50 Questions - la mia bella vita

Roughly two years ago I wrote a blog post (Free Your Mind) about an article that I had come across. The article was a mental exercise of sorts in self-discovery – 50 questions that you are supposed to answer without hesitation. There are no right answers, and there are no wrong answers. It is simply an opportunity to maybe learn something new about yourself, or about the choices that you are making in life. It is basically just an opportunity for reflection.

So somehow I stumbled across my blog post again last week, and I found myself intrigued to revisit the article and work through the questions again. I went in with an open mind, and just like last time, I found myself pondering some of my answers. So I’m reminding myself – this isn’t about right or wrong, it is just about opening my eyes and my mind a little bit more to life.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 23.
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? Fear of change.
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? Hopefully not.
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Hate.
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Being kind.
Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? Sometimes both.
If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? Fear less.
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? Probably less than I would like, but increasingly more everyday.
Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? Doing the right thing.
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? I’d like to think that I would speak up for that friend, but honestly, there is also a chance that I wouldn’t. If the later was the case, I know that I would feel extremely guilty about my choice, and I would be honest about the conversation with said friend.
If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Never stop dreaming.
Would you break the law to save a loved one? Without a doubt.
Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? Not that I can recall.
What’s something you know you do differently than most people? My weirdness.
How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? That’s just life.
What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? I don’t know if there is one thing, but often if I haven’t moved forward with something it is because I am feeling resistant to change or fearful.
Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Yes.
If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Italy. Because that is where I feel the greatest sense of inner peace.
Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Not anymore. And no, I completely realize that the elevator speed is completely out of my control.
Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? A joyful simpleton everyday.
Why are you, you? Because I would never want to be anyone else.
Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? I sure hope so.
Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Losing touch with a good friend who lives nearby.
What are you most grateful for? My husband.
Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Is neither an option?
Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Yes, of course. I think that you almost always feel the truth in your gut first. Or at least I do.
Has your greatest fear ever come true? No.
Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? Haha, point taken. Of course not.
What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? Dancing around the house with my family to the Glenn Miller Band. The pure joy that fills those moments and those memories.
At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? At the start of this 2018 New Year.
If not now, then when? Everyday is an opportunity to live an even deeper and more meaningful life.
If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain in life.
Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes, and luckily I get to enjoy that everyday. I am very blessed.
Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? If only we had the answer. This makes me so sad.
Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? For me yes, but as a unified world, I am not so sure. We all have different ideas of what is love, or hate, good or evil – and I think that is what makes everything so complicated.
If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? No, I would just choose to have even more flexibility with travel.
Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More work that I enjoy doing for sure.
Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Nope.
When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? As someone who is self-employed, that is my reality most days.
If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Ugh, this is the worst. But really, I would just rent a private jet and bring everyone together for the day.
Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? Never.
What is the difference between being alive and truly living? I don’t think that there is a difference. I think that to be alive is to be truly living – to live with your eyes open to life, and your senses awake.
When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? All day, everyday.
If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? The idea of not wanting to disappoint anyone, including ourselves. Also, the fear of judgement from others.
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? I’d probably be less apologetic and explanatory about my life choices.
When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? Who the heck knows.
What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? Creating beautiful things. And yes, I hope so.
In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? I’m not sure that I will remember yesterday or the days before, but I do know that I will remember this Season in life.
Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? Sadly a mixture. I think that the majority is me making decisions for myself, but there is still a very small part of me that lets others’ judgements affect my choices.

Share this:

2 Replies to “50 Questions”