Sunshine Blogger Award

Eons ago (quite literally) Eleanor nominated me for the Sunshine blogger award. Though it’s been quite a while, I feel very tempted to answer her fantastic questions, especially since these are topics I’ve been pondering over a lot lately. Thank you for nominating me, Eleanor. She’s a remarkable poetess and a wonderful soul and you should definitely visit her and show her some love.

Some of my answers could be contentious and I welcome you all to throw in your perspectives in the comments’ section. Let this be an open discussion.

1. Do you think free will exists? If yes, please explain why and the role it plays in the world.

Free will absolutely exists! If everything was predestined, from our mannerisms to our thought processes to our actions, then the concept of being rewarded or punished for our actions doesn’t make any sense. (I make this point with the assumption that the concepts of rewards and punishments exist.) If God has written your destiny and every one of your actions according to which you function, why would he want to punish YOU for your actions if all you’re doing, is acting as he has dictated? Why would he punish you for the way he has designed you?

Hence, everything is not predestined. Some things, most definitely are, such as the conditions surrounding your birth, your genetics (which by far plays the BIGGEST role in who you are and what you become in your life) and so on. We all have the power to exercise our free will. I believe in the concept of Karma. The way you exercise your free will can be good or bad and would add up likewise to your baggage of Karma.

Free will plays a very important role in the world. The ability to choose your actions mandates the discrimination between good and bad, right and wrong, which are always subjective. There is often a conflict between the intellect and the conscience, the morally accepted and the socially accepted and so on. Exercising your free will is a complex process and involves making the right choices, in such a way that you fulfill your Dharma (Your Obligation to the world, akin to the Japanese concept of Ikigai). If the conscience plays a bigger role than the intellect when choosing your actions, the world would be a more peaceful place.

An example would be a snake in your garden. Your mind suggests that you should kill it while your heart suggests against it. Your intellect analyses whether it’s a poisonous snake or a harmless one. Your conscience amalgamates the results of the heart, mind and the intellect and suggests the best course of action, i.e, whether to let it go into the wild or to kill it. It is subjective, but the conscience knows best.

These are my beliefs only and they may or may not be right.

2. In your opinion, does weed, overall, have more of a positive or negative impact? In other words, does it do more harm than good or the other way around?

Any temporary pleasure that compromises on your long term well being is more harm than good. But that is not subject to judgement. One must exercise their free will rightly when making such choices. 🤷‍♀️ Weed, like any drug, is more harmful to some than others.

3. If you could live in any era which would it be and why?

The past is reminiscent of wars, tragedies and bloodshed, while culture and discipline would likely be non existent in the future. Nothing like the present, so here I shall be!

Nevertheless, I want to add that I’m open to exploring the future, just to catch a glimpse of futuristic technology and innovation. No one can pass judgements about something they have not seen. It may end up being not-so-decadent after all, although many religious scriptures and Prophets (peace be upon them) suggest otherwise. So I’ll stay in the present or even better, go back to my childhood. (Someone please tell me I’m still a child) *sobs*

4. What is your favorite quote of all time and why that one?

Be the change you wish to see in the world- Mahatma Gandhi.

It’s perfectly worded and I’m in perfect agreement with the thought. Change begins at home. We all do more talking and complaining than acting for the cause we stand for.

There’s another one: The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter– Winston Churchill

🤭 It’s sooo accurate, it hurts!

5. Pick one of the worst events in history. If it were possible to change or prevent it, would you? Why?

I want to say, the Nazi Holocaust. I would absolutely prevent it, if I could. I would have assassinated Hitler. One psychopath dying is much better than the world having to lose 6 million Jews, 3 million Poles, 25,000 Gypsies, countless handicapped individuals, homosexuals and so on. Imagine how many Einsteins and Stan Lees they have buried! They killed millions of dreams and dreamers (RIP Anne Frank and the million other teens and kids with vivid dreams).

6. Should euthanasia be a legal option for all if the law was written with great care and consideration?

Yes, but on one condition: The decision for the same should only be taken by the patients themselves or the practitioners, with the patient’s knowledge. In such a case that the patient is unconscious or in coma, the doctor should make the decision if mercy killing is the ONLY way to go. If there are other procedures that can be explored, then the E word should not even be uttered as it would be immoral! The decision should NEVER be made by a family member on behalf of the patient. The intentions could be far from noble and might even have something to do with the will and inheritance! So yes, Euthanasia can be a legal option provided the laws are written very carefully.

7. Why does evil exist in the world?

The laws of physics, from the law of conservation of charges, to the law of conservation of mass, have all taught me one thing- For the universe to remain in balance, the negative and positive will need to be in balance. A world with all good and no evil is only plausible in utopian dreams. If humans were all good, then nature’s evil force would take charge in the guise of natural disasters. Someone or something is always evil. That is the way of the cosmos. It’s a matter of stability.

8. What is your superpower (AKA Your Greatest Strength)?

Being confidently different. I’m almost always a misfit among my peers. Old soul, young bones, a bundle of contradictions. Yet no amount of peer pressure can compress me. That is to say, I’m not easily influenced, as I practice caution when exercising my free will 😉

9. Who do you think is currently one of the most influential individuals in showbiz? Why?

Personally, I don’t find anyone in showbiz ‘’influential’’ because I don’t look up to them. My ideals are different. But if we’re talking about the world in general, then I would say Emma Watson. Many youngsters look up to her and her activism and even I’m a fan of what she campaigns for.

10. How do you like your eggs? Do you think your preference reflects your personality?

I don’t eat eggs very frequently, but I’m an eggetarian, so eggs are not totally out of bounds to me. When I do eat them, I like Omelettes (Sunny side up included) and would die for egg BIRYANI. 🤩

11. Are Myers-Briggs Personality Types all they’re cracked up to be?

We humans are interesting creatures. We are so diverse and our chromosomes come in varying permutations and combinations that no two individuals can ever be exactly the same. I belong to the rare breed of INTP (one of the rarest personality types in the world) and I can’t relate to other INTPs. We’re just categorising humans and putting them into boxes, which is a very human thing to do! There is definitely some truth to them, but I won’t take the word of personality tests as gospel.

If anyone finds these questions interesting, I invite you to answer them, either in your own blog or in the comments 😃 Once again, thanks to my dear friend Eleanor for these brilliant questions. Let’s get talking! 🎊

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 by SamSahana Categories: CasualTags: Awards, Tags 104 Comments