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askygoneonfire) wrote2018-10-19 11:54 am
askygoneonfire) wrote2018-10-19 11:54 am
Five questions
Thanks to Meepettemu for my 5 questions - these were really interesting to think about. Please let me know if you'd like me to ask you 5.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet, or an astronaut, or a small holding owner. That covered my aspirations from age dot to about 18.
If you could go back and not develop mental health stuff, would you change that?
This is something I've asked myself many times over the years. It's really difficult to find a way to answer. If I could go back and not have experienced the two key traumatic events which I think led to my mental health to be as it I would absolutely do that - would I still have cyclothymia without those experiences or would I have a different iteration of similar things? I think mental health issues have given me a deeper understanding of a range of difficulties different people have around disability and access but I hope that my critical abilities and broad compassion would have allowed me to develop that. Realistically, I think yes, I would shed the burden that is long term mental health issues. I can only imagine how much freer my life would feel.
What is your favourite thing about yourself?
This took me ages to come up with so instead of thinking of it in positive terms I had to work to it backwards (what would I be most sad to lose) and the answer is my moral centre? I think I've always had this core sense of justice/injustice. When I was a kid the sense of injustice would render me mute and I'd invariably cry out of frustration so my whole life (?) has been focused on finding ways to articulate that and argue for something different. I think I've always had an orientation toward understanding what created an injustice and figuring out what should change - and that's been expressed in my enthusiasm for reading everything and asking lots of questions. About a year ago my Dad told me that arguing with me (on political/moral/philosophical etc topics) was like getting run over by a steam roller. He meant it as a compliment and I took it as such (I don't argue like that with my students, dont worry)
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Brighton. Standing on the beach looking out to sea.
Or: swimming (but not in the sea here cos it's filthy) - particularly at the lido.
What has been your best age so far and why?
Now? The temptation is to pick a time in the past but that always involves some lying to yourself about the difficulties and frustrations as though they are less important now because they are far away, despite being catastrophic at the time. Right now (34), I know who I am. I have a sense of my professional identity. I live largely as I please with a bit of flexibility in my finances. And I have a bit of a sense of being good at what I do - capable - in a number of spheres. There's still stress and hardship and longing, but it's more in the background than it's ever been.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet, or an astronaut, or a small holding owner. That covered my aspirations from age dot to about 18.
If you could go back and not develop mental health stuff, would you change that?
This is something I've asked myself many times over the years. It's really difficult to find a way to answer. If I could go back and not have experienced the two key traumatic events which I think led to my mental health to be as it I would absolutely do that - would I still have cyclothymia without those experiences or would I have a different iteration of similar things? I think mental health issues have given me a deeper understanding of a range of difficulties different people have around disability and access but I hope that my critical abilities and broad compassion would have allowed me to develop that. Realistically, I think yes, I would shed the burden that is long term mental health issues. I can only imagine how much freer my life would feel.
What is your favourite thing about yourself?
This took me ages to come up with so instead of thinking of it in positive terms I had to work to it backwards (what would I be most sad to lose) and the answer is my moral centre? I think I've always had this core sense of justice/injustice. When I was a kid the sense of injustice would render me mute and I'd invariably cry out of frustration so my whole life (?) has been focused on finding ways to articulate that and argue for something different. I think I've always had an orientation toward understanding what created an injustice and figuring out what should change - and that's been expressed in my enthusiasm for reading everything and asking lots of questions. About a year ago my Dad told me that arguing with me (on political/moral/philosophical etc topics) was like getting run over by a steam roller. He meant it as a compliment and I took it as such (I don't argue like that with my students, dont worry)
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Brighton. Standing on the beach looking out to sea.
Or: swimming (but not in the sea here cos it's filthy) - particularly at the lido.
What has been your best age so far and why?
Now? The temptation is to pick a time in the past but that always involves some lying to yourself about the difficulties and frustrations as though they are less important now because they are far away, despite being catastrophic at the time. Right now (34), I know who I am. I have a sense of my professional identity. I live largely as I please with a bit of flexibility in my finances. And I have a bit of a sense of being good at what I do - capable - in a number of spheres. There's still stress and hardship and longing, but it's more in the background than it's ever been.
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Weird. And that was interesting reading!
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Hope your hectic week is winding to a close.
1. Do you have a favourite mundane item and if so what is it (favourite pen, favourite mug etc)
2. If you could travel to one destination, anywhere in the world all expenses paid, where would you go?
3. You recently went to the Tate Modern (yay!) do you have a favourite artist?
4. What's your favourite spot in Brighton
5. Would 12 year old you be surprised by the person you are today?
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I realize now how much I miss knowing my friends. Actually knowing them, not just the their Facebook profiles.
If you give me questions I'll try to answer them. Don't feel like you have to!
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1. What's the best film you've ever seen by an actor everyone knows?
2. Where is a place that gives you a moment of blissful calm?
3. Who did you want to be when you were 11?
4. Do you decorate your place for Christmas? If so - how/what/when?
5. If you could eat any meal from your entire life again, exactly as it was, what would you have?
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1. What's the best film you've ever seen by an actor everyone knows?
I struggle with actors. I rarely recognize them in movies. I also can't think of a favourite or best movie. I fail.
2. Where is a place that gives you a moment of blissful calm?
Outside, in nature, on a nice summer day.Floating in my kayak on a calm lake, no one else around, and no cell service.
3. Who did you want to be when you were 11?
I had given up any hopes and dreams by that age. Earlier in life I wanted to be a paleontologist, but I was discouraged and told it was a poorly paying job I was too stupid, anyway.
4. Do you decorate your place for Christmas? If so - how/what/when?
I have never decorated my own place. However, the last four years I've spent the month of December living with my parents', and I help my mom decorate. Usually we put up the tree a week before Christmas. I put some lights up outside. She has 11 billion snowmen that need to be displayed.
5. If you could eat any meal from your entire life again, exactly as it was, what would you have?
I spent a lot of time thinking about this. I'm trying to think of a good meal spent with someone I care about. It's going one of two ways: I can't remember what we ate, or they don't care about me any more. :/
So... Tacos. I'll have tacos. The ones from the random food truck last spring in Vermont (or maybe it was New Hampshire, I can't remember, I was just passing through). Uuuugh so good.