I’m answering Rojie’s question prompt for June 19 2026 now because I managed to think of what to write. First, I answer on what makes the cut as the three things. Then, I elaborate on my answers.
Things that make me feel alive:
- Sight-seeing
- reading nonfiction/ self-improvement/ personal essays/ blogs
- Satisfaction/ happiness.
Question: Why does sight-seeing stimulate me?
We have five senses; sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch. Some people have extra senses like ESP, intuition, ability to see another dimension etc.
Our senses input stimulations to fire up our nerve cells, sending impulses to our brain. This informs us, activates our pleasure, to enable us to mentally, emotionally, physically and maybe spiritually “come alive”. The feelings endure until our euphoria subside and we return to our individual, inherent, static equilibrium.
It is not bad luck if your static equilibrium state is negative (sad) and you always return to being sad and negative. Blame your genes, upbringing, culture, imbrued traditions, experiences, knowledge, imagination and maybe, intuition if you have awakened it.
I like sight-seeing, traveling via road and air, but never by sea. I hate being sea-sick. I used to have borderline anemia and fluctuating blood pressure, which made me sensitive to changes in my immediate atmospheric pressure, within contained vehicles like car and airplane. Before my diagnosis, I didn’t know how to deal. with it. One time, I was on a long flight with a stopover at an airport and at the stopover, I couldn’t make myself sit upright because I felt so sick. After my diagnosis and start of medication, my old symptoms left.
I would count watching movie/ live show as a kind of sight-seeing too. I feel some exhilaration while watching a captivating film or live performance.
I visit exhibitions, trade fairs, and other visual stimulations too.
List (The post titles are in the links for visibility because a blogger once said she was suspicious of hidden links and refused to click on them)
- https://artmater.com/i-saw-iris-van-herpens-fashion-design-exhibition-sculpting-the-senses/
- https://artmater.com/i-saw-pop-air-exhibition-at-balloon-museum-meaning-of-balloon-dreams/
- https://artmater.com/i-saw-loewe-foundation-craft-prize-exhibition/
- https://artmater.com/visiting-impressionism-art-fashion-post-event/
Question: How does reading awaken me?
Reading good literary input stimulates my brain to think. I like to think I can improve myself, my home, circumstances, future prospects, to a limited extend.
Question: Why does satisfaction or happiness invigorate me to feel alive?
The input stimulant injects a fresh shot of life force.
