Speak Your Mind!

This is Robert Downy Jr.

You wanna know what I like about RDJ? He's Tony Stark! I'm pretty sure he will always be Tony Stark. If ever there is another Iron Man, they will not fill the roll as well as RDJ.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, one thing I like about Tony Stark, is that he speaks his mind. There isn't much you don't know about him as a character. His opinions are right on his sleeves, and those opinions are usually blunt, honest, and to the point. I like that!

I was reading a comment thread the other day on Facebook. The topic of this thread was the BBC dropping Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear. Now, that's not important, to me at least. The part that struck me was that the OP of the thread had a dilemma. Short sweet and to the point, he felt one way about the firing of Jeremy Clarkson and his friends felt another way. He was almost disgusted that his friends could feel so passionately about an opinion that was contrary to his. He wasn't quite sure what to do.

My advice to my children will to be always speak your mind. Some might disagree with me on that, with the assumption that peoples feelings might get hurt, or that speaking your mind may affect you negatively sometimes, but hear me out on this one before jumping to conclusions. In my relationship with the people of this world I have found more likely than not, that when I have a problem with someone, it's because of a lack of communication. Thoughts weren't properly expressed leaving me and the other party to fill in the gap with our own assumptions. This is why I always try to express my opinion, I don't want people guessing which side I am on.

So what should you do when others have opinions different from yours? Accept them. Opinions make us who we are. We are all comprised of different opinions, that were constructed through different experiences, trials, joys, and other things we have lived through. They are formed by what we watch, who we associate with, where we live. Think about it, not one person in this world is exactly the same as you. Difference in opinion should be celebrated, not frowned upon. Expressing what is in your mind is like sharing a part of who you are. We should never be against sharing opinions. 

Now, going back to where you may disagree with me. It's all about presentation. There are times to share your opinions and there are times to hold you tongue. But you should never leave a situation thinking "I should have said" or "I wish I would have". You shouldn't push your opinions on others, and you should be accepting of opinions that differ from yours. That is how in fact we makes our opinions stronger.

A person cannot grow if he or she constantly places themselves is "safe" situations. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I cannot shun myself away from those with different beliefs. One, that isn't what God would want, two, how would I grow if I only surround myself with things that were comfortable to me. 

Your opinions need to be challenged, they need to be expressed, and you yourself sometimes need to hear your own voice solidifying what you believe. So share you mind. It's what makes you, you. I wouldn't have it any other way.