by Steven Pike

Created on: November 03, 2008

It would be lovely to be able to express the way you feel, exactly when you feel it. Unfortunately in the real world, this is not always advisable.

As we age, we become more accustomed to our own feelings and what type of person we are. We no longer care as much about how others perceive us and we are far more likely to speak our mind. To everyone around us we have become grumpy.

Think now what it would be like to have to start dating again. Can you imagine trying to coerce a member of the opposite sex into fancying you. It's too hard. It might necessitate having to trim my nose hairs, ear hair and, God forbid, my back. If things progressed and became intimate, the trimming might have to extend to other parts of my anatomy. All because we feel we have to. Well it's not right. I doubt there would be anyone else out there willing to put up with me. I don't care, and I'm glad I don't have to.

Another uncomfortable moment occurs when attending a social gathering and women insist on offering their cheek for me to kiss. Quite often, I don't even like the person offering, so why would I want to kiss their cheek? A barely perceivable nod in their direction should suffice - greetings over. The males in attendance will inevitably ask how I've been. They don't really care and it's really none of their business, so why ask?

The workplace is one area where keeping your feelings in check is essential. You might enjoy your job, but feel no exceptional loyalty to the company. However, there will be a manager or boss, who continually expresses his loyalty to his employer and will speak of nothing else. For your job's sake, you have to agree with him, but internally you're thinking "What a load of bullocks. I'll work, you pay me, but please just shut up." How satisfying would it be to just say how you feel?

After hours work functions are another occasion where keeping your true feelings under wraps is almost essential. All of a sudden, colleagues who barely give you the time of day at work, want to strike up a conversation. "Bugger off" is the first thing that pops into your mind, and you might even say it if you've had one or two ales, but keeping things civil is what it's all about. Such functions are normally organised by the younger members who only invite you because you work there.

We are all bound by the rules of society and, although there are those who quite often speak their mind, most hold back with what they really think. This is a good thing. It would be a lonely old world if everyone expressed their true feelings.

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