Have a story that stuck? Do you identify with it in some way?

As I was growing up, my father would sit by my bedside every night to tell me a story. I remember the best being the myths and legends, a couple of which I'm almost certain he made up.. since I've never been able to find records of them elsewhere, but boy did they stick with me.

I remember how I always used to look at the mountains and imagine Atlas standing behind them, holding the sky on his shoulders.. then mull over whether they were really mountains at all, or simply one of those lost giants that fell asleep such a long time ago they are now covered in forest and rock. It's amazing how all those wonderful stories made life so exciting.

Then there were the legends from where he grew up in the UK. I remember us talking about all the special places we'd visit one day.. all these boulders, lakes and mountains with special meaning.

I'm certain we still will. :)

When do you wish?

Well it's funny, I remember when I was a little girl and would see a shooting star, I'd always close my eyes and wish with all my might. In my head my dreams would become like a Roald Dahl novel, and there was a magic that came along with it and a belief that would somehow make my wishes a reality.

I remember a few weeks ago though, I was looking up at the night sky when I saw the first falling star I had seen in AGES. I almost started to panic. I scanned my brain trying to think, quickly, of something that I truly wanted but kept coming up blank. I mean, SURE there are certain wishes I make to myself everyday, but at the same time I think that the journey I'm making in pursuit of these wishes would probably be a lot more beneficial than the fulfillment itself. I know there are certain things in my life that are never going to happen, but maybe that hope, faith and motivation that comes from these desires will push me to one day get somewhere even greater.

Anyway, at first I felt a little frustrated with myself, not being able to come up with anything to wish for. I mean, I'd just WASTED a shooting star whilst mulling over why I didn't really want anything.. but then this feeling changed as I realized the absurdity of what I was thinking. I'm content. I love where I am, where I am going and excited to further discover the unfolding mystery which is life.

I couldn't have wished for anything better. ;)

When did the bottom fall out on you, only to lead you to something MUCH better?

There was a moment, oh so many moons ago, that I now define as the lowest AND the most joyful time of my life.

I remember feeling lots of things; lost, confused, hurt, useless... and worse, almost as though I was hurting everyone around me when all I wanted to do was help. The most painful part though, was I felt completely alone. I remember closing my eyes and praying with all my might. I got out my prayer book and flipped to the section on 'Tests and Difficulties', before moving on to the longer tablets. It was a while before I could slow down a little, close my eyes and wait. Then it came to me.

I remember in that moment of sadness, finding joy. I remember my sobs turning to laughter as I recognized the absurdity of it all. How could I believe this? Or think for one second that I was worth less than anybody else? I felt like I had fallen prey to an illusion I had waken up from, come to recognize something that before I could never quite understand. I wasn't alone. Even better than that, I was never going to be. That moment of happiness washed over me like something I don't think I'll ever be able to explain, and something that I keep trying to.. because it was really significant to who I am now. But that moment of happiness, as indescribable as it was, never really left. I think it's my faith, it gave me a new perspective on life. It helped me realize my place in the world, not as another person worth more of less than anybody else, but as a part of Gods creation, created from the same dust as all those around me. I was just another person on my journey for spiritual growth, making discoveries every day and constantly striving to discover who I was. Any obstacles that would cross my path could never hurt me or slow me down, they could only make me stronger, because the opportunities they gave me could only test me and push me to grow even further to become the best I could be. I realized that my faith is not something separate from who I am but as much a part of me as the heart beating in my chest and the blood gushing through my veins, and this knowledge and the direction it gave me was never going to die of falter. I was good, and that feeling, that direction, has guided me to this day and constructed who I am.

Anyway, I don't think that the difficulties that we encounter in life are as significant as the ways in which we handle them. :)

If love, sorrow and fear were manifested physically.. what would they look like?

I think love is a lot like a smile. The more you show it to people the more you will inspire it in others, and in this way it is infectious.

I feel sorrow would be something like a blood disease, that weakens people and the more they submit themselves to it, the more negative its effects. :(

Fear could be a hermit crabs shell. They carry it with them, retreat into it and they often grow out of them and move on to find others, considering how they might have changed.

What an interesting question! Abstract.. I like it. :)

I have never been able to dance at dances.. why don't you?

I used to be like that!

I remember back in grade 8 or 9 (somewhere around there) I went to my first dance. They held it in the school hall and there was a little cluster of people in front of the stage, shuffling from foot to foot looking awkward. Of course, I ran right over to my little group of friends and started jumping and waving my arms around, having an absolute ball, when one of my friends pulled me over to the side of the dancefloor and told me to stop, 'I'm saying this because I love you, but you're really embarrassing yourself.' For the rest of the night I shuffled awkwardly on the spot, slowly getting deafened by the fun, energizing music I couldn't stand not moving to.

I couldn't bring myself to join in any dance for the rest of high school, even at my formal/prom I made excuses and sat every dance out.

It wasn't until doing a year of service overseas that I danced again. I remember walking into a room where everyone was friends. We lived in dorms together, knew each other and I knew I was completely accepted by these people. However, it wasn't that easy. I walked into the room, froze and ran out crying. I couldn't believe that I was somehow fighting every impulse I had, for a reason I couldn't quite make sense of. I went back to my dorm and played some music, I moved around my room so easily and joyfully, I just couldn't understand why it was so different in front of other people, even my friends. Then another girl doing service at the school came into my room to talk. We ended up dancing around, being complete idiots and it was the first time in a long time I had felt that good about myself. I asked her if I looked like an idiot and she said yes and laughed, 'but that's the best part'.

We went back to that room and danced that night, all night, and haven't stopped since. Well, you know, whenever there is music anyway. Now I'm the one who breaks out in the clothes stores and is always that first person on the floor, who everyone laughs at for a few minutes before joining as well.

I remember though, the fear that I didn't know what I was doing, or that I was going to be judged or people would point and laugh like that did to 14 year old me at her first school dance. But I think what changed was when I stopped worrying so much about being wrong, maybe even wanted to be wrong for a little while, so I could learn more and maybe even experience something that those 'side to side shufflers' who would point and giggle will never be able to experience. I don't think dancing (at least for me) is about moving the right way, giving the right impression or displaying the right skills. I feel like its about courage, expression and throwing into the space what your spirit is aching to get out but usually doesn't, due to social expectations, embarrassment or for whatever reason we choose to hold it back. Its about expressing the beauty of music through movement, and sharing the movement of our spirit primarily with ourselves and by extension those around us. I don't think we should fear judgement from others, as those who watch us with judgement merely cannot feel what we feel, or are perhaps too scared to share it with the world. After all, is there a RIGHT way to express oneself? and if so, who is to say that we, the ones following our impulses and honestly conveying them to the world, are the right ones.

I think when you love yourself, love who you are, and embrace your right to share this with the world, things like dancing somehow cease to be as scary anymore. :)

MY question..

I'm in the middle of learning a very difficult lesson at the moment about detachment. There are things in my life that push me forward, give me motivation, inspiration and make me want to know/experience it SO much more. But is it okay to have so much passion existing in one thing? Should I be in a place where having it taken away from me makes me joyful, because it allows me to channel my creative energy in new ways? Should detachment be from EVERYTHING? Even the things we love and live for. Should we ever 'live for' something in particular, or be detached from all material things.

What is your financial philosophy?

I tend not to think about money so much. Recently I've begun saving money PROPERLY for the first time, as I am graduating soon and am planning to go live overseas. Its an interesting experience because I have never really thought about this kind of thing. I don't have a job, but study full time, and only really spend money on essential things like food and accommodation. By cutting back and budgetting however, this seems to be slowly happening.

Me and a friend had a discussion recently. She has a job and tries her best to save every penny, which sometimes means I offer to pay for her lunch or dinner so that she won't feel stressed about going out and having a good time, which is worth the exchange for me because I would rather pay a few bucks for a nice afternoon with a friend rather than using that money on something for myself.

I've also never really had much.. stuff. Not that my family was broke, more minimalistic, staying away from purchasing things that weren't essential. As a teenager I would sometimes feel embarrassed when my friends would come around and there would be no furniture to sit on or a big TV to watch, but now as an adult I feel as though I've been blessed with a perspective of the world that appreciates people, irrespective of where they sit on the scale of wealth/poverty. After all, food, water, sleep, love and friendship are really the essentials for living in my eyes.

Also, I refuse to get a credit card. Debt sounds like a bad idea to me. I'm studying with a student loan (Sort of.. in Australia we call it HECS) and although I realize that it adds interest and takes most students about 20 years to pay off, my education seems more important.