If you are my friend on Facebook one thing about me that you will know is that I have this pet peeve about split personalities. I have this issue [I guess you would call it] about people posting these wonderful spiritual pictures and quotes and then the next post being one that contains enough profanity to make a sailor blush.
When I do say something in one of my rants about it there is usually one or two that it offends or that offers to start a rebuttal about free speech. It’s not about free speech. That is by no means what I try to infringe upon when I go on a tirade about saying one thing one time and then something the exact opposite the next time.
I have this good friend of mine that came for a visit today. We were talking about this very subject and about how the very essence of this topic is simply the fact that you have to be one way or the other. You have to stand for something that you believe in and stand firm on that belief. Like my friend told me, if you don’t believe in anything then at least stand up for your lack of a belief in anything.
I have always tried to teach my children that you have to stand up for what you believe in. That means you can’t be a chameleon that blends in with one set of friends and then makes an about face and blends in with another set of friends that live by different rules and morals. Now I can’t say that I have not faltered in that area. I most certainly have. So when I try to teach my children something I always try to remember that I have to live by example not just by instruction only.
It’s as simple as the fact that you have to decide what image it is that you want to stand out about you. I have heard it said several times that your true character is what you are when no one is looking. While I do agree with that to some degree – I believe more that your character is what you are not ashamed to show people.
The social media – Facebook primarily for me – has been one of those things that have come along that makes me wonder what in the world we did before its existence. It’s basically one of my family members because it’s in my house with us all the time; it’s brought together old friends from the past and new ones along the way and brought long lost family members back into the picture. I love to get on there as often as I get a chance to just catch up and see what’s going on in everyone’s lives. One thing that is most entertaining to me is all the different personalities that people have. I can see one person’s name and almost always know that their status is going to be funny, someone else’s might always be inspiring and then there are some that make my mouth drop open because I never thought I would have heard that person say something like that. Suddenly an image that I have always had of that person is changed instantly and I look at them in a different (and a lot of times not flattering) light.
My point being that whether it’s in a gesture that we do in someone’s presence, a status on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter – it portrays an image of us and a lot of times one simple act can have such an impact on someone that it can result in a lasting impression.
Now I will say this there are people that I expect to entertain me with some of the things that they say. I have grown accustomed to their personality and I know not to be shocked at some of the things that they say or do. Doesn’t mean I think badly of that person – it’s just who they are and how they are. I respect the fact that even though I might be a diverse personality they don’t change for the reason of impressing me or try to be a different person for the fear of what I might think of them.
I myself try to portray the Christian that I am in my heart. Family and friends know I go to church and that I TRY my best to live by setting a good example. Sometimes that just doesn’t work out though. I lose my cool at a restaurant over bad service, yell at my kids when I’m having a bad moment, I tell Patrick off for something crazy or snap at someone for an unwarranted reason. When that happens I feel HORRIBLE! Because I know that I am not expected to behave that way – even if it is by my own expectations that I am falling short at that time.
To sum it up – it’s really quite simple. Pick how you want to be envisioned as when someone mentions your name. Choose what example that you want to set for others. If you want to cuss like a sailor then so be it but don’t whip out the Bible to quote scriptures for the next audience just because that’s who you think you have to be. Let the person that you see yourself as in the mirror be the same person that you display to everyone else.
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