Let the Games Begin!

Well the Challenge Masters have been quite excited about this little undertaking of mine, and have even enlisted the help of a few other friends in coming up with challenges for me. It seems my fear that they would not have enough challenges for nine weeks in completely unfounded.

Here are the three choices for Week 1:

• Do not spend any money for the week.
• Do not say rude things about anyone behind their back.
• Compliment every person you are engaged in conversation with.

I have chosen the second challenge, so for the next week I will attempt to not talk about anyone behind their back.

Now, I would just like to clarify that I do not consider myself a huge two-faced, trash-talking, mean-spirited gossip queen. I am pretty sure my friends do not either. However, I will not deny that there are times when something said would perhaps have been better left unsaid.

I think the hardest part about this challenge will be learning how to voice my frustrations or anger or dislike for someone either in a positive way, or not at all. Maybe holding my tongue will cause me to reevaluate what I was going to say, and why I was going to say it.

Will I feel left out if I don't rail on "that girl's outfit" when I am with my friends at lunch? How awkward will it be when the complaints from my classmates about our TA are met with silence from me? We shall see.