A very special post (part 1)

This post is very special. So it is lengthy.Therefore I will spilt it into two parts. But I know you don't mind that! As a special treat, you can play some lovely music too.(just click on current mood video on your right for a superb piece of music). So get that cup of coffee or that drink, settle back into your chair and enjoy the read. :)



I did! Because I didn't write this post at all. But hey--that is not why it is special. 
It is special because it is my 400th post!!  (yes FOUR HUNDRED!)

I wanted to do something different from my usual posts. When I think back, I have gained so much from blogging. Most importantly I have made some amazing friends (most of whom I met in real life too later on) only because of my blog.So as a tribute to blogging, I thought I'd ask a set of very interesting questions to a set of interesting people and put up their answers/interviews.If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would probably remember me mentioning these people from time to time in my posts. Now you can meet them here :) I really enjoyed reading their responses and it made me think. I am sure it would make you think too.


These are the five questions I asked:


1.Would you rather have the power to be invisible or the power to read minds?
2.Would you rather spend the rest of your life without a significant other, or would you rather have a partner who is extremely difficult? 

3.Would you like to know the day you’re going to die ahead of time? Why or why not? 

4.What does love mean to you?   

5.Do you think it is okay to lie? When would it be alright?

I put forth these questions to ten people. I heard back from 7 of them.   I am putting up the answers in the chronological order in which I received their answers.
Guru
Guru blogs here.
He writes beautiful poetry that strikes a chord. He also sends me these hilarious jokes and interesting stuff from time to time (which I then quickly forward to a set of my close friends). He is a devoted Dad and husband and is someone who believes in living life to the fullest.

1.       Being invisible was one of the greatest fantasies in my youth, for obvious reasons! So I think I'll stick with that, for emotional reasons now! :P

2. Without a significant other. because then you at least have a shot at happiness by yourself! :)

3. Nah! I think if I don't know the date then I will live longer than that fir sure! (I can't prove myself wrong here anyway!) :P

4. For me constant thought is love. Thoughts that inadvertantly bring a smile on my face is love. Seeing myself completely in the other person is love.

5. It is ok, sometimes. Especially, when the pain of the truth is just not worth the pain. When you don't want to burden someone with the truth!

Gillian
Click on her name to be taken to her truly amazing blog. Gillian is based in Canada and owns a spa. She clicks the most amazing pictures. She is one of the most inspiring and positive individuals I have known. She is also a mother of two though she does not look it at all. (She looks more like a model).

1.I think both powers would cause too much trouble. :-)  But if forced to choose only one, I’d read minds.  Invisibility doesn’t appeal to me much, but perhaps reading minds could be helpful in ways we haven’t even thought of.  Medically for example, being able to know what coma patients or other infirmed people think and go through.  It could be a means to really helping others.   

2.If I chose the partner that was extremely difficult, that wouldn’t be true to me.  I’d have to say that I’d spend the rest of my life without a significant other.  I do enjoy my own company, I do have friends, and I’m sure I could find a date. :-)  But life is short and precious and if someone is determined to be difficult for the sake of being difficult then they don’t value me.  I deserved to be valued.  Quality of life is important too.  I’m not afraid to be alone.

3. I would not like to know the date of my death.  I’d forever see it as a black mark on my horizon, it would limit me.  Not knowing makes me free.  I love to be free.

4.Love means many things to me.  Mostly it means looking at everything, everyone, and every situation through eyes of tolerance, caring & respect.  Expect love and you shall find it everywhere.  Love is all there is.  I’m very sure that even in the darkest of days….love is there.  I dreamed about this once, and so I have this notion that we are all here to experience varying contrasts of love.  It is a plan that we will all be made aware of one sweet day. 

5.Lying a tricky one.  In situations it may be required.  To save your life for example.  To make lying a habit or lifestyle choice such as people who lie to make themselves more appealing, or to make others jealous, or to just deceive is plain wrong.  But lying can have its place.  If your intention is to help, then I think it is okay.  I hope that makes sense.  By nature I don’t lie.  I simply can’t, and have no desire to.  And that’s no lie.:-)

Satish
He needs no introduction. At least, not on this blog. Still for those who are curious, you can click on his name :-)
I didn't meet him through the blog, but I am able to blog only because of him :-)

1.Power to read minds especially that of a woman's. You would be able to go miles ahead from where you are if you had that power. Remember that movie with Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson? (He has the power to read what women are thinking) - Right up my alley :-)

                                              

2.I guess with a difficult partner because if I had the power to read her mind then would do things appropriately so that she was not difficult any longer. Also at least you would have someone whom you could discuss things with rather than be lonely and have only the television as your companion. Having said that I do not have a difficult partner so just need point 1 to be fulfilled.                                                   

3.No. It is certain that you will die one day. So why know when it is and start worrying about the fact that it is coming nearer. In any case when you die it does not make a difference to you perse - the problem is for people who are left behind.

4.Love to me, normally would mean having someone whom you can talk to, express your worries, discuss silly things and not having them judge you for what you are not but for what you are. However there is an additional aspect when kids are there and that is giving and getting affections without involving any give and take.

5.To a loved one and family - Never. To outsiders I think at times maybe. For example if  a white lie you said made some kind of a difference to that person and made them happy then guess that is Ok.

Prashant Dhanke


The moment I  first read his blog I fell in love with his writing and his powers of observation. Click on his name and read his post "six whatevers" which are  6 stories in 2-3 sentences. I wasn't surprised when he was chosen as the Chief Blogger of Royal Challengers out of  thousands of applicants. Now he is also a good friend.

1. The power to read minds will be a huge burden. I'll rather observe people invisibly and live with my own comforting model of the world. I can't give up on the luxury to make assumptions on people's feelings. I will however, like to know more about what people think in general, but not specifically about how those around me think or feel. Of course there are physical and financial advantages too of being invisible :).

2. Definitely without a extremely difficult partner. I'll have an aquarium and a dog instead.

3. The first reaction was yes, so that I can plan things. But having given it more thought, I'll like to live under the illusion of immortality for as long as I can. Not saying it jokingly.

4. One of the many emotions. They always come entangled without clear boundaries. Describing my perspective on love, or jealousy for that matter is a tough and long task and I love being lazy :).

5. It is not only ok, but necessary to survive and evolve. All of us lie, mostly to ourselves, albeit unknowingly many a times. The brain does it for you. On the other hand, deliberate lies should be avoided if one wants an easy life in the long run :). However, I'll still not tell my mom how much I spend at restaurants and pubs.

____________________________________________
I would give you my responses to these questions too--in part 2 of the post, along with three others who answered.

And if anybody wants to answer these questions please do so in my comment box or on your blogs and I'd surely read.

I am sure you enjoyed this post as much as I did, right? Right? Right? :-) 
Ok, then write!