Have you ever been faced with a dilemma and you didn’t want to share excuses for why you choose or did a certain something? (Was that English at all?) Let me tell you about your new answer.
“Personal reasons” *not to be used for everything*
Not too long ago, I was speaking with a peer who works at the elementary school I recently left, job-wise. Well, I didn’t want to tell her the true reasons, the panic-induced reasons, the traumatic reasons. So I said ‘personal reasons’ and left it at that.
I believe using the phrase ‘personal reasons’ in those instances are perfectly valid. Why did you cancel the party? Personal reasons. How come you wear headphones in public? Personal reasons. Why did you leave your job/your relationship/your family/your home? Personal reasons.
Obviously this doesn’t work for everything. Why’d you murder the shopkeep? Personal reasons. That’s probably not gonna fly.
People are naturally curious (a curse and a blessing) so they want to know the T. However, you don’t have to share your personal life with others. You don’t owe them an explanation. But what will they think? What others think of you is none of your business. You shouldn’t worry yourself about that anyway.
Now, maybe I’m in the wrong. I’ve been wrong before. I will reiterate: this excuse doesn’t work in all situations. You probably should tell your boss why you’ll need a two-week paid vacation. But if you ask why I was suspended from my undergrad college for eight months, and I say ‘personal reasons’, don’t push further. You’ll only be imposing on a very touchy subject I don’t wish to talk about.
Just accept the answer and move on.
Alexandra TG 