So here's a question for you...just something to start a discussion. [grin]

Basically, do you think its "okay" to wear a different "face" for the different groups of people in your life? as in, you act one way around your parents, one way at work, differently around friends, etc.
Honestly, i think this is fine, as long as you aren't lying. I'm the same person only a little milder around my folks and at work. when i'm around my friends, i'm a little wilder, a little more outspoken, etc. But its the same ME.
So i guess, i'm just curious how you all feel about this. I know some people who take the stance that "i'm who i am, and if you don't like it, lump it" which is fine, but i think i'm correct in saying that there are rules, sometimes unspoken and sometimes flat out, that society, etc, has placed on different places, etc...

so anyway, i think i made it clear (i hope!! [confused]) and was just curious at my fellow CL members opinions. [grin]

I won't be on for a couple days (4 day holiday weekend!!) so HAPPY 4TH OF JULY in advance!! [grin]

I'm myself, probably to a fault, everywhere I go, no matter who I am around or with. I know this has limited my ability to move up at nearly every job I have had. I view "the boss" (whomever that may be) as a normal person just like me. Don't get me wrong I say yes sir/ma'am where appropriate but give no one special treatement because of title or perceived rank or status.
Some people like me because I'm straight forward and direct. Some people don't, but I am OK with that.

RedwoodBob,

I am the same way. I am always myself. I show courtesy and politeness when called for. I also treat my boss the same as anyone else. Maybe that's why she doesn't think that much of me (as well as the other three women like me) because I won't engage in butt-kissing! LOL! Oh, well! I will let the current clique of butt-kissers keep on with their job! HEHEHE! I belong to the clique of three women that tell it the way it is whether you like it or not! To thine own self be true!

Adiana[dancing-banana][llama-banana]

I am myself always with everyone! I am a straightshooter...so you always know where you are with me and me with you![grin] I am self~employed...so I am OK with my boss ~ ME! [lol][lol][lol] I use to feel that way Phoenix...like I had to be certain ways with certain people...That was too hard! It is easier just to be me...If I am OK with me ~ Most people are OK with me [cool]

Ditto Adiana! However I ain't got no boss to boss me around, so I like the Bitch Witch title! Power be to who can be free!! Hehehe! Ok' Fate waiting for a poem!!![wink][grin]

I agree Phoenix24

I am alot "milder" around work due to necessity and expected behavior.

With my friends I feel more comfortable and can "let my hair down"

With my relatives I'm well...more reserved and mindfull of their feelings.

I think all these are "me" just the me that lives in different worlds if that make sense?

Even with other Witches I can be my more "Witchy" self that say may not be appropriate for the work place..LOL

So yah, I agree there is nothing wrong with it at all.... you are who you are.

Same Here..... what you see is what you get; HOWEVER... when I am Working, I am a very professional person - its what my clients pay for. I know when to let my "Inner Child" out to play. [wink]

I can hear Ben Stein now. "Mr. Ipkiss, my book talks about masks as metaphor."

Actually, this is perfectly natural. Joseph Campbell used to tell a story called Finding Your Tiger Face, and it goes something like this:

A pregnant tigress is out hunting one day and she sees some goats. She's very anxious, because she hasn't eaten in a while, and she pounces. The goats scatter. However, she pounces so vigorously that she brings on labor, and shortly thereafter, she dies from having overexerted herself.

The goats come back and see the poor little tiger cub trying to get his dead mother to wake up. They feel sorry for him, so they adopt him and care for him. They have very strong maternal instincts, but they can't teach him to be a tiger, they can only teach him to be a goat. He learns to eat grass and bleat like a goat. Since grass is not very nourishing for a tiger, he's in pretty miserable shape.

Some months later, an older male tiger is hunting and comes across the goats. The goats scatter, but the young tiger stays where he is and stares at the older tiger. The big tiger comes to this scrawny little fellow and says to him "What are you doing living among these goats?" The little tiger just says "Baaaaaaaa", bleating like a goat.

The big tiger takes the young tiger to a still pond, and he shows him his reflection. He stands right next to him so the young tiger can see both of their reflections, and he says "See, you look like me. You've got a face like mine. You're a tiger like me. I'm going to teach you to be like me."

Next, the big tiger takes the younger one to a freshly killed gazelle. There are other tigers eating from the kill, and the big tiger grabs a hunk of meat and tells the young tiger "Open your mouth." The young tiger backs away, saying "I'm a vegetarian."

"Enough of that nonsense", the big tiger says and he shoves the meat down his throat. He gags on it, but soon his natural senses are awakened as he's finally getting the nourishment that he's needed for so long. Spontaneously, he stretches and gives a little tiger roar. The big tiger says "Good. You've got it. Tomorrow, we'll go into the jungle and I'll teach you how to be a tiger."

Now we experience something similar. Traditional religions teach us to be goats, but Paganism and other "alternative religions" (as our society labels them) introduce us to our tiger face. Soon, we have a problem. We are tigers, but we have to live among goats. Here's where the masks come in. When we are in the mundane world (work or school, for example) we show our goat face and behave like everyone else, because if they knew that we were really tigers, it could be very bad. When we are alone or with other tigers, we can then safely cast off the mask of our goat face and show our true tiger face.

We all found our paths because we are tigers. We just have to be careful who we show our tiger face to.


Rich

Rich...loved that story!

[evil] [smile] [cool] [pre][/pre]
(some of my masks...LOL)

Unfortunately I work for a Seventh day Adventist owned Medical group who have a strangle hold on the areas' hospitals.
And are extremely intolerant of anything that doesn't go the way they want it to.
So..I choose to pay my bills as the sole breadwinner and keep my head down.But aside from that, I live as I want to..I do not take my work home with me.

BB