PromoGuy’s Monday Mission 3.25

PRetty thought provoking set of questions this week for the Monday Mission.

First, a disclaimer: the following answers are not meant to be definitive, they’re merely musings on these things as I perceive them. Okay? Okay.

1.What is the difference between spirituality and religion?

Spirituality is personal, religion is public. More specifically: religion is the trappings of mystical and metaphysical experience, spirituality is the experiences themselves. So… taking communion with a priest giving you the wafer, etc., is religion. How you feel, the experience of doing so, is spirituality. You can have spirituality without having religion. Personally, I’ve come to dislike and distrust most organized religion, but I’m still spiritual, which is to say that I experience the mystical and metaphysical on a fairly regular basis.

2. What is the difference between someone listening to what you say and hearing what you say?

It’s easy to listen – that just means paying attention. Hearing what I say, though, means actively considering it and either taking it to heart or rejecting it – or somewhere in between.

3. What’s the difference between a Father, and a Daddy?

A father can just be biological – a sperm donor. But a daddy is there to watch you grow up and nurture you. Your daddy doesn’t have to be the same guy as your father.

4. What’s the difference between being married and living together?

Besides the legal stuff? To me, marriage is a public recognition that you intend to stay with this person for the rest of your lives (the modern convenience of divorce not withstanding). You can live with someone without expecting to spend the rest of your life with them. People do it all the time.

5. What’s the difference between growing up and growing old?

Growing up is optional. Growing up is a mental thing. Growing old is a biological process.

6. What’s the difference between getting what you want and getting what you need?

What you want and what you need are not always the same. In fact, they often aren’t the same. I need food, water, and shelter. I want convenience, emotional support, and as much luxury as I can afford. Anything which facilitates the former list is a need as well. Anything which facilitates the latter list is a want. I can survive without things I want, but not without things I need. But there’s a big difference between surviving and living, between existing and enjoying life.

7. What’s the difference between punishment and discipline?

Punishment is retroactive. Discipline is proactive. Discipline is a teacher who keeps an eye on her students and doesn’t let them get out of hand. Punishment is a teacher who assigns detention because the class already got out of hand.

8. What’s the difference between the Monday Mission and any other meme?

The Monday Mission usually makes me think more, and gives me questions I can write longer and more interesting answers to.