Life Experience

"The Book of Questions", by Gregory Stock, Ph.D - These are questions of a different sort - questions about you. They are about your values, your beliefs, and your life; love, money, sex, integrity, generosity, pride, and death are all here.

Here is an enjoyable way to find out more about yourself and others, and to confront ethical dilemmas in a concrete rather than an abstract form.

To respond to these questions, you will need to examine and interpret your past, project yourself into hypothetical situations, face difficult dilemmas and make painful choices.

These questions can be an avenue for individual growth, a tool for deepening relationships, a quick way to get to know a stranger, or merely a pleasant amusement.

Questions can be an avenue for my growth

I can face dilemmas, make painful choices or both

I will examine and interpret my past

Questions about life; love, money, integrity,

generosity, pride, sex, death, and last

to look at values and beliefs, I hope to have serenity.

Question four of 217: If you could spend one year in perfect happiness but afterward would remember nothing of the experience, would you do so? If not, why not? Gregory Stock, Ph.D

I have already had a similar experience. I had a respiratory code and when I came out of it, I didn't remember my husband for a short time. I thought I was married to my second husband.

My daughter explained that it was because my second husband was a respiratory therapist and the respiratory therapist who worked with me looked identical to my second husband. I had been together with my third husband for 10 years at that time.

Most of those years were perfect happiness. At least today that is how I think of them now. In addition, even though I remember my husband there have been gaps, where he will say, remember when... And I don't. That memory is gone.

Now, it could be because it wasn't as important to me, but after he describes it I wish I had the memory back. The good news is that he has the memory to share with me.

At one time the question of living in perfect happiness but remembering nothing of the experience I may have said no. But today, it is important for me to live fully in this day only. To make the best out of each day. That means I get perfect happiness regularly living this way!

Question four-plus of 200+: Which is more important: actual experiences, or the memories that remain when the experiences are over? Gregory Stock, Ph.D

Both are important to me, but I would rather have the experiences than the memories that someone else may share with me. My husband is willing to share with me when he is reminiscing and he doesn't try to see what I don't remember. I may hate that.

Hubby doesn't always remember everything I do and that is okay with me. If he wants me to bring the memory back he will usually remember it. I don't. It is an actual missing memory for me.

Question five of 200+: If a new medicine were developed that would cure arthritis but cause a fatal reaction in 1 percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public? Gregory Stock, Ph.D

When I typed in arthritis in Unsplash, there were very few things that popped up. The photo above is one of the few. I don't think it is meant for a cure but it is labelled as a medicinal=(of a substance or plant) having healing properties. (Oxford Language Dictionary)

Many people suffer from arthritis and a medication that would kill me, I would not want to take that risk. Maybe once they figure out the solution then it could be released to the public. Otherwise, I would say no to a cure that would cause a fatal reaction in 1 percent.

There are different types of arthritis and mine is in my back, an osteoarthritis. No way would I take the chance on that medication and I would not want someone else to make that decision for me.

Because I am a woman in long-term recovery, medical marijuana would not be a good idea for me. I wouldn't be interested in that "medicinal" even though it can be safe for others, in a similar way alcohol is safe for others. For me, it could lead to my death.

Because it is legal in my state, something similar has hit the grocery store shelves. It could cause those who are addicted to believe that it is safe if it is sold with candy and pop in the checkout lane.