Friday 9 January 2009

Interviewed by Willow!

What an honour! I am being interviewed by Willow!

Pondering Willow's questions during the small hours gave me much food for thought and I filled several sheets of paper with my ruminations ... I've cut out a lot of my giraffe waffle and streamlined my answers to blog-size!

At the end of the post I will give an invitation to you, fellow bloggers, to be interviewed by me.

Here are Willow's wonderful interview questions!

1. How did you meet your inspiration, the lovely Ms. Maureen?


My first meeting with Maureen Treeging, my dear wife? Ah, now that is a whole story in itself! One that is complex, emotional and far too lengthy to be told in a few sentences. I will not spoil the story for you for the future; for now I give you the setting:

'On the wild Neckmoors north of Raffsburgh grows a forest ...'


2. What is your idea of perfect happiness?


The word 'perfect' makes this question particularly interesting! Lots of things make me 'ordinarily' happy, most of them quite simple, such as a nice cup of tea or a walk in the woods, and of course, the company of folk I love and like.

However, I see happiness more as a choice - and a very active state of mind, rather than a reaction to pleasant things. I desire what is often referred to as 'background happiness' - the state of being free from 'what if?' thoughts and niggly worries, even in worrying circumstances. This requires, (for me), a lot of hard graft, practise and mental discipline, but - oh yes - it does work! Gradually ...


Then there are those transcendent moments of happiness, which are closest to perfection ... those unbidden 'glimpses' - when suddenly there is an upsurge of pure joy, a bubbling of a kind of golden fountain that seems to rise from within. Difficult to describe, but you'll know what I mean if you get them too!


3. What is your most marked characteristic?


My neck? Probably, to humans - although in Giraffe World it is very commonplace!


Or maybe my perpetual expression of bemused intelligence??

4. Other than your loved ones, what is your most treasured possession?

I appreciate and enjoy all my many possessions, but those things I treasure most I do not 'possess'. You cannot hold them, I feel they kind of flow through you and multiply by sharing; hope, love, affection, encouragement, inspiration and humour - oh yes, exuberant, gleeful humour!

(And I am very fond of my new telescope!)


5. What is your motto?


'Stick Your Neck Out For Your Dreams!'



Or in its longer version: 'Giraffitude! finding out who you are and sticking your neck out for your dreams with integrity, respect for others and gleeful fun!'

Thank you for interviewing me, Willow!

Here are the directions;

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3.You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Go on - stick your neck out and dare ... I'll be nice to you!

Do, please still leave comments, even if you don't want to be interviewed - I love your comments!




30 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

This was priceless!! I loved this!Thank you! :)

I've added your blog link to my post.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Willow - I'm going over now to look at the others too!

Lyn said...

What a joy to read and look at. Happiness? Being free of peripheral noise...you seem to be there.
Thank you!!
Lyn

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Lyn - I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit!

Katea said...

I found you via Willow. My blog is new, and yours inspires me. Today a window that I was looking for finally opened in my career(but I didn't know what it was exactly until just this afternoon when everything clicked) and then tonight I found your blog! A professional with a search and a dream. I would love it if you would please interview me. My small blog is at museseedo.blogspot.

Thank you!

Jeane Myers said...

wow, Raph!, I loved this interview - I'm such a fan of your answers for happiness and motto! - I'm a fellow traveler on both those answers! Look forward to the story of meeting Mrs. Neckmann!

Barbara Martin said...

Beautiful answers to Willow's questions. i love this blog!

Merisi said...

Hi Ralph,
I sneaked in the door via Willow.
I am grateful she made me do it! :-)
Your thoughts about happiness made me smile. Thank you!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hi Classic Independence! Glad my blog inspires you. I'll be happy to interview you - will come up with some questions somewhat later in the day, (I'm driver to a group of high-spirited giraffes on a day out today!)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Jeane! Glad you loved the interview - there's so much to think about on those themes, isn't there!

Maybe I will fully write the story of Maureen when the weather is warm - sitting under the trees with the sunlight filtering through the early summer foliage ...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Barbara, I am so pleased!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Merisi - and I'm glad I made you smile!

I shall visit your beautiful photos more fully later today - I've just had a little preview!

Jan said...

Hi Rafe
It was lovely to have you visit my blog - must do it again sometime and I'll break out the tea and scones .
I'll be following you now as I have really enjoyed your blog - I love the artwork - who would have thunk it - an interesting accountant , lol !!!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hi Jan - glad you enjoy my blog! Thanks for following.

Tea and scones - what a wonderful idea!

Unknown said...

Hello Raph,

Just had to see your interview answers and, as ever, they don't disappoint! Could I come up with a motto? I doubt it!

Ivar Østtun said...

No sorry to say, but the dog belong to my friend.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hi Derrick and thank you! I'm sure you could come up with a motto ... ('Stick Your Neck Out For Your Dreams' kind of grew of its own accord!)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ivar, your friend is lucky to have such a nice dog, to wait for him while up on the heights!

Mary said...

This was wonderful and I too truly believe that Happiness is a choice.
Well done !!

Katea said...

I don't know how to reply to your comment yet, so please leave the questions in my comments section and then I"ll post the answers and instructions. Thank you!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Mary!

I've had a look at your blog - what an amazing project - I shall visit again in a few minutes!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I shall do that now, Classic Independence!

Kat Mortensen said...

How delightful! I love philosophy and am so intrigued to learn more about how you met Ms. Maureen.

Kat

Reader Wil said...

I liked to read your interview but I don't like to be interviewed!
I love your drawings/paintings!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Kat! I like philosophy too, although some philosophers are a little over my head.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Reader Wil, thank you for the compliments!

Peggy said...

Ralph, I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to your blog! Your interview was terrific. I love your reference to "unbidden glimpses of happiness." Wonderful!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Peggy, glad you enjoyed your visit. You are always welcome here!

Country Girl said...

Oh my gosh, this was absolutely wonderful! What a great interview. Love your motto, too!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you so much, Country Girl!