Emma
Riley, reporting from The Hamilton Spectator
writes: PICTURE THIS: Two strangers walk into a room...spend an
hour answering a prescribed set of questions...and fall in love! It
seems impossible ~ but it's been scientifically proven to work. To
coincide with Valentine's Day, roughly 20 Hamiltonians will have a
chance to test out the theory for themselves in a real-life social
experiment. The process, popularized by a column in the New York
Times, stems from a study by psychologist Arthur Aron~ exploring
whether feelings of intimacy can blossom between 2 people by having
them ask each other a series of increasingly personal questions ~
36 in total ~ broken into 3 different sets, each designed to be more
revealing than the last.
The original participants in the study sat face to face in a lab,
answered the questions ~ and then stared silently into each other's
eyes for 4 minutes.
Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a
dinner guest?
Would you like to be famous? In what way?
Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are
going to say? Why?
What would constitute a 'perfect' day for you?
When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
If you were able to live to the age of 90, and retain either your
mind or body of a 30-year old, for the last 60 years of your life,
which would you want?
Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
Name the 3 things you and your partner appear to have in common.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what
would it be?
Take 4 minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much
detail as possible.
If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or
ability, what would it be?
If a crystal ball could tell you about yourself, your life, the
future, what would you want to know?
Is there something you've dreamed of doing, for a long time? Why
haven't you done it?
What is the greatest accomplishment in your life?
What do you value most in a friendship?
What is your most treasured memory?
What is your most terrible memory?
If you knew that in one year you'd die suddenly, would you change
anything about the way you are now living? Why?
What does friendship mean to you?
What roles do love and affection play in your life?
Is alternate sharing a positive characteristic of your partner?
Share a total of 5 items.
How close and warm is your family? Was your childhood happier
than most other people's?
How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
Make 3 true 'we statements' e.g. “We are both in this room
feeling.......”
Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could
share......”
If becoming a close friend with your partner, what would be
important for him/her to know?
Tell your partner what you like about them...things you might not
say to someone you've just met.
Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.
When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
Tell your partner something that you like about them already.
What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
If you were to die this evening, with no opportunity to
communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told
someone? Why haven't you told them yet?
Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After
saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final
dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?
Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find the
most disturbing? Why?
Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he
or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to
you, how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.
Animals
Express Their Love
Pause
for a moment and think of the people you love the most. Has it been
some time since some of you told them how important they are to you?
Some say, “Love doesn't say words!” Many animals have the
ability to 'express
love' without
uttering a single word. In your mind, picture the following:
“You
Quack me Up” as
one duck 'beaks' the cheek of his mate.
“A
Hug from you is the world's best medicine,” as
2 lion cubs hug together, embracing with paws.
“We
are Two Halves of one Whole,” signifying
2 swans standing beak to beak in shallow water.
“I'm
always here to give you a shoulder to lean on,”
child giraffe reaches to touch Mom's long neck.
“Nothing
makes you less beautiful in my eyes,”
as one hippo faces another, touching mouths and eyeing each other.
“I
feel good just seeing you!” Two
white dogs, facing each other, touching their black noses.
“We
don't have to do something special to enjoy ourselves.”
state
2 tigers laying on grass and embracing each other.
“Even
when things are tough, I'm always here for you.” Gorillas
(orangutans) hold each other.
“I
can never forget all the good you've done me,” chat
2 elephants, joining tusks and ivories.
Kitten,
whispering to speckled-skin dog lying down, “After
all, we were meant for each other!”
An
orange tabby purring to a gray one, softly mews, “I
promise to always watch out for you,” with
hugging paws around each other in their silent love.
One holstein cow in the meadow to another, as though whispering in
her ear,
“....because
some secrets I can ony tell you.
Two
beautiful and heavily plumed birds confide, “And
no one knows me better than you!”
“We're
different, but deeply connected,” states
a tan-coloured rabbit to a gray one.
Two blue-eyed llamas with necks and faces touching,
“You
give me strength to carry on.”
Mourning
Dove to his female, coos, “You
can depend on me ~ I'll be by your side
and raise our 'squats' together.
Herd
horses, as stable-mates, agree as they neigh to each other, “You're
may pal and friend...I love your flowing mane and tail. And
she adores his white socks.
2
Camels lying nose-to-nose in desert sand ~ “Let's
spend vacation time at the oasis.”
Lovebirds on a high wire, side by side with bills and heads touching,
muse
~ “You
are the one for me!”
Beaver,
while building his lodge, states, “I'll
paddle the pond for you.”
Black Bear, preparing for winter, invites,
“Come
~ spend the winter and hibernate in my cave.
The Animals and Birds ~ All Say it Best!
Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 29, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment