"Now that I'm well more than half-way through my life, bracingly aware that my time is limited, I'm no longer willing to waste my time molycoddling anyone, me included.

I'm using this lifetime to learn what this living thing is all about, and I'm not going to protect anyone's pretty, flattering, self-satisfying theory if its thick on comfort and thin on realism--not your theory; not mine. I'm calling bull**** when I see it, and since it's safest to assume I'm as susceptible to bull**** as anyone, that means I'm not wasting any more time clinging to my beliefs when my self-flattering inconsistencies are exposed. Your reality check wake up call to me is my accelerated learning. I will not resist it now that time is running out on getting reality right.

I will stand corrected with maximum efficiency, dignity intact, dignity enhanced when I correct my false assumptions on a dime. That, instead of hoping I can just hold out, my head up high, til the end of my time. I will not die like Jerry Falwell, head deep up his ass, held high, smug and wrong to the end.

Eyes on the prize, accurate understanding, no more picking up pretty fragile easter eggs on this hunt cause they're pretty and make me proud to be me. I want sturdy truths whether they're pretty or not, and I'm going to act as though you do too.

I'll be tactful, but direct. I won't pick fights but I'll argue on content. I won't go gentle with anyone's pretty eggs, not the ones I've gathered; not the one's you've gathered. Friends in collaborative thought, but good clear hard thinking.

And if that offends, or feels "not nice," no problem. You might be looking for a mutual admiration society. Not me. I'm looking for an earned admiration society. If you decide that my critique of content is "inappropriate" we can talk about something else or not talk at all.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ambigamy/201501/the-half-life-pledge-being-realistic-its-too-late