Gently Down The Stream...

When I was younger, I was very outspoken, I would simply be all out there when it came to expressing myself. I was kown for my strong opinions and the passionate defense of every idea, concept or perception I believed to be true and right. With time and experience I learned how to tone it down a bit, to be more "diplomatic" as they say - although I really don't like the connotation this word implies - without having to compromise or agreeing to something I was not convinced with.

So instead of wearing my heart on my sleeve, this approach encouraged people to drag my opinion out of me which really improved my communication skills and my ability to "give and take" in any serious and important conversation. I learned that there is no right or wrong, but rather what is good and acceptable for one person and what is inconvenient and ill-favoured for others. This made people respect me more and regard me as a good listener, a confidant and an objective and understanding person.

But sometimes I feel like I am going against the flow, like I am swimming upstream or against the current, which is a hard thing to do - only salmon fish manage to do it successfully during their mating season :) - but this feeling doesn't last long before I realise that I shouldn't change who I am or what I believe in just because a group of people, no matter how large that group is, doesn't agree with it or worse, doesn't accept it at all.

So, when you find yourself outnumbered and it may seem like everyone is against you, or at least as if they don't share your opinion on a hot topic, don't let it get to you; you are not wrong. Keep following your heart, even if it leads you against the current. Eventually you will get where you need to go.