Comments on: On Being Right

By: Madeleine Begun Kane

Madeleine Begun Kane — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:19:47 +0000

I’m very cynical about politicians and usually turn out to be right. In most cases, I’d prefer to be wrong.

By: Jannie Funster

Jannie Funster — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:54:41 +0000

My daughter is the queen of being right. But it’s her age.

I guess I’ve traded being right for being kind. But only in the past 2 days. So far so good.

I figure it’s best to let just about everything go. Nothing last forever. But love.

xoxo

By: Talon

Talon — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:04:04 +0000

When being right about something that isn’t pretty or nice or sweet is vindicated, it has a ring of hollowness…sometimes people can get so caught up in being right, it totally eclipses exactly what you say, Belinda – just doing the right thing. And doing the right thing – especially when it’s not the popular move – takes courage and wisdom.

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:10:50 +0000

I love this, very wise and clear, especially the last bit: “And speaking of doing, sometimes (maybe oftentimes), being right can’t hold a candle to doing what’s right.”

I hope you don’t mind if I memorize it and use it for a mantra through my difficulties with my family

By: BigLittleWolf

BigLittleWolf — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:54:29 +0000

I don’t care much about being “right.” I do care about open and honest discussion that moves all parties involved toward understanding other perspectives. Sometimes there are variations on right, degrees of right, lesser wrongs. It’s rarely black and white.

I do care about doing right – according to my principles, doing right by my family and . friends, doing right by my sense of self.

But ultimately, those of us who stubbornly put up walls and posture over who is right and who is wrong may miss out – on people. Life is very precious and very fragile. I had a stark reminder of that today. “Right” words, “right” behaviors, even doing everything “right” is of little importance if someone you love is hurt. Life can change in a flash. Egos are immaterial.

Great post.

By: pea

pea — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:17:48 +0000

Nothing wrong with being right and enjoying it. A lot of people will have worked hard for their accumulated wisdom and experience. But it is enough to know I am right and back down and opt for peace.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:59:20 +0000

This is a huge issue for me. I don’t always have to be right, but if I am I need it acknowledged. Without the acknowledgement, I stew. Not a good thing. I am getting better and trying to see a bigger picture but it is definitely a conscious effort for me to do so.

By: Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri

Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:55:26 +0000

Touch call. Being right is connected to ego. I hope, with age, I learn to let go of that attachment.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:01:33 +0000

Belinda,

This is tough!!! When you know something with your heart and it goes ignored; it is hard to let it go when the truth is realized. In my case, I’d want to scream, “I told you or I warned you!”

On the other hand, the “told you so’s” don’t really change the outcome. You are right, we do have to release that “need to be right” energy and step right back into whatever disaster might have been avoided and say, “Okay, how can I help.”

p.s I don’t always do this. It’s one my life challenges:~)

By: hedgewitch

hedgewitch — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:04:56 +0000

Being right is terribly overrated, I’ve been told. And so often, no matter how factually right you are, those who would most benefit from realizing it are unable to see it. Sometimes they never will, but you still have to deal with them. It’s one of the harder things in life, moving on from being right –but then maybe right is as individual a thing at times as ‘normal.’ Thanks for getting my brain fully awake and engaging me in both your poem and your point.