One of the biggest myths about George Washington is the cherry tree story, in which young George damaged a cherry tree with a hatchet. When his father confronted him, the boy said, “I cannot tell a lie.” According to the story, his father felt that honesty was “better than 1,000 trees.” Thus, he hugged George and forgave him. Ironically, the story about truth was actually created by one of Washington’s biographers in 1806. President Washington was known for his virtues, but he never chopped down a cherry tree. No wonder we celebrate Honesty Day on the anniversary of his first inauguration.
What Is Honesty Day?
M. Hirsh Goldberg, who wrote “The Book of Lies: Fibs, Tales, Schemes, Scams, Fakes, and Frauds That Have Changed the Course of History and Affect Our Daily Lives,” determined that Americans needed one day of the year in which they could have honesty. Goldberg wanted to promote truthfulness in politics, historical education, and consumer affairs. April 30 was chosen for two significant reasons. The month of April begins with pranks and jokes. This year was no different. Even corporations got into the act, with Google pranking their customers with their “mic” drop button in email. Although Google’s prank backfired, we love April Fool’s Day.
This year, we can hope for honesty from everyone, especially in politics. With the presidential race in full swing, it’s been a rough year for Americans hoping for a better situation. Sadly, not everyone knows about Honesty Day, nor is it federally or state sanctioned. Goldberg gives awards each year to companies and organizations that are truthful. Maybe you can’t get to his ceremony to find out who is being truthful, but you can pick up a copy of his book or read another book about the lies we’ve been told throughout the years.
Do You Lie?
Goldberg found that the average person lies about 200 times a day. This counts those little white lies and lies of omission. Most people consider nurses to be the most honest people. It should come as no surprise that most Americans find politicians and members of Congress to be the least honest. In a study from the University of Massachusetts, researchers found that 40 percent of people lied on their resumes. On dating websites, 90 percent of the profiles are not truthful. What does this say about our society?
Think about those little white lies you tell people. Maybe it’s, “I’m fine,” when you’re not really okay. You may not want to stir up conflict or discuss your problems at that moment. Have you ever told someone that your phone was dying when it wasn’t? Maybe you told them you didn’t have any reception where you were. These are all easy lies, and we often say things like that to avoid bigger conversations about why we didn’t want to talk to someone. It’s time to look at what we say. Sure, we don’t want to be mean, but maintaining falsehoods takes a toll on your mental health. It also creates a relationship of mistrust.
Could you go a whole day without those type of lies? Maybe you should give it a go and see how it feels to be completely honest. The cherry story has stuck with us for a reason. It’s been around for more than 200 years, and we still tell it to our kids and see it in comics. It’s an important part of our culture today. It says a lot about Washington’s legacy, but it also says something about us. We want that honesty from our family, friends, and politicians. The only person you can change is yourself. Make April 30 a day to remember honesty. Challenge yourself to be honest with those around you. You’ll see positive results that go far beyond just one day.