In music, you have something called a metronome. The purpose of a metronome is to swing from one side to another to hold a specific rhythm as a guide. Nowadays you get electronic metronomes as well. But if it does not have a pendulum – I do not have time for it in today’s session.

Sir Isaac Newton said: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Of course, he was talking about the law of motion. I think it’s very useful in life as well: My actions will create reactions from those around me. Like a grandfathers’ clock swinging

Years ago, I was tasked to make some post-1990 Dress code procedural changes at work. I made some changes and send it through to a couple of men and women for commenting. One of the women sent back an essay critiquing – men’s wear. Hmmmm… now, in general I am VERY wary to critique anything on an experience that I have not lived through myself or cannot relate to on any level. I can’t speak for all women, but I most definitely do not want to cross that line when it comes to clothing….

Even though I most definitely have my own preference for what I feel looks nice, I am not going to enforce it on anyone else. Unless it brakes the fundamental rules: must look professional, must not be too tight, no underwear out, no cleavage (that’s for men in overalls as well), not too short, body types differ. I do have to say that where I work now, because of the heat, a lot of men come to work with shorts on. I do not like it, especially Mondays to Wednesdays. But I will leave it to management men to address it – if they feel they need to.

If something is not in clear writing – it’s open for interpretation. I can’t imagine what will happen if I suddenly start wearing shorts to work. When I was a teacher I was told to not ‘entice’ people with my knees and ankles. At an athletics event in the summer. I suppose some people just have more sultry knees and ankles?

What we wear (for me at least) is an extension of our personalities and it says a lot – without us having to say anything. Especially at work in situations of authority.

What bothered me most about her critique – is that she did not consider for one second, that her comments can be used against her as well. And we are not in the times where men should tell women what to wear. We’ve been there, it was not fun. That is a dangerous game to play.

But, this is not a writing about clothes. It’s about that damn pendulum that keeps on swinging. What we hand out – we will receive back. Sowing and reaping and such. Not the celebration of something bad happening to someone you don’t like. Not the glee when someone that annoys you is having a bad day.

Nope – the fact that in life, every action does in fact have a reaction. And we might not necessarily like those consequences. And this is the exact part that can lead us to behave a little bit hypocritical. How many expectations do we raise for other people, without considering for one second that, that darn pendulum might swing back and smack us in our faces.

I have a very vivid memory in my middle high school years, where I criticised one of my friends for some Elastoplast remaining on her finger after a cut. Surely, she could wash it off properly? Surely, exactly a week after that I could have properly washed off the remains of my own booboo that was treated with some plaster. And boy, was she eager to point out my hypocrisy. Rightfully so.

Something like that happened to anyone you know? I’m sure we’ve all been in silly situations like that. The problem is – it doesn’t always stay silly and innocent. It becomes bigger and the consequences are so much more substantial.

And if the pendulum turns around – will it come at you aggressively and at a high speed? Or gently and soft? I think it will help if we look at the world right now. If we want to implement things that we benefit from right now – will we still benefit from it if the pendulum swings back? If the answer is no – then maybe it’s best of we don’t implement those things at all.

We underestimate the importance of consistency in any situation. When we are in a fowl mood and we just want to lash out at anyone and everyone we think is our enemy. But also, when we are in a good mood and we are overwhelmed with happy hormones.

I regularly refer to the hypocrisy of mankind. I don’t think we realise it in the moment. Because we are driven by how strong our emotions are at any given time. Positive emotions, negative emotions – it all makes us act and react in a specific way. But where will those emotions be, when the pendulum swings back and comes right at us? And our reaping is not the extravagant big things that we do for clout. Its those private little – no benefit matters.

The least of our problems will be the dress code. I mean – going underground and not playing around when I am getting sweaty and dirty – I feel that outside of that dark pit I want to look good for myself. But I am awfully weary to criticise other people on that. And life in general.

We can give our opinion, we can back it up with facts and things we believe in, we can be true to what we believe in. But that damn metronome stroke of hypocrisy has hit me too many times, for me to not be aware of the consequences.

Have a lovely metronimical week, friends!😊