“You see, in this world, there is one awful thing, and that is that everyone has his [her] reasons.” ― Jean Renoir (Filmmaker).

I came across this very interesting quote whilst doing research today. It’s very rare that I find something I agree with so much that I even want to share it with every one of my friends.

I think the sooner people come to terms with the sad reality that everyone has his or her own reasons the better. People like judging us for the choices we make without even attempting to understand why we made those choices.

You put on a weave, and they come out with guns blazing and they call you all sorts of my names. They say you’re not proud of who you are. Like really now? *rolling my eyes*

When did my hair become the embodiment of who, and what, I am?

I’m me. I have my own reasons. It’s my hair, it’s my head! So, buzz off and let me be… You don’t hear me saying anything about how you live your life – because it’s yours!

***

There was a girl. I can’t remember her name. I can’t remember if me and her have spoken or not; or whether she was my junior in high school; or my senior in primary school. But there was a girl.

She was not popular or anything of that sort, but everyone knew her. Sure, maybe, they didn’t know her by name or surname. But they knew her still. This was mainly because of the maroon beanie she wore. Winter or summer, the maroon beanie was on her head! In class, she wore it!

I don’t remember ever seeing her without the beanie. I never asked her why. I don’t think anyone, except, maybe, the teachers, ever asked her. But I know she, too, had her reasons. People have reasons. Those reasons might not make sense to us, but they are reasons nonetheless.

People have this strange tendency of believing that they have a monopoly over what is right and normal in society. If you do anything that doesn’t make sense to them, they call you names. They judge you. The sad thing is that they do this without even bothering to ask you for your reasons. Take staunch Christians, for instance. If you don’t believe in their God, say for example you’re Muslim, they won’t fail to remind you that hell is the place you’re going to.

I don’t understand that. Why do people believe there is a single truth in the world? That their truth is the only truth?

***

There is no truth in this world. People lie every day. Politicians, desperate for votes, stand in front of masses and lie through their teeth. Pastors stand on the pulpit, one hand clasping the bible and the other pointing towards the skies, and yet they lie. Robbie whispered “I cross my heart and hope to die” and other sweet nothings into my ears on our matric dance night; yes, he was lying too. Parents lie in the name of protecting their kids from this or that other thing.

People lie. They lie for their own selfish reasons. But they are reasons nonetheless. Everyone has a reason for whatever they do. Those reasons might not make sense to us, but they are reasons nonetheless.

ZZ xx

Dish it: Why do you lie?