No one person can claim to dispense the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth without expecting an alternative take on things.

We are free to pick and choose what we shall uphold as "true," but why do we deny others the same privilege?

One of the reasons “TRUTH” is so elusive is: We don’t get to choose “Our Truth”. Truth is handed to us even before we are born and then “drummed” into us for about 16 more years before we either rebel or embrace it wholeheartedly.

That’s not so bad if it ends there. But no. We go ahead and shove “our truth” down people’s throats. The truth, which ideally should illuminate our lives with love and peace becomes, unfortunately, the very source of hate, anger, destruction, non-tolerance and suffering.

Oh, and we go on further still. We dare to eliminate those with whom we do not “SEE” eye to eye, pun intended. Illumination turns to elimination. The right to be right becomes a hotly pursued right, instead of pursuing the light.

That’s not so bad if it ends there. But no. As we watch this unfolding world drama from the comfort of our homes, we as families and friends begin to fight over who’s right. We wrestle with the very people we love truly.

Here's my point. Suspend your truth on the night you are keen on having a good night. That night, forget who’s right. Forget the truth. Forget what you are sure that you are sure about. Instead, listen, and see the other side of the coin.

The truth does not discriminate, people do.

That’s the truth ... if you believe it. 

• Caroline Nderitu

“I learned that effective communication starts with the understanding that there is MY point of view, (my truth), and someone else's point of view (his truth). Rarely is there one absolute truth, so people who believe that they speak THE truth are very silencing of others. When we realize and recognize that we can see things only from our own perspective, we can share our views in a non-threatening way. ― Sheryl Sandberg,Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead