10 things...

ok, so maybe not 10. i was brainstorming to myself and thought it would be an interesting exercise to make an actual list of things i believe in and things i don't. i expected to think a bit to list 10 things each, but not to be horribly put out by the exercise. the trouble is, i found one list super easy to do -- i had 11 things i believe in in less than 5 minutes. the other list, 10 things i DON'T believe in, took me on the order of 45 minutes, and i came up with even more things i DO believe in while trying to fill the second one out.

as i was thinking, i asked a friend, who commented that it's easier to be negative so the "list of things i don't believe in" should be easier. he immediately spouted off: "fairies, the loch ness monster, elves, communism, capitalism, gnosticism, donatism, santa claus, easter bunny, and buddhism", but when pressed, 2 minutes later gave a list of things he believes in as "God, creation, gravity, light, single predestination, the Real Presence, efficacy of baptism, reason, family systems theory, and the Chicago Cubs" (if you actually know me and my circle of friends you know who it was by now :P)

it surprised me that for as much as i struggled with one list and not the other,
(a) someone else found the other one harder to do
(b) making both lists took me 45 minutes, and took someone else 5.
i know what i believe in, but have a harder time being firm about things i don't believe in (the first 5 on that list came easily... the last 5 were more contrived after much thought).

anyhow, after much ado, here's my lists:

things that i believe in
(1) God
(2) heaven
(3) mathematics
(4) natural beauty
(5) honesty
(6) the power of laughter
(7) the power of true friendship
(8) the pursuit of knowledge
(9) the joy of travel
(10) scientific method/ logic/ being analytical
(11) hugs
(12) the pittsburgh steelers
(13) doing what you love (see numbers 3, 8, 9, 10 :P)
(14) being independent
(15) myself (usually)

things that i don't believe in
(1) romantic love -- agape (God) love? yes... friendship love? yes... that other people have real true romantic love for one another? yes... that i have the capacity for it? not yet convinced.
(2) ghosts
(3) horoscopes
(4) getting excited about celebrity gossip
(5) reincarnation
(6) being cocky
(7) being reckless
(8) being rich -- yes, i want to be able to pay my bills and be comfortable, but i have no desire to have excessive amounts of money.
(9) being famous -- i think it's just more trouble than it's worth. i highly value minding my own business.
(10) myself (occasionally)

so now, your turn: discussion time:
(1) what do you believe in? what do you not believe in?
(2) which list is easier for you to write?
(3) how much time would it take for you to come up with both lists at least 10 things long?

1,2,3, go!