Is it really such a good idea to bottle up your thoughts?

I mean come on, seriously, do you really think the World is a better place for everyone keeping tight-lipped, or is that just the populace being uptight and afraid, afraid to tell people what we really think? After all why bother writing a Blog (am I the only one who wonders where the hell that name came from?) unless you are going to say what you really think. That you by the way, is me - just in case you weren't sure - but having said that, I welcome comments from one and all. There is no censorshp here as far as I'm concerned. What's the point of telling me, or anyone else what you think, if you don't actually say exactly what you think? A good point? Maybe, we'll have to wait and see.

Now I'm not sure if you are in a country that has seen a television programme called 'Grumpy Old Men' (BBC1, I think.) And yes, there is now a follow up called 'Grumpy Old Women' and why shouldn't there be, we all have a right to vent our disatisfaction with one thing or another. Well, if you are and you have seen it, you'll know what I'm on about. I don't know anyone who doesn't like this programme. Why? Because these celebrities, politicians, et al, are all saying exactly what most of us think. Yet, then we go about our daily lives and for the most part, what do we do, say nothing. We wander round like lost sheep, aimless automatons of the corporate world, either afraid or too downbeaten to do what... to speak up, that's what.

Now don't misunderstand where I'm going with this, I'm not saying that people should go to the extreme either. History is full of enough people who not only spoke up but went too far, and look what happened to them and for good reason. But I think we will most of us agree that it's good to get things off one's chest, to clear the air. Tact and diplomacy still have a (very important) place in the world. Respect and love too, let's not forget that. At the end of everything, it is important to remember that we're only here for a fraction of a blip in the life of the Universe and it's important to make the most of that short time, to treasure every breath, every heartbeat, every moment. We all want to be loved, liked and cared for by others. We all want to love and be happy too. Of course we do.

But still we need to tell each other what we think, what we are thinking about, also how we feel. If we don't do that, then are we not being honest with ourselves? And how can we be honest with ourselves if we don't express ourselves openly and honestly to others, albeit as tactfully as possible? I'm looking for the answers as much as anyone else. I figured out, not what I wanted to do, but who I really am eleven years ago. It really was like an epiphany. I was stood with one leg in a bath and one on the carpet (I was working on a project not bathing by the way.) Anyway, I suddenly started smiling to myself. My colleagues who were in the building with me at the time, looked at me like I was mad. And I told them I had literally just realised 'who I am' and how I wanted to spend the rest of my working lfe.

Since then, I have met a lot of people and have asked many if they are either doing the job they would really love to be doing, or living the life that they would love to be living and the shocking, if unsurprising, fact was that most people said "No", that they "aren't living (their) life the way (they) would like to be living it."

This got me thinking. And I have since asked this very question many times. Maybe you can try it yourself sometime. A dinner party, any party, or even out with the lads, or girls, in a group. Just ask this question, it will be enlightening to you, and your friends or family, I'm certain of that much. It will also be uplifting when someone answers that they found it already (though that is sadly rarer than it should be.)

The question:

"The rules of the game, so to speak: If everyone, without exception, earned the same salary as each other, regardless of what they do for a living (be it a postal worker, surgeon, pilot, taxi driver, model, politician, etc, etc,) and that salary is a very good salary which will give you a very good quality of life (home, holidays, car, social, etc,) yet everyone, including you, must work a full week, however it is that you wish to do the hours (i.e. days, nights, weekends,) but regardless of what occupation you choose to do, you will already have the talent, the confidence, the gift, the professional qualifications and skills to do absolutely anything you want to do, without any exception whatsoever, my question is this: What would you do?"