Free your mind...

Yesterday I blogged about the Day Zero Project (which I encourage you to check out if you missed). One of the things that came up as an option of things 'to do' was to Complete the '50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind' Questionnaire. It sounded interesting and its definitely something I could complete in the next 1001 days, so I added it to the list. Ever the one who wants to check things off the list, I figured I'd do it right away. Hey, why wait one moment longer to free my mind, right? I didn't really know my mind needed freeing, but maybe that was a sign my mind needed freeing. :)  Anyway, here are the questions and my answers. Some serious. Some not so much.

These questions have no right or wrong answers. Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 27
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying? Never trying
3. 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 get caught up in the short-term and don't think about the big picture.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? No. I'm kind of quiet.
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? I would like there to be more love.
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Gardening or blogging (people do each of these as 'work', right?)
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? Probably a little of both.
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? Well, I would probably already have kids and grandkids by now and be in retirement.
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? 310 degrees
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? I don't worry.
11. 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 tell them that she is my friend and if they got to know her better they wouldn't say these things. I would also lose some of my respect and admiration for these people, as it is never tasteful to criticize people behind their backs. (Now, doing it to their face, thats a different story :P ) 
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? This is just a weird question. Newborns can't even understand speech. But my advice would be to learn to listen as soon as they can.
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes. Love is the higher law. (But of course this is within reason and it depends on the situation really).
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? No, I usually only see creativity. Insanity is the only sane reaction.
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people? See the world though my eyes. I'm the only one that can do that.
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Because they are not me.
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back? Have or adopt kids. The thing that is holding me back is that some days I'm so happy that I don't have kids. I like my life the way it is. Hmm. Its a dilemma.
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Smelly shoes from high school. 
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? I want to live in the southern hemisphere in the winter months, but I'm not sure which country. Maybe Argentina. Otherwise, I love Vermont.
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? No.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? I'd rather be a joyful genius (and think outside the box). Whats with either/or?
22. Why are you, you? Well, if I have to explain the miracle of life, conception, meiosis and mitosis, fetal development, child, and adult development, that could take an extremely lengthy tome... but the short of it is, I am me because I AM.
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Yes.
24. 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 right near you because it means you didn't make an effort... or maybe they weren't a good friend.
25. What are you most grateful for? Life.
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Never be able to make new ones. It would be like '50 First Dates'. 
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Yes.
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true? Fear is an illusion. 
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now? I don't even remember that time.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special? I really can't identify one particular memory that was 'est' better than other memories. I had a very happy childhood.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? Whenever I'm travelling. (When I was in Italy a month ago)... which brings up the dilemma of question number 17.
32. If not now, then when? Its always 'now'. 
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? My keys.
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?  Yes.
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because people love feeling right more than they love.
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Without a doubt, it is impossible to know good and evil. Think about that one for a while. 
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? No. Now, a $100 million... thats a different story.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More work I enjoy doing. If you enjoy your work, is is really work?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? No. Only 47.
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? last Thursday.
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Is this question really going to free my mind??
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? Well, I don't really care about being either, but sure - why not. I have no idea what my life expectancy is anyway. I could die tomorrow and I always like to try new things. 
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?  There is not really any difference. Its just semantics. I could go on about what 'true living' is, but if they had worded it 'what is the difference between living and being truly alive?' it would make my argument null. The real difference is the 'true' part.
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? 4:20  j/k  Its at 11:11 :)
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? We're a pretty silly species when it comes right down to it. 
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? Wear whatever I wanted whenever I wanted (or nothing at all)
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? Just now. 
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? Well, thats a silly question if you've seen my blog... And yes, on Friday I openly expressed my love of spirals. 
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that? Probably not. I can't even remember now. j/k. 
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? Like our former president once said, "I'm the decider. And I decide what's best".

Anyway, did my mind need freeing? Well, if it did, it wasn't jailed up under very close watch because I just snuck in there and took  it for myself.

Have a great day! And if you decide to do this quiz, let me know. I'd like to read your answers  too :)

ps. if you like the optical illusion above, check out this post you may have missed! It was one of my favorite early posts and I think you'll like it.


"I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it." - the matrix

A Whole Lotta Love,

Adrienne