That association meme.

[callistahogan]

Um, so I said I was going to do this the day I posted the first part, but I just kept procrastinating. At least I'm doing it now.

Christianity was doubled up, though, so I'll do that one last.

First, greatalexanders:

Thinkyness - I do seem to think a lot, don't I? I guess it just stems from my habit of being alone, for the most part, and reading a lot: thinking just seems to be the way I spend most of my time, and I think about everything. I guess that gives me an interesting perspective on the world and opinions that it seems other people don't share. I don't consider my uniqueness is a bad thing, per se, but on a level, I do, because I mostly tell myself things, not other people. I think, but don't talk.

Maturity - Once again, this is kind of because of my "thinkyness" and my bookish tendencies. I read books teens my age might not normally read, and I have had to grow up faster than perhaps other people my age might've. I get along with people older than me, for the most part, which means I often feel like I act more adult than I am. In ways, I understand when I have to reaccess my beliefs, as I have recently about gay marriage and abortion. I may believe abortion is wrong, for instance, but I understand where a mother-to-be may believe it is necessary.

Of course, I don't consider myself as mature as you all seem to. I'm so often just a silly, huffy little teenage girl.

Pack - Ah, Pack. *sighs* You know, it was great while it lasted. For a while, for two years or so, it felt like family. I learned so much from Anne, Beth, Tim, James, Krish, Yuhan, and Archy. (Do you know that I haven't typed that name in so long, and it still hurts?) We were fun and silly and yet mature and supportive all at the same time. Some of my happiest memories are from Pack, and I'll never regret the time I had with all of you.

However, as a part of me always knew would happen, the magic wore off. I felt increasingly distant from all of you, and CotCS helped with that for a while. But even we eventually ended up growing further apart. Internet friendships, Internet families, are fun, but... they're not enough, they're never enough. Eventually paths separate, and my path separated.

I'm a teenage girl, yearning to take on the world, but I can't do that via a computer screen. There are people I tried to save but couldn't, because the physical barrier between us was too great. So now I turn my attention to the people who I can help, the people I can see and touch and understand.

Youth - Heh, I am really a teenager, honest. I am young, but I don't see that as something that defines me, as it seems everyone else seems to do. I am different from people my age, but similar all at the same time.

And now, miriammoules:

Intelligent - Blame my bookish tendencies and solitary nature for this one. I read, think, and listen. I pay attention. I try to think things through, and I just want to know things, so intelligence probably stems from that.

Articulate - I have been avidly writing for more than half my life, and my goal is to be a published author, so I need to be able to express my ideas in an eloquent and understandable way. Sometimes I feel that I fail, but I am getting better at expressing my thoughts coherently. I just want to share my opinions eloquently with the world, and I manage to do that, I guess.

Evolving - I'm quite glad you actually mentioned this, because I find myself evolving as well. A year ago, I was reading Ann Coulter and was staunchly conservative, and now I am a somewhat reluctant supporter of Obama and find myself squarely in the middle of the liberal/conservative "war." I used to be pro-life and anti-gay marriage, and to an extent, I still am, but I realize that, in today's society, compromise is necessary. I am learning more about myself and the world around me, and growing into a very opininated female. There are some things I absolutely refuse to compromise, but in most aspects of my life, I am continuing to grow. In all aspects, really.

Boyfriend - Whee. *grin* Yes, I have a boyfriend. He is nice and funny and sensitive and similar to me and he calls me and doesn't seem to mind my shyness and he is amazing so far. We've had two dates, and I want to see him again. Soon.

And for the biggest one of all:

Christian / Christianity - There is nothing more important to me than my faith. Without it, I don't know where I would be. I think what I wrote in my first paper for Grade 9 English expresses this well.

I grew up in a strong Christian home, got saved when I was six, and have been a Christian ever since. Without my faith, I am not sure where I would be. There's nothing that brings a smile to my face more than expressing my faith and letting people know that yes, I am a Christian and yes, I am proud to be one and no, I will not change my beliefs just to fit in with the world. I want to make a difference in this world for Christ. Jesus Christ has brought me through difficult times in my life—such as my parents' separation, my peers trying to force me to do things I don't want to do, and my lack of inspiration when it comes to writing—and without Him, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

I feel His presence through everything I do and feel Him guiding me through my entire life. When it comes to my passion for academics, writing, and reading... do I think it would be there if it weren't for Him? No. Christianity means more to me than I can ever express and if people try to take Him away from me, I'll end up growing ever closer to Him. That's just the way I've found He works.

Comments

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

...got saved when I was six...

Six? Wow, really? How does that work, then? I mean, I personally find it hard to imagine that a six-year-old, even a precocious one, is intellectually or emotionally mature enough to really grasp what it means to accept or reject religion.

I don't mean to criticise, I'm genuinely curious.

[angakkuq-01.livejournal.com]

I suppose it depends on the six-year-old.

[miriammoules.livejournal.com]

same here...

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

I don't really see my being a Christian as accepting religion, but rather accepting Jesus as my Savior. In my opinion, there's a difference. And maybe I wasn't quite mature then, but over the years, I've really grown to understand what it means to be "saved". Back then, I trusted in Jesus as my Savior, just as I do now. It was a very, *very* simplistic faith, but it was a faith in Him all the same.

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

Hmm... but still, did you really know what you were accepting? A child of six doesn't have the critical skills to be able to judge for itself who Jesus was, or whether his claims are worth accepting, or whether the whole concept of being saved even makes sense.

I have no idea what I believed when I was six. I know I was taken to church. I don't think I got anything meaningful out of it. But maybe that's just me.

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

No, perhaps I didn't realize it entirely; like I said, it was a very simplistic faith. However, over the next few years, when I was in third grade, I met the pastor I most look up to now, and he taught me so much. He brought depth and feeling and truth to my belief, and showed me how it did make sense. To me, Christianity is more of a journey, I guess -- at the beginning, it was very simplistic, almost to a fault, but as you grow in your faith, it makes more sense and depth is brought to it. For instance, now I am strong and fierce in my belief, knowing exactly how and why I believe it. Back then, I didn't, but that doesn't mean that I didn't realize who Jesus was and accept Him the best way I knew how. Does that make sense?

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

Okay, that makes more sense. I guess whatever you thought at six was like a starting point for your faith as it has developed until now.

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

Oh, also: Do you mind if I do associations for you?

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

Sure, go ahead. :)

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.

Documentaries.
Atheism.
Questions.
Fandoms.
NaNo.

[greatalexanders.livejournal.com]

Interesting and informative post, that was. A real insight into how you think of yourself, and things associated with you.

Now, associate me?

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

Hrm.

Debating.
Pack.
Writing.
Atheism.
Liberal.

[elfishscallywag.livejournal.com]

Oh hi there! I 'agree' with most associations given- And you elaborating on that was nice to read.
I'd love to hear what you would think of with me (except the to be expected Pack/CotCS), if you can cook anything up! Dunno when I'll post about it, though.

Oh, and also, after not being LJ-active for sometime and not replying- oooooohboyfriend

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

Krish! Hey! :D Missed ya, like I said.

Wheeboyfriend!

And associations:

Hyperness.
Boys.
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
Twilight
Mrs. House