"A truth can walk naked, but a lie always needs to be dressed." — Khalil Gibran
When I read that line, three words jump out: authenticity, simplicity, resilience.
In Chicago, we don’t lie... we bullshit and that ain’t the same thing. Bullshitting, when done right, is neighborly. It is the art of keeping the wheels greased without pretending to be something you are not. The truth still gets through, but maybe with a wink and a kick back..
The truth doesn’t need makeup or spotlights. It doesn’t beg for applause. It just shows up, raw and unafraid. It can walk into a room naked and not flinch. That’s because the truth is built to last. It survives scrutiny, while lies collapse under their own costume jewelry and duct tape.
Good people, real ones, own their mistakes. They don’t need to cover them up with stories and schemes. They just stand there, bare-ass honest, and take their lumps. I’ve seen it on the playing field, in the pew, and on the trading floor.
Life’s best moments? Most of them happen when we are naked, not just without clothes, but without ego, shame, or show. We come into this world that way, and if we are lucky, we go out the same. It beats leaving it buttoned up in the cuffs and collars of a charlatan.
So let us walk into Tuesday like we have nothing to hide. The sun has a smile, the sky’s got good manners, and the oysters are ready to slurp. Nothing pairs better with the truth than a cold beer and a little saltwater on your lips.
Walk proud.
Stand bare.
Live true.
...and always search for astonishment
