Interview with Karen Madej

I like what I stand for where the world and people and animals are concerned. But self-love is something I stuff in a dark cupboard and refuse to examine the possibility of until I have some free time to consider it.

Karen Madej 💛 is an amazing writer and I got to know her via Medium. I genuinely respect her a lot because she is someone who never minces her words. She is the upfront, positive, courageous, and beautiful person at heart. I have always found myself in the good company of people because of her constant support and remarks on my posts.

She is very active on Twitter and LinkedIn too. What fascinates me most about her is her sense of humor and writing on topics that I wouldn’t have thought of ever in my life. I admire her for raising the spirit of others and giving them equal respect with kind words. I know its not every day we come across very humble and kind-hearted humans in life. You can consider me fortunate enough to have met her on this platform and if you would read her words, you would believe in the power of her words too.

I loved her view on life, relationships, and emotional strength of a person. I hope you would feel elated while reading her words too.

1. Where do you belong to? Is there anything you would like to change about the place you belong to?

I’m not sure that I belong anywhere. I have such itchy feet which long to travel far and wide to find the place where I belong. For the moment, Kirkcaldy in Scotland, is the place where I live because of work and in the hope my son, who lives 15 miles away, will soon be able to drive to see me for a visit.

2. What sets your soul on fire?

The fires that rage in my soul are; all injustices, the lies and greed of the powerful, the rich getting richer and poverty striking harder than ever. The lack of respect for ecosystems and the lives of every living organism that has been wiped off the face of the earth by man.

Nature, kindness, inclusion, and generosity of live and let live are the soul fires that give me hope.

3. What is your favourite family memory and why?

My step mum, my dad, my son, and my most loved boyfriend all together in my own house at Christmas with me as cook and hostess.

My step mum was a fabulous cook. I had never cooked her anything and she complimented me on my cookery skills. Something I’d not expected to hear from her as she was extremely critical when I lived at home.

4. Is there anyone in your life you would give your life for? If yes, why?

Yes, my son. Because he’s my son. The best thing I ever did was to bring him into the world, even if he doesn’t think being here is all that great sometimes.

5. Do you pour love into self from time to time?

This is a terribly difficult question to answer, Gurpreet. I know I should. I respect myself (most of the time) these days and I like what I stand for where the world and people and animals are concerned. But self-love is something I stuff in a dark cupboard and refuse to examine the possibility of until I have some free time to consider it.

6. How often do you observe the people near you?

I’ve always been a people watcher. They are fascinating. I do it at every opportunity!

7. What do you hope for? Does it change something within you or around you?

I’m an eternal optimist and I live in hope of peace, love, and harmony for everyone and everything. These three states would change us and our world.

8. How does being a woman feel like to you?

In my younger days, I felt strong and able to achieve anything I put my mind to as long as it fitted into everyone else’s plans.

In more recent years, I feel the same way but I am not hindered by anyone else’s opinions, wants or needs. I’m much happier with the latter.

9. What would you like us to remember you for?

My stories. Maybe helping, a little bit, to change the way people think about themselves and the world. Not bowing to the people who consider themselves better than everyone else.

10. How would you describe your life?

Fragile. Insecure. Passionate. Free.

11. What keeps you on your toes and how do you like to spend your time?

This platform and ILLUMINATION keep me on my toes and alive with thinking, researching, writing, interacting and everything I love to do with my time. My guilty pleasures are TV shows for relaxation which I need very much before going to bed so I can get a full eight hours sleep.

12. When life gives you a lemon what do you make out of it?

A vodka and slimline tonic. Seriously though, again back to being an optimist, I will make the most of a bad situation or simply walk away. I don’t hang around for lemons. In fact, I’ve recently bought a lemon and it’s still in the fridge and going soft, so lemons would hang around for me. I may use it in my vodka and tonic tonight.

13. What mystery of life you would like to have an answer for?

How did men get away with being in control for so long and isn’t it time for women to rule the world? Physical strength isn’t a factor these days so what’s our excuse?

14. How were you different five years ago from what you are today?

I was hiding in a country where I couldn’t understand what people said to me and they had no idea what I was saying to them. I was surviving. Now I’m surviving and thriving, understanding and being understood.

15. What would you like to leave as your legacy? Is there any message you would like to communicate to us?

I’d like to physically go and help restore ecosystems to create a lasting footprint on this world that will leave it a better place than when I arrived.

Think about the origin of what you are buying. What has been sacrificed to make it? Do you really need another pair of designer sneakers? The latest iPhone. And on and on and on.

Karen Madej 💛 is a Writer. Reader. ILLUMINATION editor. Sometime poet. She feel delighted to be learning from others. linktr.ee/wrtwrds https://mediumauthor.com/@wrtwrds