Eadarian Network

Hello my friend,

Welcome to the 27th installment of The Creative Journey, the experience of one Charles Yerkes, Eadarian Poet, perpetuator, and otherwise mildly creative and excessively modest personage.

Making it cool to be noble once again.

This is the mission, the purpose of the Eadarian Network.

Quite the bold and daring risk, do not you think? For if the inspiration takes, there is unending gratitude from the inspired. If not, then there is frequent criticism and ridicule. But if that is the cost of helping my friends grow strong, then I will take that risk.

In this episode I want to touch upon honesty, integrity, and one of the most sinister, subtle, well meaning, and yet manipulative inhibitors to living a noble life that faces mankind today, ‘being nice’. “What is wrong with being nice?” You ask. What is wrong, what is sinister, is that this is ‘a good that is not good enough’; it is merely the good, which is only ‘good enough to just get by’. Just getting by involves cutting corners, not following through on everything required to treat folks with dignity, integrity, honestly and well. Only helping the current situation to be over or easier on us to face. We must respect others much more than this.

Such ‘being nice’ always – out of necessity – keeps things on superficial levels. When you sacrifice honesty and respectfulness to not hurting feelings… to not giving offence, much is lost. For respect cannot long live where deceit dwells.

In making that statement I took a great risk. The risk that you would follow my train of thought and not stop reading here, not allow yourself to stop and say, “So you want to hurt peoples feelings? You want to offend others?” I hope this risk pays off. But if not and that is the only thing you take from the above, please: 1) know that this is not what I said. 2) Please read on.

The noble, well-lived life never wants to hurt another’s feelings or to give offence. And it strives within the constraints of honesty and integrity to do what he can to not do so. And while holding to these truths, he also realizes that there is no way to please everyone, that no matter what you do, someone will allow their feelings to be hurt and another will take offence. The noble life accepts and lives with this truth graciously, not exuding offence and yet not shrinking from the possibility of it being taken.

The most enriching, most ennobling thing to do in any relationship, be that an acquaintance or a best friend and beyond is to be respectfully tactful and honest. To tell a friend you disagree with his choices and why, to tell that lady (when asked for your opinion) that you like her hat not. If their worlds crumble over your honest response to their queries – they need more help than just your saying, “Yes, I agree with you.” Or by saying, “Yes, that hat is beautiful.”

Now, the above is assuming tact and respect are being used and are not being used as a cover to actually be rude. We all know those who are rude, controlling, and abusive but try to hide this rudeness by saying, “I’m only speaking the truth in love.” What they are actually doing is simply availing themselves of the opportunity to vomit on you. This is not what is being referred to here. Nor can we throw away honesty and integrity because of the few who try to use them as a front, a cover, used to hide their own selfish behavior form their own eyes.

Also, you can be creative with your answers. Remember, honesty can be communicated in many ways. For example, instead of simply saying, “I do not like that hat.” You could say, “It looks perfect on you.” Assuming of course that it matches her personality, her outfit, ect. Honesty, integrity, and compassion are very creative forces. Use them well.

The world would be a much better place if we simply said what we mean and truly meant what we said. For this would open the door to learning, growing, and changing ourselves.

Until next time,

Live Nobly, Live Well

Charles Yerkes
Eadarian Poet, Perpetuator, Photographer, and Fiddle Player

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To choose a past installment(s) of The Creative Journey click here. To view a Quote of the Week, click here.

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