Pressures On

I heard something recently and although almost all I liked, there was one statement that troubled me.  I thought I cannot agree with that.
I understand sometimes it is just my interpretation and once I hear the motivation for such a statement I realize where someone is coming from.  Sometimes it puts a whole new perspective on something.  At other times what is said is something I cannot agree with.
It seems to me though I need to be very careful of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  That is something I have seen a bit of of late, and I really feel sometimes a good idea is discarded when it does not need to be.
I personally am glad who I am is not determined by one thing I have said.  There is a good chance my view has changed, and even of it has not, often who I am is so much more than one thing said.  Who I am is not necessarily who I was.
To me such things matter.  If what I say and do represents a consistent body of stated belief, I think it is fair my outlook is seen to be that.  If however it is something that is contrary to what I commonly state or contrary to who I am, then I would hope others see me the way I like to see others.  That is to find out for myself if what was said is representative or an aberration.
I am a great believer in not writing off.  So often what I hear is not what is said.  I am amazed how often I repeat back what I have heard and have it corrected by the speaker.
I personally want the benefit of the doubt.  So often what I stand for, though thousands do not, is not a case of standing for what is right but stubbornness on my part.  They say if you point the finger there are three pointing back at you.
There are definitely things I stand for and will not compromise on, but there is much that does not matter.  As I am incredibly fond of saying, “some things matter, most don’t.”  And I want to make sure that what I believe does matter is important.  It matters I know what is really being said represents a lifestyle.
I knew a guy that was captured by the Japanese.  He was in a prisoner of war camp and badly treated.  The media interviewed him and he said he could never forgive them.  He said to me later he regretted saying that.  I knew him well enough to know that saying that was contrary to what he stood for.
I filled in at soccer when I was a kid.  The team was an older group.  I was on the wing.  I got asked at one point if a ball had gone out.  I did not feel it had but when the pressure was on, I said it had.  I regretted that.
Yet that is not me.  I personally think it is so easy to glibly say something and it is not until the pressure is on my colours are nailed to the mast.  Often I do not like what I see.  What I say may not be who I am, but only pressure brings out the strength or otherwise of something.
What I say is not always who I am.  My goal is the two are aligned but I remain a work in progress.