Human 2: Anna Keenan

Senior strategist at CRE8IVE

Anna is a British expat residing in Canberra with her partner, Clyde, and son, Hugo. Starting as a runner on television and film sets, Anna has since won several prestigious awards for her work in TV and advertising, a career spanning the past 17 years. She now works as a senior strategist at CRE8IVE, a Canberra-based creative communication agency. Not so long ago, Anna’s couch was my bed, so I am in a strong position to report that, away from work, you'll typically find her devising fitness challenges she can beat me in (not terribly difficult); dragging her family up a nearby mountain; or at home, burning dinner. 

Anna is a human mammal. Here are her thoughts:

What brings you the most joy in life?

My little boy Hugo has to be number one, he’s such a little good-time guy it’s impossible to not get sucked into his antics. It’s very cheesy and obvious, but I feel so lucky every day to be this little guy’s mum, I hope I do him justice. I also get great joy from reading, the ocean, and I really enjoy my work as well. Oh, and my oldest girlfriends give me belly laughs like nothing else.

What does success mean to you?

I think being content, which is different to being perpetually happy. If I think of people whose lives I wish I could emulate, it’s people who seem to travel through life with a certain grace, warmth and ease, which ultimately has a positive impact on those around them. 

What do you see as your greatest achievement?

I find this question really tricky to answer. I don’t feel ready to think of anything as being ‘achieved’ – I think the things I care about are all still very much a work in progress.

What are you most grateful for?

Other than all the things I mentioned in my first answer, I think it’s the deep relationships in my life. I’ve spent the last 13 years living on the opposite side of the world to many of my loved ones, and they’re the reason I still call my hometown, ‘home’. 

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life? 

I think so many things influence our lives it’s hard to single out one. My parents are some of the most selfless people I’ve met and have always demonstrated compassion and understanding, even when it’s inconvenient for them. I think that’s definitely shaped how I approach my relationships in life. I find it hard to write off a person, even if I probably should! 

What do you regret?

I regret all the times I’ve not listened to my own - whether it’s instinct or inner judgement. I’ve always felt the need to seek advice from others and still do - it annoys the hell out of me. 

Has there been a defining moment in your life? Can you tell us something about it?

Probably overcoming anorexia in my twenties. For years I thought it would be something I’d have to live with for the rest of my life, but ultimately, I fully recovered. I think that gave me the realisation that you’re never completely ‘stuck’. It also gave me a deeper sense of self-reliance that I’ve carried with me ever since.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be a bit bloody kinder to yourself! 

What do you doubt most?

Whenever my partner tells me he’s going to stick to his latest restrictive eating regime for longer than a day or two.

When did you last change your mind?

I can’t recall the most recent time, but I’ve definitely changed my mind more than a few times on people after getting to know them more. I think my first impression radar can be pretty off.

What is the role of luck in our lives?

Huge! But I imagine happier people tend to find more luck crosses their path. So, I think outlook it a pretty big part of it as well… but then you’re lucky to be born with an ability and circumstance to have a positive outlook… so we’re back to luck. The answer is that luck has a huge impact on our lives.

Do you have a favourite quote? What is it? Why do you like it?

I do! There’s a Swedish idiom my old flatmate used to say “I’m just sliding in on a shrimp sandwich”. Meaning (I think) “I’m coming in and taking the glory for someone else’s work”.  It’s not the meaning that I love, it’s just the fun of the phrase. The Swedes have some great idioms! 

What would you do with your life if you had unlimited financial resources?

I don’t think I could answer that question without doing way more research. I want to say whatever would take the most pain away from the greatest number of people, but that’s probably incredibly naïve.

If you could have the definitive answer to a single question, what would you ask?

I’m a chronically underslept working mum of a toddler with the energy levels of fifteen energizer bunnies - I don’t have the brain capacity for thinking about things as deeply as this question requires!  

Should we think of morality in relative or absolute terms?

I had to google this and still don’t have an answer for you. Refer to previous answer.

What concept/fact/idea should every human on the planet understand?

How deeply connected we all are to each other and our environment. Again, cheesy as hell but it seems that’s where I’m going with a lot of this stuff.

Do human beings have free will?

I don’t know.

Do you believe in God?

I don’t believe in God, but I do believe in the power of believing in things.

Could we be living in a simulated universe?

The idea of it makes me feel deeply uncomfortable, so I tend not to spend time thinking about it – especially since becoming a mum. I know I should, but I don’t.

Will the continual development of technology have a net positive or negative influence on humanity?

I’d hope a net positive influence, but again, I feel very ill-equipped to answer this with anything useful other than a very basic, rather ill-considered opinion.

What is the single greatest achievement of humanity?

I don’t think there has been one single greatest achievement but rather many great leaps – discovering fire would probably be up there.

What do you see as the biggest existential threat to humanity?

I think climate change is beginning to receive the level of focus it needs now. Maybe nuclear war or another pandemic?

What does it mean to live a good life?

That’s a hard one. I think in reality living a good life is about bringing net good to your little corner of the world. We can’t all be Bill Gates, but a lot of us can do the former. 

What is a good death?

I think if you have the luxury of dying in a way such that the people you leave behind feel okay with it, that seems ideal.

What question should I have asked you?

I think the question ‘which question shouldn’t I have asked you?’ is more relevant here. In which case, questions 13 through to 22. Ha!

Thanks for your time, Anna!

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