Sunshine Blogger Award

Many thanks to my friend Novus Lectio for nominating This Door is Alarmed for this award. She is an enviably curious-minded individual who fathoms truth in all places, and takes on fascinating and noble pursuits of knowledge. Her blog is a veritable smorgasbord of poetry, artistic talent, stories and much, much more. Well worth checking out!

Rules:

Thank the person(s) who nominated you
Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you
Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write them 11 questions.

Questions:
Would you rather rule in hell or serve in heaven? Irrespective of whether this question was intended literally or metaphorically, in my experience, authority curdles the soul. I have watched too many people turn sour when seated in powerful positions—not all, but many. I have never craved power for the fear of how it may distort my character. I would rather serve in Heaven any day.

Do you prefer the outdoors or indoors? I am so incredibly fortunate to have seen a lot of the outdoors. I am thankful every day to have travelled to so many countries, to have met incredible people and to have learned about their ways of life—these are all things on the outdoors.

Outdoors, I have conversed with cannibals, I have caught crabs in conical boats among mangrove forests, I have walked through leech-infested jungles,  and I have run on a frozen Arctic sea to the windswept channels and wisps of the Aurora Borealis.

Outdoors, I have seen bear feet steeped in vats of moonshine, I have summited Vesuvius in a skirt and sandles, I have stomped in line with tribal dancers and I have seen piles of deep-fried spiders served up on plates with a garnish.

Outdoors, there are so many exciting experiences, outside, so many incredible cultures and places and peoples, so many smells and tastes and terrains to devour and appreciate, on the outdoors. We live on a diverse and terrifically beautiful planet.

I have always believed—where possible—it is important to see these outdoor places. Not only simply to experience, but to learn—to broaden our outlook and develop a solid respect for all cultures and creatures. To learn the hardships fought day-to-day by too many people, to absorb their history and stories, so we can learn how to make the future a better place. Most of all—to help as much as possible in whatever small ways we can as individuals to make the world a better place.

Conversely, there is the internet indoors… and I do love the internet 🙂 🙂 🙂

The hills or the beach?  They both have equal merits, but I am terrible at making decisions like this, so I often keep a dice in my pocket and make difficult decisions in that manner…it says beach 🙂

If you had to pick three things to go with you to the afterlife what would they be and why? Wow, difficult question. I suppose this depends on your definition of ‘the afterlife’. I won’t go into that, as it is a convoluted answer. Assuming a Heaven-Hell type scenario and corporeal state (of some sorts), I would take my travel diaries, my camera and my smile—if my essence were ethereal, then I would not be able to carry objects, therefore I would take my good will, memories and happiness.

Do you believe in God? I have read widely on the matter, travelled even further, and spoken to believers of a variety of religions to find any one that make sense to me. For me, it has become apparent religion isn’t logical, it is something you simply ‘know’. I am too logical to believe, and too logical not to, therefore I stand on the fence, doomed, it seems, to be an infinite agnostic.

Just over 10 years ago I put a dead stop to my search for religion after the most worrying and surreal night of my life. I was crouched in a small cave-like room beneath an old church, surrounded by people in brown monk-style habits who were chanting in another language, claiming to be part of a special Hindu religious group or sect. I was given some yogurt containing odd-tasting herbs, which I was told would help me ‘find spiritual enlightenment’. I was young and naïve and trusting, so I ate it. The events transpiring from that were the most surreal of my life. Needless to say, I do not believe my spirituality was found at the bottom of a cup of yogurt-soaked drugs. I have not been on a on a search for belief since that night.

What is your current favourite song? Currently, it is ‘Thunder’ by Imagine Dragons. I have some good memories attached to it.

Which is your favourite movie?  Lord of the Rings trilogy—for the conlangs, of course!

Canoe or hiking ?  I hate getting my face wet, so hiking. I find wetting my face so repulsive that I will not put my face underwater—ever. I wet my hands and gently pad at my face to wash it, cat-like, I suppose XD.

Do you prefer A burger menu or A free theatre ticket Theatre ticket. I like watching the ‘happening now’ liveliness of the theatre.

Would you rather be able to understand birds speak or being able to resist fire If I resisted fire, I could save lives; I can’t think of an obviously helpful application of speaking to Aves.

I do wonder if your clothes would burn off like Daenerys Targaryen’s? I guess, in that case, a side effect could be repeated arrests for public indecency.

My Questions:

How infinite is hope?

What adornments do you wear on your neck, wrist and fingers, and what do they mean to you?

What accomplishment makes you most proud?

What colour is Wednesday?

What happened on the best day of your life?

Describe the importance of your favourite possession.

Do you keep a diary—why or why not?

What comment from a fellow blogger has meant the most to you (please reference their site)?

What makes you tick?

What is the last thing you wished for?

Where have you travelled in the world?

 

Nominees:

https://thesilentwaveblog.wordpress.com/

https://booksandstuff.blog/

https://liveoutcrazy.wordpress.com

https://yourlifeyourchoicesyourways.wordpress.com/

https://houseofheartweb.wordpress.com/

https://sannspeaks.wordpress.com

https://theveiledfacet.wordpress.com/

https://essaydump.wordpress.com/

https://nogimmicksnutrition.com/

https://moosepoopacres.com/

https://witandwhimsy87508112.wordpress.com/