Stiff Upper Lip

Celebrating the virtues of stoicism in the Victorian age, the stiff upper lip and associated idiom came to represent a characteristic of the British populace.

While it’s great to display fortitude in the face of fear, I now realise that choosing self-restraint over emotional expression is not always the best idea.

As someone who can never think of the right response at the right time and struggles with self-expression on the rare occasions a retort occurs, it’s tempting to have silence attributed to resilience. However, more often than not, it’s a lack of boundaries and sharp wit.

Callum and Rayla in The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos

When the stars do align, and pat comes an appropriate reply, the accompanying sense of relief and joy are overwhelming in their intensity, which has led me to a late realisation in life.

When someone offends your sense of neutrality, it’s usually good to hash things out. However, keep in mind that the privilege of communication should only be afforded to those who have an open mind and lend a willing ear.

To the rest, if you cannot come up with a superlative response that maintains your sense of balance in the world, thank them instead and go home to bathe your temples with eau de Cologne.

Sniff, mutter, flip!