The Friend’s Project
Ben and Leo had been best friends since kindergarten. Leo was a talented artist, and Ben often relied on him for help with creative projects. This time, however, Leo’s latest art project was… well, it was bad. The colors clashed, the lines were crooked, and it looked like it was done in a hurry. He asked Ben, “So, what do you think? It’s for the art show. Do you think I’ll win?”
Ben wanted to say, “It’s amazing!” just to make Leo happy. But he knew that wouldn’t help him. The project really wasn’t good, and if he said it was, Leo might not work on it further. It was a tough choice: hurt his friend’s feelings or let him fail.
Ben took a moment to choose his words carefully. “Honestly, Leo, I think you can do better. This doesn’t look like your best work. The colors are a bit off. Maybe you can try a different palette?”
Leo’s face fell. He was clearly disappointed. “Oh. Okay.” He went home and didn’t talk to Ben for a few days. Ben felt awful. But then, on the day of the art show, Leo approached him. “Hey. Thanks for being honest with me,” he said. “It hurt at first, but I went back and completely redid it. I’m so glad I did.” Leo pointed to his new, stunning artwork, which won an honorable mention.
Moral of the Story: Honesty, when delivered with care, is a form of kindness. A true friend tells you the truth, even when it’s difficult, because they want what’s best for you.