incoherent perception and the like

As I am getting older my perception seems to be changing.

I am definitely becoming more selfish and doing things for me rather than trying to please others. I think I have a balance of friends who now appreciate that I will do things with them whole heartedly if it is something I am interested in, and if I don't have a desire to do it there is no chance of me changing my mind. Which is a change from being a "pleaser" and hoping not to offend people. Or possibly I have finally gotten my friends right and found the balance of friends who are very similar.

But the other part of my perception struck me today while I was walking the beach on the north coast. I now appreciate the beauty of nature. I seen a child sitting in a car in the front seat with a somewhat unhappy demeanor, and it definitely hit a remembrance with my childhood where my family would bring me to lovely places and all I would want to do is play my gameboy, or listen to the radio, or hoping to go home so I could watch tv. Now I am walking beaches and looking at the cliffs and the foliage, the sun shining, the waves crashing, how sand dunes have formed on the beach and the intricate shells scattered and splashed over the beach.

I've been a few different places over the last few weeks since I've been in back in Ireland, and I have honestly been struck with awe over the beauty of the countryside. The north east coast train from Castlerock to Belfast is easily one of the most naturally beautiful things I have seen. It made me imagine some of the stories of my childhood-probably most brining to life old celtic mythology of armies fighting over land, maidens in distress or the more magical side of the hobbit and dwarves and elves travelling through the countryside. I could see it all in the landscape, the rolling hills, the stone walls and man made stone bridges. It had my imagination running for at least an hour thinking of different adventures. Something I haven't done in a long time. Then a drive from Strabane to Cookstown I had to drive through very rural Tyrone and I actually had to pull over my car at one point as I was in the hills and had such amazing views for all around. It is more than likely a repercussion of me moving to Australia and I am noticing how beautiful my homeland is, or its that I'm now taking solace in nature and finding a new dimension to myself.

Even lately I have been looking more at photography online over some of the most amazing landscapes around the world and its usually the countryside/rural or coastal shoots that make me stare in awe, rather than the very architectural cities which I also find gorgeous. I may have to look into photography as a hobby, and I wish I had already taken up this art, as with my impending travels I think I may see some amazing sights all over australasia, and I am afraid I will not do them justice. But alas I will do my best and as long as I can keep the memory with me, then that will have to be good enough for me.

Perception has always had an interest for me. I like that two people can stand together at one time, staring, analysing, breathing and come out with a completely different thought process. It's one of my favourite things about people, and conversation. Usually there will not be a consensus, but only opinions, which are completely correct in each of our minds, and completely wrong according to someone else. This is the beauty of meeting people outside of our normal circles, their new perception can challenge our own, either into a modification or a strengthening. I would find it completely mundane and boring to have the same opinions as my friends, and I nearly find it more fun and engaging even to play devils advocate and debate something I don't believe in. 1) as it makes me look at my opinion and try to get in the head of someone else and argue their point, and 2) as the person I'm debating with may be passionate about their opinion, then it makes it more interesting to see their rebuttal and see if I can strengthen or modify their opinion.

There is no coherence to this post as its not really a blog, its really just my random brainitis and me looking to put something down on paper again, as its been a while and I may try and start writing up my adventures for the next few months, its an idea, but also possibly not feasible, but we shall see