A I Generated Picture
How would you describe yourself to someone?
When I first introduce myself to anyone I tend to give my name and my profession in that order. Some of my recent posts have been about trying to move on from defining myself as a teacher, although that might take some time.
Then, if we become colleagues or acquaintances I will reflect on my roles as husband and father, something that defines me perhaps more deeply than my profession. I have been married for 35 years in September and a father for 32 years in August so in a sense it is hard to think of myself as an individual person. The family unit is absolutely central to my existence.
If we get to me as a person, I would say, quite genuinely, read my blog as almost everything that I love is in there. You will get to know me far better through those articles and, of course, my views, visitors and reach will all increase so it’s a win win!
So there you have it, I am a family man first, a teacher second (even if I introduce myself as that first) and an individual third. For the rest of the details you can read my blog as I write about music, books, TV, plays and my thoughts.
If you could bring back one dinosaur, which one would it be?
A I Generated Picture
Apart from being one of my favourite jokes in the film Airplane, and the dinosaur I was most interested in as a child, the reasons I would bring the Pterodactyl back to life are based on science, human nature and the likelihood of success.
If you decided to bring, for example, the meat eating Tyrannosaurus Rex back to life you would completely wreck the food chain and cause the loss of many existing species. If you decided to bring back the plant eating Diplodocus, perhaps my favourite dinosaur due to Dippy at the Natural History Museum, it would destroy whole forests which are, of course, far less extensive than the forests they roamed in millions of years ago. The Pterodactyl would of course affect the food chain but if we could bring it back in an area with few existing bird species it would help to transform it in a good way.
If either of those big beasts were brought back they would be top of the list for the ‘big game’ hunters who make themselves feel important by slaughtering animals who are doing nothing harmful to them. Mind you, it’s not just those evil individuals who would be looking for a reason to destroy large creatures we brought back. The amount of money dinosaur hide would be worth on the illegal market would be sky high. So, there’s no point bringing back the big dinosaurs because humans are basically not to be trusted when it comes to sharing with their own kind let alone other species. The Pterodactyl, although it would be sadly sought after, would almost certainly not have anything like the same cachet for hunters.
So, that leaves us with the Pterodactyl. Whole colonies could be reintroduced far away from the risk of humans. For example, the National Park in New South Wales has a prehistoric tree called the Wollemi Pine which is protected by complete secrecy as to it’s location. The same could happen with the Pterodactyl until it becomes entrenched within an area. Once that happens tourists with cameras not guns could be allowed to shoot them as they watch them fly overhead from a safe distance as experts tell them about these magnificent creatures.
So, there you have it. We should look forward to seeing the return of the monarch of the skies in the future. I for one will welcome their reappearance.
A I Generated Picture
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?
If I won two plane tickets my wife and I would head to Scandinavia to finally see the Northern Lights. As you may have seen three days ago my holiday choices are definitely not sun seeking in nature! Seeing the Northern Lights in person has always been a dream of mine, but I have never really felt like I could risk it, because there are no guarantees and I would be so disappointed if I missed out having gone all that way. The two free plane tickets would solve that problem.
I have been very lucky to have travelled as much as I have with my job, living in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia while teaching English to so many students. If I had to stop travelling I would have all those memories of so many places to look back on, so from now on anything else is just the icing on the cake. The Northern Lights would just be the final bit of icing.
What’s the story behind your nickname?
I have had a number of nicknames over the years, none of them complementary. As someone on the Autistic Spectrum pretty much all of them have referenced my ‘otherness’ and have been unwelcome. Some people attract affectionate nicknames but very many of us don’t.
Obviously the process starts at school as other children try to get a measure of each other and it often singles out differences that can be seen or differences in behaviour that can be jumped on. It’s interesting how quickly the mentality of singling people out starts so early and is so reinforced by the collective, and it is that which gives me the view that, generally speaking, human beings are not inherently good. The nicknames given by two friends or partners to each other can be friendly but they are not often for public consumption.
So, for me the nickname is a source of Childhood embarrassment and I will always go by the name David.
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
I have found that a good way to reduce the pressures that life puts on you is to have regular routines. If there are things you do everyday you can add activities to them on a regular or sporadic basis and benefit even more from those activities.
My first strategy is to make sure I get enough sleep. I am an early riser, but as long as I have had seven hours sleep I feel like I have rested enough. If I have a late night I sometimes find it difficult to get my seven hours, but over time I find it averages out fairly well.
My second strategy is to avoid the news as much as possible. That may not be the best option in a number of ways but for me it’s essential. If I read rather than watch the news I have the opportunity to move on at my pace and decide what to read and what to ignore based on the headline and the subject matter.
My third strategy is to build my online day around certain repeating activities. The blogging is one, of course, but I also have three apps I use every day. Happy Colour, Calm and Duolingo. By ensuring that I use all three I give my mind a framework for relaxation. I sometimes share my Happy Colour pictures, so here’s one from yesterday.
My fourth and final strategy is to remind myself of the support of my family. I know that this may not be the case for everyone, but if it isn’t, look for the support of friends, colleagues, people who share your interests or online communities you value.
Good luck with your health and wellbeing. Remember to do the best you can for yourself and remember it is a work in progress.
David Pearce - Popular Culture and Personal Passions 