all at once. Some “wants” were put on the back burner while I concentrated on my sweet dreams. And it was worth it. 

(This was written as part of the AW Febuary blog chain. Next in line is Spontaneous Derivation. Visit her site over the next couple of days to see her take on this post)