"you want the truth?"

Where do we learn how to lie?

It's not something our parents teach us. It's not something we learn in school. There aren't public service announcements. Yet, somewhere along the way, we all acquire the ability to spin the truth or to tell the "little white lie."

This thought came to me today when I thought of how honest children are. My three and a half year old second-cousin came up to me at my cousin's birthday party and said, "I like you. Your dress is pretty." Why is it that this compliment was so much more meaningful coming from a 3 year old than a 30 year old (sorry cuz...)?

The honesty in children is so enlightening. You can trust that they aren't trying to get anything out of you (except maybe a few minutes of bubble wrap-popping fun). They don't have to put on a fake face or have a couple drinks before the truth comes out. They just tell it like it is. And nobody holds it against them. Ahhhh... and is that the answer?

We learn to "refine" the truth or hide certain details to protect ourselves?

I've never been a good liar. I think my M.O. was to not say anything. As a toddler, when my mom asked me if I drank my brother's bottle, I just didn't reply. Not answering was surely better than lying, and perhaps a smidge less incriminating. I may or may not employ the same tactics now. Being honest doesn't always put you high on everyone's favorites list, which might explain some things in my life.

It's weird because we are led to believe that honesty is an admirable trait. Of our forefathers (ok... feel a little awkward calling them that...) we have "Honest Abe" and good old "I cannot tell a lie" Washington. How times have changed. Nobody has such monikers these days, at least nobody I know of. I guess what it comes down to is that some people just don't want to hear the truth.