The Aftermath of Last Week's Post
The things that can come out of living/speaking your truth
Well, I wasn’t expecting that… I wrote a piece from a place of anger, sadness, and, quite frankly, being fed up. It turned out to be the most-read blog, got the most feedback (a lot of people contacted me privately, which was weird too), and sparked the most extreme responses.
I had people unfriend me. I saw some let their hate show. But, most of all, there was more love than I ever expected. It gave me a chance to share my point of view, challenge stereotypes, and take on all the tropes that come with it.
It was pretty eye-opening to see the true state of humanity in our world.
As a result, I got to do a podcast with a colleague of mine. You can check out the full podcast HERE. (Fair warning: it’s long—especially for someone like me, who has the attention span of a squirrel. Squirrel? Where? Peanut, you’ll forever be missed.)
I was terrified to do it, for so many reasons.
Why I Was Scared
Personal Viewpoints
Everyone has their own take on the world. Who am I to challenge that? Who am I to even share mine?Hiding My Thoughts
Since I was young, I’ve found it easier to hide my intellect than to challenge others. Most of the arguments I’ve been in have stemmed from debates. It’s just easier to keep my thoughts to myself if sharing them will upset someone.Misjudgments
I don’t look like someone who’d have the thoughts I do. I’m constantly misjudged:I say one thing, people think I’m a Republican.
I say another, and they assume I’m liberal.
Say something else? Now I’m an atheist.
Oh, but wait—I’m also a zealot.
I look mean and angry because of my appearance.
Or, I’m too emotional and could snap at any minor event.
Losing People I Love
I’m scared my thoughts could cause me to lose people I care about. That fear isn’t directed at any specific group of people—it’s just a general concern.Confronting Reality
I worry about finding out that the people I’ve surrounded myself with are different than I thought—or, worse, that I’ve misjudged them entirely.
Overthinking? Guilty.
As you can probably tell, I overthink everything. I live in a constant state of uncertainty—and all the fear that comes with it.
The Podcast
So, I got on the podcast. Based on past interactions, I already knew we had different worldviews. I figured it would lean more toward a debate than a discussion. My main goal? Don’t make an ass of myself. Oh, and don’t speak for others. I tried to keep the conversation focused on my own conclusions and the facts I know.
Over the 2.5 hours we spoke, there were plenty of challenging, charged topics. Four-ish days later, I can now say I actually enjoyed it. It forced me to think and respond—something I haven’t done in years. Because, let’s face it: if you never share your viewpoint, you never have to defend it. You can quietly judge others who think differently without ever being challenged to reflect on your own thought process.
Those I call true friends—the ones I love and let speak into my life—constantly challenge me to think and reason. But most people will never truly know that side of me.
Still, I believe in the concept of “iron sharpens iron.” Normally, my friends are the sounding board, the anvil, the hammer, [insert every other metaphor here]. But this podcast gave me the chance to test that idea with someone I’m just getting to know.
Again—terrifying!!
So far, the feedback has been positive. I haven’t brought myself to listen to it yet, though. I can’t stand the sound of my own voice, so it’s a hard pass for now. LOL!
Final Thoughts
Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Challenge your thought processes. Not to change your perspective, but to maybe solidify it—or even expand it. You might find something new to add to your opinion. Heck, you might even change it altogether.
Growth comes from being uncomfortable. If you let yourself become complacent—or, worse, surround yourself only with people who think just like you—your life could end up the worst way possible: boring. And no one likes boring.
This whole process reminded me of something I’d forgotten: I love debating. Not to convert anyone—just for the art of it.
If you have questions, comments, arguments, or even topics you’d like my perspective on, feel free to reach out.
Thank you for reading all of these posts so far. ❤️