What does my action say?

A good question to consider when deciding between what you want to do and what other people want you to do. 

In general, we should be true to who we are and what we want. 

But not all actions are created equal, and the meaning of our actions changes depending on the person. 

Recently I had my last day of work at a company I had been with for five and a half years. I hadn’t planned on doing anything to celebrate, and I didn’t feel like going out. But several coworkers wanted me to. I realized that I care about these people and that the action of not going out would say something I didn’t want to say:

I don’t value the relationship I’ve built with you over the past five years enough to bother.

It isn’t true, and that it’s how I felt. But I realized my actions could be interpreted that way. 

Instead, I chose to go out and celebrate.

Because it’s worth rallying for a drink or two at happy hour to show someone we care.