5 questions

ExSkin Diver (a new friend and fellow member of The Shameless Lions Writing Circle) has sent me an interview! 5 questions... and she left almost no stone unturned; these were a bit of a challenge!

Dear Wanderlust Scarlett,
thank you for the chance to interview you.
Great Lion btw. Love how he's gone exploring!!!
Here are your Five questions:

1. That list you have in your purse of 25 things you want to do before you die...what are the top 10?

1. Get pilots license (almost done with that)
2. Serve a mission/serve in a 3rd world country for 1 year helping build communities and teaching (not yet... but soon)
3. Learn to play piano/organ - check
4. Visit Disneyland/Disneyworld - check
5. Go back to college (2nd tour) - check
6. Travel the world - partly checked (France, England, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, California, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Kansas, South Dakota, Cabo San Lucas, Washington)
...I think I got them all... hmmm... still have most of the world to get to!
7. Learn French, Italian, Spanish & Japanese languages (si... working on that... )
8. Fly an F-16 (not holding my breath on this goal...)
9. Win a ribbon at a county fair (not yet and not with brownies...)
10. Learn to ballroom dance - check

2. You say that you are a good friend. If that novel that you are about to finish (one more chapter right?) makes a good friend of yours (who happens to write too) unhealthily envious...would you share your novel's success with your friend? Or would you dial down its success to spare your friend's feelings?

I would do neither. The obvious answer (and the wrong one) is to 'dial down' it's success to save my friends feelings... but really, this does a disservice to us both. If my friend is jealous, there is a reason; likely an insecurity on their part that needs to be addressed, not petted. If I know of an insecurity, I would never ignore it and pretend that things are fine, I would try to help them overcome it... help them with their writing, help them see the value in what they create - any product of creativity is produced from within us; from pieces of our souls, and that makes it invaluable. One is not better than the other, they're just different. The focus and my support would be turned to their efforts, not mine. Giving my friend compassion, understanding, patience, love, support and encouragement would be the best way for me to be a true friend.

3. Japan, Egypt or Ireland--where would you like to go first and why?

You're killing me. OH ouch. Probably Japan (I have some friends there), Egypt (fascinated with it's history) and then Ireland - (oh for the castles and countryside...) preferably for 6 months at least in each place. Siiiiiiiiiigh.

4. You seemed to have cured yourself of road rage. Aside from prayer do you offer your readers any other advice for living well?

Emm... well, not cured, but definitely cut way back. There's enough hate and anger out there in the world today, I do not want to contribute more to it. Perhaps if I am kind, it will be paid forward. Living well - YES!

a. take good care of yourself... oftentimes we think we should put our families and others ahead of us, but if we do that, then who would they rely on when we fall sick or aren't giving 100% because we don't have it to give? sleep good, eat healthy, dress well, exercise, meditate (prayer, quiet time, whatever... give your mind some 'away' time too). Not only does this give us the strength and energy to care for others, it is an excellent role model for our friends and families... people learn behaviors from watching not from listening. How many of us would tell our children 'do as I say, not as I do'... change that. Show them how you want them to be by
living it yourself.

b. speak positively - always - India Arie sings a song called 'Get it together' in which she says "because the words that come from your mouth, you're the first to hear. Speak words of beauty and you will be there. No matter what anybody says, what matters most is what you think of yourself" The idea is that whatever comes from you... comes out of you, originates from within. When we say something mean, or crude, or crass... when we swear... the ugly things that are uttered come from inside us and reflect who we are. Most of us are a lot better than that... show your best side when you speak - you do a disservice to yourself if you show anything less. Let go of those things inside you that are not who you really want to be, you are the master of your future... you own it, it's all yours. You write it. You make it. You do it. Blame no one else. Speaking positively all the time (or at least as often as possible) keeps your mind in a positive state, improves your mood, and improves the moods of those around you. There's not really a downside!

c. forgive yourself & forgive others - we are all human, fallible as a consequence of birth. We make mistakes. Sometimes the wrong that we do is intentional and then we regret it later. Carrying guilt around in your heart does you no good, nor does it benefit anyone else. There is no benefit to guilt, not even to one who tries to give it. If you are sorry for a wrong you've done, say you are sorry - not expecting forgiveness, only because you truly are sorry. Apologize and then walk away. If you are forgiven, great! If not, it is irrelevant. Is your apology contingent on it's acceptance? It shouldn't be. You are admitting a mistake, it's up to the other person to accept it or not, and that has nothing to do with you; you did your part, you said you were sorry... let the guilt go and be at peace. Dragging guilt around with you only weighs you down and holds you back. Don't do that to yourself, no one is going to save you from it. You have to let it go... and walk away.

d. laugh often, love much, forgive always (even if you don't forget - these are two totally different things) and choose to make some of your dreams happen, even if they are just little ones.

5. In your 4th painting called "Tuscany" is there a metaphorical meaning behind the 4 cypress trees on the right? Please share.

I laughed at this a bit. There is no relevance in the four trees. They are just four Cypress trees. The relevance in the picture is the connection of the whole place, the land connected to the sky and the water, the roots of the tree in the land that are so deep they reach beyond the sea, the vines of life that grow beyond their boundaries. In the 'worn frame' I painted are the ages of time that have held it all together, somewhat faded in places, but solid and strong, lasting. Simple, beautiful, all connected... all the parts are one, like everything in life. Humans, plants, animals,
from an atomic level to the very obvious... it's all the little things connected together that make a whole. Spirits to atoms to cells to tissue to bodies to human kind and far beyond.

That was a fun and interesting interview Chesca, thank you!
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1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five 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 five questions.