The 100th Blog Post

Holy shit, people. We've made it to 100 posts, provided I didn't number them incorrectly, again. This is Jen from Media and I have the pleasure of compiling this post. What we're going to do here is answer a few questions. At our last meeting, we gathered together 5 questions, one from each of us, that we'll all answer. This is just for fun, quick, casual questions. Something light and fluffy to accentuate our desire to heal the world.

1. Who has had the biggest influence on your life?

   Alice:

   I have always had a hard time answering these type of questions. I am not a surface level being, nothing is simple with me, and I always go deep, hence the Alice, rabbit hole charade. I have many facets, and see things from too many angles. Plus I would/am challenge the question itself. What kind of influence? For instance. For who I am today? For the positive impacts in my life? My biggest hero? Who I listen to the most? Who I confide in the most? The biggest catalyst for my changing? ETC…. It’s not that I “like” to complicate things, I just have an answer for all of them, and it always depends on what influence we are speaking of. So, to give a synopsis of who my BIGGEST influence is in my life. I would honestly have to say…… Well, it’s simply myself. As in my heart to love regardless of outside influences. 

   In reality don’t we, ourselves influence every happening, outcome, how we choose to feel about things, places, and people etc. 

   Hard question, biggest….such rabbit hole. Because truth is how do you compare/rate the biggest influence no matter how good/bad the influencing was if they all saved a part of your soul?

   Let’s just say Rainbow Bright and call it a day. Kisses

   
   

   Chick:

   The man who shared his alcoholism story with me and took me to my first AA meeting. That’s where I learned how to turn my life around and move forward.

   
   

   Kevin:

   This is a good question and one I have struggled in the past to answer. Influence can be such a broad term to use. What kind of influence? What direction did they send my life? How have they influenced me? Well let’s keep it simple and go with our gut on it and slightly change the wording. Who has had the most meaningful impact on my life? For this there is a small group of people, and of that group I think I would have to say my father. He helped instill a love of the outdoors, a hard work ethic, and the power and fulfillment of doing things for yourself. Hunting, fishing, camping, etc. many people in my life have had an impact on me in these areas but he was one of the firsts. Showing me tricks and techniques for hunting and fishing, as well as how to do it in an ethical manner. The joys of being outside and how to just sit with it. Work ethic, he doesn’t stop until a job is done or he runs out of time and picks it up later. Sure as a kid I fought this here and there, trying to get out of doing the work, as any kid does, but showing me the satisfaction and joy you can get from completing something and seeing it through was a huge part of who I am today and the drive I have to keep pushing forward with many aspects of my life. To him I have to say, thank you. Thank you for the impact on my life you have and continue to make.

Jen:

Seeing as how we've spent the last half of our lives together, the most influential person in my life is Pete. We've grown together as adults, learning how to heal ourselves and each other. He's the reason I'm not just like my mother. He encouraged me to finish school, get my degree. He's been there with me through good and bad.

Pete:

I was going to say my parents, but not in a good way, but this is the 100th post so let's try to be positive. The most positive influence is... The Wife. Jen. Sorry, The Wife is her title. Like Queen, or Supreme Ruler. I digress. I was well on my way to being a... not so awesome person. Think, watching a, sadly, popular "news" program. Not caring about other people as much as I do now. Being selfish and what not. Yet after we got married everything started to change. Because of her background I was becoming more open minded about other people. More forgiving, empathetic, and caring. Together we have grown through so much, good and bad. I can safely say that without her, I don't think I would be around anymore.

2. If you were an animal, real or imaginary, beyond aesthetics or the zodiac, what would you be?

   Alice:

   Again, we going mythical, land, ocean, what mood am I in?

   But I guess, I’ll play. I am going to be the party pooper, because in reality there is only one animal that best fits all my characteristics. I am who I am loves, Homo Sapien. 

   
   

   Chick:

   A Bear.  I protect my own

   
   

   Kevin:

   Here is another tough one. Do I go with what people have described me as (squirrel, gorilla, ox/bull, giraffe), or do I go with animal that I can relate to? Well let’s go with the first one that popped in my head when I started thinking about it. The raccoon, trash panda if you will. Why you ask, as this will come across as a strange to man, including ones who know me. These little critters, often seen as problems have always intrigued me. They are smart, learning how to survive in their environment, like me often through trial and error, they adapt to just about any where and are able to survive and often thrive. I have been in many different environments in my lifetime and often have had to learn to survive, others have helped me thrive. They also, much like me, can do well on their own or in groups, working to achieve a task or just to have fun. So, I feel I would have to choose the raccoon.

   
   

   Jen:

   I feel about evenly represented by both the fox and the hare. Both are tricksters. I have always been drawn to the chaotic.

   
   

   Pete:

   Oh this is about an easy of a question as there can be! Of course it's the rhinoceros! There big, tanky, gentle creatures, but don't piss em off or anything cause they can take a damned hippo in a fight. Lion? HA! Wouldn't even scratch it. As the wife likes to call them, they are battle unicorns. They are my favorite animal by far.

3. If you could tell your younger self one thing right now, what would it be?

   Alice:

   Tough, because I am 40 now, and I have pretty much accomplished being the woman I wish I had in my life when I was a little girl. Someone I needed that no one was. SO I suppose I would just tell her, taking a knee, tears in my eyes. “Baby girl, I am sorry for everything you are going to go through and already have, it will get much worse but I am here to tell you. Keep getting back up, you know why you are here, and it’s all going to be worth it.”

   
   

   Chick: Love yourself first and believe in yourself

   
   

   Kevin:

   My answer to this couple of years ago would have been a long winded tail of how to better fit in, what to do differently, who to be, but that’s all changed. As I have moved down the road of my own healing journey I realize every action, event, reaction, outcome, etc. all have been for a reason. Shaping me, molding me, teaching me to be who I am today and will be later in life. It also would depend on how young younger me is. To simplify it let’s say I’m 18 freshly graduated. I would say to myself “Keep moving forward. The path ahead will meet you with some joy, some sadness, hardship, and most importantly lessons. You won’t understand them now, but I assure you, the answers will come when you are ready. For now keep up the fight and keep going.”

   
   

   Jen:

   You're probably autistic, you should get that checked out. It would explain a lot.

   
   

   Pete: You have ADD. The reason you are having trouble in school is not because you are dumb, or lacking effort. It's because it's very very difficult to do much like this. Also, don't listen to our parents. You can be what you want to be, dream whatever you can. Don't let them control you. Also, school sucks yes I know, but the nice thing is you can ignore all those people cause you will never see them again after graduation.

4. What is one hill you will always die on?

   Alice:

   This is a bit vulnerable at the moment, and not sure I am ready to share. There are some things that are far too deep and vast to share if the moment is not right. But to keep it simple. No regrets, I don’t believe in mistakes only lessons. Live Laugh Love. Stand for something or fall for anything. Trust yourself & intuition. Change is uncomfortable do it anyway. Follow your heart….etc

   
   

   Chick:

   When I know in my heart that it is the right thing to do.  I won’t be deterred nor will I back off.

   
   

   Kevin:

   I see myself as a logical person, I’m not afraid to hear an argument to something I believe and understand that maybe I have been looking at it differently and can alter or adjust my stance according to new information. But one hill I will die on is that life is a puzzle, but it’s not like a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces fit nicely together. No it’s more like a riddle. It’s up to you to see how the pieces fit. How they connect and how your choices you make affect how the next ”clue” fits into it. Sometimes you don’t get to choose the piece or clue as others actions can steer you in different directions , but it’s up to you to see how that clue guides you down your path.

   
   

   Jen:

   Ugh. Hills. I honestly don't know. I'd like to think I'd be noble and shit, fighting for human rights or something. But I really don't like conflict and dying on a hill is very Main Character, and I prefer staying in the background. So, I won't know until I come across it.

   
   

   Pete: EVERYONE deserves human rights. When we were thinking of questions to ask, this one was mine. I don't know why I brought it up, maybe my cold was affecting me or something. I will fight people if I need to in order to stand up for those that need it.

5. If you were forced to relocate to another country, what country and why?

   Alice:

   Ugh, I don’t want to be relocated number one. Regardless of the horseshit going on in this one, this is home. I don’t believe in relocating/migrating anymore, I want to help fix this one, NOT run and that’s part of everything I am striving to do, so if I am truly being forced out of this one, with all the years I have put into trying to help this one, I’d have the pilots tie and bind me like they know how to do, and drop me in the ocean. Right me off, as mission failed. God, I’m ready to come home type of deal. 

   
   

   Chick:

   France.  The history, architecture, climate and centralized to travel Europe.

   
   

   Kevin:

   This one is pretty easy for me. If someone were to come to me and say, ”Hey you were picked in a shitty lottery drawing and you are not allowed to live here anymore but can live in any other country.” I would have to say Canada. Now many of you probably jumped right to the political side of things, health care, 

   
   

   Jen:

   I think I'd go to Canada, on the west coast like Pete always wanted. Or one of the Scandinavian countries, I hear they have decent human rights there.

   
   

   Pete: Another easy one for me. Japan. I'm a huge nerd for a lot of things from Japan and I have always wanted to go there. I am currently on day 42 of learning Japanese and I think it's going well. I am picking up things here and there now. But yeah, I would love to go to Japan. I know living in Japan as a foreigner is rather hard. They are rather xenophobic, but I think it would be an experience.