Question 7

On what occasion do you lie?

It feels silly to credit a podcast with having so much influence on my life, but here we go. Judge John Hodgman has had many rulings regarding someone frustrated with a loved one for trying to lie or bend the rules. It’s clear that these lies stem from a place of shame. I still lie on these occasions. I don’t want someone to know that I was late because I wanted to do the crossword or spelling bee, or read one more AITA post. I’m trying to mix not doing things that make me feel ashamed, and stop being ashamed of things that are, in the grand scheme of things, not that shameful.
I lied so much as a kid and I know I did it to protect myself when there really weren’t any adults willing to take that on. I know why I lied and I’m even a little bit proud that I figured out ways to navigate. But I know how to survive now, I have people in my life who offer help, I have a million coping mechanisms. I’m proud now that lying doesn’t factor into my life much.