Danny Sommer
Theology
Period E

Right Speech Paper

At first, trying to observe my language and the way I talk I thought would be complicated, because I never really reflected upon the way I spoke. I thought my language was normal so picking up on a certain aspect of it would be hard if nothing really stood out. However, I did notice a little difference in my language around my parents, or at least my choice of words.

One weekend in particular, I had plans almost everyday. Saturday I was going to hang out with my friends all day at a block party and I would not be back until late that night, and Sunday, after both of my hockey games, I would head to evening mass. So I would not get home until seven in the evening Sunday night. After telling my mother my plans Friday afternoon, she asked me what subjects I had homework in. She always wants me to get my work done, and if I cannot then things need to be cut out of my agenda so I can. I totally agree with my mother with finishing my work, it’s just I do not like being told when to do so. I did not lie; I did say that all I had homework in was math, English, science, and social studies. I did not mention that the math homework was to complete a study guide and study for the test I would have on Monday, or that English was to read a whole story and comment on the key motifs, that my science would involve a 50 question web assign that I need to start, nor did I say my social studies was to take notes on two sections in the text book. Because the homework situation did not seem so bad, my mom allowed me to do everything I had planned without making me cut things out. I did end finishing my homework too, just at 11:30 Sunday night.

I do not know why I curved the truth towards my advantage. I think that I think I know what I am doing sometimes and it will come back to haunt very late at night. My mom probably would have made me go to the block party later after I finished some work or made me leave the block party early to finish work on Saturday night. But I think that I know what is best and I can do it all.

Something pretty interesting about the right speech experiment was that not only did I hurt my relationship with my mom by, basically, lying to her, I also lied to myself. I lied to myself in the way that I convinced myself that I could do everything. I learned that I need to be true to others, as well as myself. If I can do this, they will be happy, and I will have descent hours of sleep.