Liz (this link only works if you are her friend on blogger) asked me these five questions because this is a blog-game thingie. If you'd like me to ask you five questions, post a comment.
1. What characteristic about yourself do you wish more people would notice?
Hmm... I guess it is hard to know the difference between what people notice but don't react to and what they don't notice at all, but laying that distinction aside, I wish more people would notice that I am really, truly, exceptionally good-looking. A lot of people just don't seem to see that, somehow.
Ok, joking aside. I guess I wish more people would notice that I am shy. I think most people miss this because I have a good deal of self-confidence in a very insular way, and can readily engage someone just as soon as they are friendly to me, but as far as initiating the first friendliness goes, I have trouble, and I believe this shyness makes some people think I am aloof and stuck-up.
2. Can elitism be a good thing?
I just heard a piece on NPR the other day about the word "elitism" and how it has become one of those meaningless words that people use in far more situations than it applies to. However, we can explore several definitions.
If elitism means assuming your kind of person is better than all other peoples and therefore belittling others without your same qualities, thinking you deserve to have more privileges or take things away from other people because you are more important, then no, it is never a good thing.
If elitism means narrowing your scope to only one kind of person and one kind of lifestyle and one set of values and failing to take any other set of variables or beliefs into consideration then no, it is never a good thing.
But if elitism means holding yourself to a higher set of standards and trying to achieve levels of accomplishment most people never even aspire to, much less reach, then yes, it can be a good thing. The elite used to be a class of people who were admired and respected because they had risen above the common man. I think too many people these days think being mediocre is the best way to be. The catch - elitism only remains good if the elite never forget those unlike them, and manage not to become conceited about their accomplishments.
3. Do you think that certain people are born more blessed/lucky than others, or do all people create their own circumstances?
Some of both. Some people are born into the most dismal circumstances and manage to rise up and out of it anyway, and become more than anyone would have ever anticipated. Some people are given everything but make nothing of themselves. Most of us fall somewhere in between. I think on a day-to-day level, we make our own luck. I truly believe it is my decision most of the time whether to have a good day or a bad day. If someone is rude to me, it is my choice whether or not to take it personally and let it get under my skin. However, this only works to a certain degree. If, say, my horse died, I'd have a bad day. Period. And I think it is important to engage with my life to a degree that some things do mean so much to me that they can't just roll off my back. However, some people seem to hit those kinds of stumbling blocks constantly, over the course of their entire lives - big, bad luck beyond their control - death, illness, war, etc.. And certainly, we can still choose how to navigate through the huge tragedies, but some people do seem to get the short end of the stick as far as how often they are challenged.
4. You have to sacrifice one: writing or visual art. What do you choose and why?
Well, you know how to hit where it hurts, but I would give up visual art - mainly because getting my BFA really taught me that I am a better writer than I am an artist. I am an okay artist, I think, but I believe I am a good writer, and while I am a genius in neither, my writing gets closer to the core of me than my art does. I can commit to and focus on writing in a way I can't with art and while in my visual endeavors I am always trying to figure out what I'm trying to say, with writing it all comes together without any real effort on my part. Frankly, visual art is a bit of struggle - writing is as easy as pie. I think that means something.
5. What is the most important thing you know about yourself?
I know that I am one of the elite. Haha, just kidding. Okay, seriously, I know that I am prone to withdrawing and living too much in my own head. It is important for me to structure my life so I have responsibilities that force me to get out into the world, because I won't do it on my own. If I am given the vague choice on any given day, go do something, or don't go do something, I will always choose not to go. So, I have to replace the "something" with a thing that I love. Brian is great at rooting me out and making me put on real clothes and leave the house. Steen is also a big motivator as far as this goes. Also, committing to things in advance so that I will let people down if I back out at the last minute is always a sure-fire way to break me out of my stasis. I think I could easily become very eccentric and a little scary if I didn't keep this in mind.
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2 comments:
This was really interesting to read (which is mainly why I picked these specific questions). It's crazy to think you can know someone for years and not know these little things about them.
In regards to the elitism thing, I was inspired to ask after I read somewhere that a fairly well-known author was complaining that writing programs were not selective enough. I had a hard time with that, but in a way I understood why she said it. I like the way you broke it down and agree with it.
I will say that for some reason, I was not expecting you pick writing. It was cool read your reasoning.
:-)
That is funny. I was thinking of elitism as it has been used regarding Obama. And it is interesting that even one's best friends can be surprising. =)
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