A while back, in a moment of madness, I requested 5 questions from Pauline ... I can't imagine what rush of blood to the head prompted this insanity ....
I suspect, having read Pauline's answers to 5 questions posed to her, and being suitably impressed and in awe of her perspicacity, my ego got in the way.
Anyway, having had a months holiday and having picked clean the brain of the Mollybawn, I now am endeavouring to answer these difficult posers. This exercise, is a somewhat futile attempt, to distract my emotional self from the turmoil of recent days.
My ego has definitely returned to a more manageable, gut wrenching normality.
Pauline's Posers
1. In addition to the basics - food, shelter, affection - What do you require for a good life?
Good health. Laughter. Trees. Animals.
2. How often do you pay attention to 'gut reaction'?
All the time.
3. Have you lived where you live all your life? If yes, why? If no, why did you move?
Except for the years from 18 - 32, I have lived here in this place, the land of my childhood. Not a distinct choice - I suspect I am easily pleased. Having spent a number of years travelling with GB, I was quite happy to fall in with his wishes to settle back in the only place where you can get a REAL pint of Guinness because I really am quite an agreeable person. And the Guinness is exceptional.
4. If we are what we think about (as well as what we eat), how would you describe yourself?
Mercurial.
5. Do you have a cherished belief? And what do you think would happen if you were to give it up?
Yes. I have 3.
The first one is that that I do no wilful harm either by thought, word or action to any living entity.
This one keeps me on my toes, all of the time, sometimes to an uncomfortable degree.
The second, more achievable one, is that I try to treat others as I would have them treat me.
I get to walk on my heels with this one, most of the time.
And the third one is, that I have tried, am still trying and will continue to try to have compassion as my first reaction to the human dilemma. No footwork involved here.
If I had to give these up?
Spiritual death, I suspect.
Bonus Question
What strategies have you developed in your lifetime to cope with loss?
I found this question very difficult to answer.
As a child, coping with a perceived loss of love, I stopped talking. As a teenager, I got angry and rebelled and spent my time seeking the negative. As a young adult, I struggled to hold onto my sanity and retreated behind a feckless exterior. Its only now, as a fully grown adult female that I realise I didn't really cope, in the true sense of the word, I just survived. It wasn't until I hit the bottom roaring and I felt very much alone that the truth finally hit me. I could either sink back into the old ways of dealing with pain - anger,denial, depression, - or I could wake up and do something about it. Meditation and travelling within to seek the answers worked and is still working.
Directions for the Interview Meme
I suspect, having read Pauline's answers to 5 questions posed to her, and being suitably impressed and in awe of her perspicacity, my ego got in the way.
Anyway, having had a months holiday and having picked clean the brain of the Mollybawn, I now am endeavouring to answer these difficult posers. This exercise, is a somewhat futile attempt, to distract my emotional self from the turmoil of recent days.
My ego has definitely returned to a more manageable, gut wrenching normality.
Pauline's Posers
1. In addition to the basics - food, shelter, affection - What do you require for a good life?
Good health. Laughter. Trees. Animals.
2. How often do you pay attention to 'gut reaction'?
All the time.
3. Have you lived where you live all your life? If yes, why? If no, why did you move?
Except for the years from 18 - 32, I have lived here in this place, the land of my childhood. Not a distinct choice - I suspect I am easily pleased. Having spent a number of years travelling with GB, I was quite happy to fall in with his wishes to settle back in the only place where you can get a REAL pint of Guinness because I really am quite an agreeable person. And the Guinness is exceptional.
4. If we are what we think about (as well as what we eat), how would you describe yourself?
Mercurial.
5. Do you have a cherished belief? And what do you think would happen if you were to give it up?
Yes. I have 3.
The first one is that that I do no wilful harm either by thought, word or action to any living entity.
This one keeps me on my toes, all of the time, sometimes to an uncomfortable degree.
The second, more achievable one, is that I try to treat others as I would have them treat me.
I get to walk on my heels with this one, most of the time.
And the third one is, that I have tried, am still trying and will continue to try to have compassion as my first reaction to the human dilemma. No footwork involved here.
If I had to give these up?
Spiritual death, I suspect.
Bonus Question
What strategies have you developed in your lifetime to cope with loss?
I found this question very difficult to answer.
As a child, coping with a perceived loss of love, I stopped talking. As a teenager, I got angry and rebelled and spent my time seeking the negative. As a young adult, I struggled to hold onto my sanity and retreated behind a feckless exterior. Its only now, as a fully grown adult female that I realise I didn't really cope, in the true sense of the word, I just survived. It wasn't until I hit the bottom roaring and I felt very much alone that the truth finally hit me. I could either sink back into the old ways of dealing with pain - anger,denial, depression, - or I could wake up and do something about it. Meditation and travelling within to seek the answers worked and is still working.
Directions for the Interview Meme
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview me"
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions - I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed you will ask them 5 questions.
11 comments:
Good, thoughtful answers.
I don't think I have the courage to say "interview me". Maybe later.
Your three beliefs are like a road map for life.
If I was asked question #1 I'd be accused of "cogging" because my answers would be the same as yours. Remember the trees in Sarasota...
The agonising was worth it. Very thoughtful, soul searching answers.
BTW---shouldn't you be sleeping? It's still the 3 rd. here!
Very thought provoking answers.
Dare I ask... please interview me.
Do you have red hair by the way. Birdy
I like your cherished beliefs and I too try to live my life with those mantras in mind. I don't always succeed but it's good to have a plan...
I've liked this glimpse into your thoughts. I'm glad you decided to answer...now I get to be in awe of you
I love all of your answers especially your profound answer about your cherished beliefs. You have verbalized your thoughts so well.
I agree with everyone else. Your answers are very thoughtful.
Lovely ideals to live a life by. I try also to live by those ideals, as I strongly disagree with all 'religion'.
Nice answers... I also like how you say you pay attention to your instincts all the time. I've realized and discovered that no matter how illogical, always follow your guts...
Now I see the photo. Worth the wait. Is he sitting in your garden or a shared one. I love statues, and often wonder what the artist was thinking. btw I just kinda knew you had to be a redhead, call it intuition.
I really like your answers to these very pithy questions. I was even tempted, for the first time, to throw in the towel and ask you for an interview, which I have thus far resisted quite admirably.
I try to practice compassion at all times, too, but occasionally I struggle with the desire to hurt someone who has hurt a loved one. I do realize that it comes of ego, not loyalty, when I think about it.
Sometimes it's hard to be a mere human.
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