"A Christmas Story" was just on television yesterday for 24 straight hours. I have seen this movie in entirety countless times and watched snippets more times than I'd like to admit. Yesterday, as I waited to go to my in-laws, I caught a scene in which Ralphie and his friends are bullied by Scut Farkus.

Scut Farkus! What a rotten name! There he stood, between us and the alley. Scut Farkus staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So, help me, God! Yellow eyes!

Ralphie's friend, Flick, gets trapped by Scut and his bully friends. They grab Flick and make him scream uncle. The scene made me think about the times in life when you just have to "say uncle."

Being stubborn, proud, and often self-important (none of my best traits) makes me prone to never saying uncle. Not in the sense of being a push over, rather I mean knowing when it is better to be liked than to be right.

The lure of "told you so" is so tempting to me that I rarely like to let the moment pass. Also, when I'm thinking logically its hard to empathize with someone when they are being emotional or just want to rant, bitch, or vent.

I'm writing this post because learning to say uncle is something I need to remind myself of the importance of regularly. My initial reaction is to speak my mind, voice my opinion, give my two cents, and put someone back into place; but as I list these reactions out it is apparent to me how unflattering these reactions can be in lasting, meaningful relationships - love, family, work.

I don't like making New Year's resolutions, because by mold in which resolutions are cast seems to be faulty. Regardless, in 2009 I'm going to work on saying uncle, giving in, and turning the other cheek.