Get to Know Yourself

If you take the time to get to know me you will learn that I love lists and questionnaires. Personally, I find them to be a convenient and sometimes exciting way to learn about yourself and learn about how and what you think. A year ago I received this list of questions from a friend and filled it out. A year later, I’m seeing that many of my answers are different. While writing this I have decided that I fill this out every year and see which answers stay the same and which change. I expect the time will allow me to learn more and more about myself each year, and help direct me to where I need to go and what I need to do at each point in my life. If you haven’t asked yourself these questions, I think today is a great day to start asking! They have the ability to help you grow 🙂

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

17

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Never trying

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

Because we are scared.

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

A few months ago I would have said. But with the changes I am making now I hope to turn that around.

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

I would love to change the world so that everyone genuinely cared about everyone else. If everyone cared this world would be completely different.

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

There are a lot of things that make me happy: everything under the umbrella of public relations (writing, designing, researching), taking care of people, being a mentor.

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

I am starting to do what I believe in. I was going to settle for something that could make me happy, but I’ve realized that my dreams are far too important to let them go and I now understand that I will not be happy without them, or at least trying to succeed at them.

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

I would do things that scare me, take more chances, trust more, be happy, let love in.

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? 

I have controlled the majority of life. Things that are out of my control, I learn to work with so I can have more control.

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

This is a tough one. I am always concerned about doing what I think is right, even if it is not what will make me happy. But I would like to find a happy medium so that I can be happy as well. It’s not the most difficult question but it’s not the easiest to wrap your head around when trying to come up with an answer.

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?

If it is not justified I tend to keep my thoughts to myself but if it gets bad then I would say that I don’t want to be a part of the conversation. If it is, I tend to justify my friends position.

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Everything has a way of working out so don’t lose hope or be discouraged.

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Absolutely.

Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

Yes, in myself.

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Think.

How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

Because everyone has a different perception and experience.

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?

I have not yet sat on the grass in Central Park, reading a book and drinking a coffee, but I intend to do it before I die.

Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

I am holding on to many things I need to let go of. Isn’t everyone?

If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

I would move to New York because I love the pace, the atmosphere, the attitude, and the idea that I can be alone, but not feel alone ever.

Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

Yes I do, but I know it won’t go any faster. It’s just a habit. 

Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

A joyful simpleton- simple doesn’t mean that you’re not smart or clever, I think it means that you are more smart and clever.

Why are you, you?

Because of my family, friends and experiences.

Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

I think so. 

Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

They both suck, but I think it is worse when you lose touch with someone near you. My sister lives 10 minutes away from me and I haven’t seen her in 10 months.

What are you most grateful for?

I am most grateful for my family, friends, and the opportunities I have been given.

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

I would hate to lose my old memories, they make me who I am and inspire me to be who and what I want to be. But I would hate to not be able to make new memories. I can’t give an answer on this one.

Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

Maybe. 

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

No, but it very well could. 

Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?

I remember one tragic event that still matters, but the petty things…absolutely not. Even if I did remember them they don’t compare and I don’t remember them.

What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?

Spending the summers at the lake with my family and friends. It was special because everyone was there, everyone was happy, healthy and energized. 

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

Being at school until two in the morning editing my documentary. It reminded me of long coffee-filled nights and early morning working at the paper, being in charge, being responsible, being needed, being BUSY. While I have been out of school for a year now, that is the last time I felt extremely passionate, but I’m working on getting back to that place now.

If not now, then when?

When I have money.

If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

I have nothing to lose, I just happen to have a plan that could make it easier for me to achieve what I want.

Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

Yes. Though I never realized it at the time, I realize it now and would give anything to go back to that moment.

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

People feel that its necessary in order to keep love. I think people are scared and think they need to be extreme to get their point across. For all I know, maybe they do.

Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

Some things, yes.

If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

Absolutely not.

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

More work I enjoy doing.

Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

Unfortunately, yes, which is not a good thing because today has not been one of my better days. 

When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

A couple of months ago. I went with the overpowering feeling I had in my heart and in my mind to pack up my life and move somewhere that would make my dreams a possibility, instead of just a dream. 

If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

I would want to bring everyone I know together and celebrate.

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

Absolutely not.

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

Being alive is being there, truly living is experiencing life, following your dreams and doing what makes you happy.

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

When you realize that you are calculating, or when you realize that what you are calculating is something you don’t want to risk losing.

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Maybe we think that if we learn from mistakes we should learn not to fail.

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I would be more alive, follow all of my passions, be a little more out there, not be embarrassed by things I enjoy and that make me happy.

When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

I don’t know.

What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

I love school, working, family, friends. I’ve expressed this by letting people know and making choices and changes that will help make my dreams and my loves come true.

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?

So far nothing major or memorable has happened, so no I probably won’t. 

Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

A little bit of both. I’ve made the decision to follow my career dreams which makes me and my family happy. But there there are some people and situations that are clouding my choices. I am, however, working on clearing up my vision.