I like reading the "Life Lessons..." mini interviews at the back of the RTE Guide every week, even if I don't know the person I still enjoy reading how they answered the questions. It's really just a glorified 20 Question e-mail circular that you get every now and again (although I havn't got one in years):
I decided I'd answer the questions myself here, just cos I have nothing better to do. You can also read Eleanor McEvoy's answers by clicking on the picture to the left if you get bored of mine :)
What is the best piece of advice you ever got?I thought about this question a lot and all I can come up with are examples of bad advise I got. So perhaps its one of my own: "Ignore advice"
What is your greatest fear?Failure.
What is your most treasured possession?Tough one to answer because I'm not big on the materialism... Probably something like my computer because of its so integrated with my life, hobbies and general activities.
Which living person or persons do you admire the most?Anyone who ignores the pursuit of money. Poeple who love what they do and not the money they make. People like Monica Loughman who have really dedicated themselves to what they love. That said, I also think Michael O'Leary is great, so go figure! I admire musicians in general, particularly Jon Lord and Chick Corea, with the occasional flute solo from Ian Anderson and some scat singing in Kobaian by Christian Vander.
If hell is other people, what is heaven?By default, it must be solitude. Both can be either though.
Can money buy you love?The interesting thing is how the two are related: both that make you immensely happy as well as driving you to despair. If love is an internal emotion then certainly money can give you that, if love is loyalty, then no it cant, nothing can.
What would you rate as your greatest achievement to date?Being alive.
When was the last time you cried?
I can get all teary eyed and sniffly very easily, usually over music or a film but I can't remember the last time I was really going hammer and tongs with the bawling. Probably wasn't all that long ago though.
Who or what has had the greatest influence on you?My DNA mainly, but also my family, my past relationships, music, science... I'm easily influenced really, I'm rather open minded and can see both sides of the coin, but I have my own ideas on things too.
What do you like most about your physical appearance?Ignoring vanity, I like to think that I have a non threatening demeanor that leaves people feeling comfortable around me.
What is your most precious memory?Every moment is a precious memory.
Who is the greatest love of your life?Not sure, yet :)
Could you live without music?If music was banned in the morning, I'd take great satisfaction in breaking the law.
What is your greatest regret?Being a recovering conservative in reality, I could say I regret a lot in my life, as do many, but it's easy to forget how much a person changes over their lifetime. What's easy for one to do now may have been impossible for that person back then, be it due to character or personality. Sometimes its as simple as not wanting it then but yearning for it now. So I tend not to regret much, but I do wish I went to England, not because it would have made everything better but simply because it was the right thing to do and it was something I could have easily done. And yes there is a back story to that and no I wont go into it :)
What is the craziest thing that you ever did?Crazy things are usually illegal so I wont be telling you about those ones (cycling on the footpath! :) I am suddenly reminded of one time when I drove around at 2AM on a Saturday night with all the windows down, blaring out Beethovens 9th Symphony to all the bouncers and night rebellers in earshot. I did have a friend with me at the time so it wasnt like I was a complete maniac :)
Does reality TV matter?Everything matters, the sad fact is, if Jade Goody ceased to exist the universe would collapse.
Is death the end?I have complete faith that death is the end of existence as we know it. Whether we are scattered into oblivion or reborn as spectral beings, I am positive that the life we lived becomes unimportant. Ego and experience are stripped from us when we die and we are left naked to the universe. If that then means that we are no more or if it means something else, I'm not that bothered either way. For people afraid of death and non-existence I often say: being dead will be no different than being preconceived; it didn't bother you before you existed and you wont be bothered by it again. For those thinking that memories must continue on forever, think "Alzheimer's" or simpler still, just go out on the lash some night and wake up the next morning. Its very easy to forget.
What philosophy do you live by?Remember that we are all more alike than different. Nobody is better than anyone else. No matter how famous you think you are, or how brilliant you think you are, we all die the same. But likewise, nobody should feel bad about themselves for the same reason. The universe is greater than all of us but we are all still part of it.
Everyone has an inner monologue that no one else hears and everyone got their own little problems. We all just need to get on with each other while we hurtle through space on a wobbling sphere.
