50 Q to free your mind. (46-50)

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

Speak my mind more freely and stop second guessing myself.

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

Last night when I was laying in bed by myself.

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

My husband and yes I have.

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 so much.

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

Some I am making for myself. Others are being made for me thanks to the United States Marine Corps

50 Q to free your mind. (41-45)

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

Andrew, my mom, dad, step-mom, sisters, nephews, nieces, grandparents, Andrea, Missy, and Holly

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

No

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

Being alive is just breathing and going through the motions. Truly living is enjoying what you do, taking risks, having adventures, sometimes failing, but always getting back up to try again.

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

Before it's to late to do the right thing.

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

Because failure never feels good.

50 Q to free your mind. (36-40)

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

When your young and everything is black and white maybe, but as you get older things become gray and the lines become skewed.

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

I don't currently have a job, so no.

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

Less work to do so that I can spend my time doing the things I enjoy.

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

Yes.

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

Never.

50 Q to free your mind. (31-35)

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

When Andrew got home for his 2 weeks of R&R.

If not now, then when?

Hopefully soon, but definitely not never.

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

Not to terribly much, you have to try to fail and if you fail you should rethink your plan and try again.

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

Yes

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

Because you have to support what you believe in.

50 Q to free your mind. (26-30)

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

I think I would prefer to never be able to make new ones. I can't imagine a world where I can't remember meeting my husband in high school, our first date, first kiss, etc.

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

No. I think that in order to know the truth you should challenge it and make sure you have your facts in a row.

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

As far as I now I've never drowned.

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

Not really and I guess not.

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

When I was little my grandpa used to let us smash coke cans with a sledge hammer that I'm pretty sure was just a rubber mallet, but he always called it a sledge hammer. It's special because it's just the everyday stuff my grandpa would do with us. I miss him so much some days.

50 Q to free your mind. (21-25)

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

Can't I be a joyful genius? I think I would be a joyful simpleton. I'd rather be happy and enjoy my family and friends then know everything and be constantly worried.

Why are you, you?

I am me because of the way I was raised, the beliefs that I have, and the decisions I have made.

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

Most of the time. I will say there have been occasions where I haven't been the kind of friend a person needs, but I try my best to be there for my friends when they need me.

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

A good friend who moves away. It's hard to keep friendships going over a distance and it's even harder to have to do the things you used to do together by yourself.

What are you most grateful for?

My friends and family.

50 Q to free your mind. (16-20)

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

That's simple because everyone is different.

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

I would love to scuba dive. It would be amazing to see all the reefs, fish, etc underwater. I will probably never learn though because I am ridiculously scared of drowning and don't know how to really swim.

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

Definitely. There are parts of my past that I still worry on when I'm feeling down even though there's nothing I can do to change it and I'm sure I'm the only one who remembers it.

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

Since we're military I'll exclude my home state because I feel it's given that I would like to live there. If I could live in any state I would choose two. I would live in Colorado in the spring/summer/fall because I love it there. I have my mom's family near by and the state is just gorgeous! Then in the winters I would live in SoCal where it's warm. I don't do snow.

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

I try to avoid elevators because I'm claustrophobic and the idea of being stuck in one (again) scares the bejeebers out of me. Though I will say if I have to take the elevator I totally jam the button repeatedly even though I now it doesn't speed things up.

50 Q to free your mind. (11-15)

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?

This is a difficult one to answer. I would let the people know that it was my friend they were speaking about and then excuse myself from the table. I would like to think I would also defend my friend, but I'm not sure I would be able to offend people that I admire so much. I do know that my opinion of those people would be greatly changed and I would not respect or admire them anymore.

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

Be careful what you put out into the world because it will come back to you 10 fold when you least expect it.

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

If it was absolutely necessary, yes.

Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

Definitely. I believe it's that sometimes I can't see the forest through the trees.

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

When I'm in a deep sleep I frown. Like a deep, hard frown. You know the kind they say will give you wrinkles.

50 Q to free your mind. (7-10)

Ok, I know I sorta dropped off the face of the plant for a while. I promise I have an excuse! We had a hurricane, then I went home to LA, and best of all Andrew came home on R&R. More about all of that later though.

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

Right now, I'm sorta not doing anything. I feel like I'm stuck in limbo. I have this awesome degree, but I can't find a job. I want to voluteer, but I'm holding myself back. I need to step it up and do something get a job that utilizes my degree, volunteer and build some experience, SOMETHING! I need to stop second guessing myself, build some self confidence and do something to change the things I don't like instead of just complaining about them.

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

I think I would have done somethings differently. I would have put more effort into my school work in college. I would have gotten an internship in something that would have benefitted me more than working in the psych lab did. The major things in my life though I wouldn't change. I love my husband, my family, and my friends. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

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

I believe I have completely controlled my life and the course it has taken. I am where I am because of the choices I've made and I'm pretty happy here.

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

Doing the right thing.

50 Q to free your mind. (4-6)

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
I hope that I will have done as much if not more than I've said. As it is now I've probably said more than I've done which is not what I want for myself and I have been working hard to change it.
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
I feel like I should say something cliche like I would wish for world peace or an ender to hunger. The truth is though, I have no idea. I would like to end this debt crisis in America. I'm not sure if that is considered a change in the world.

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

If I could have any job I would become a Social Worker. It has been a dream of mine since I was in high school to work with children and help make their lives better. I hopefully am on the path to achieving this by studying for my GRE and applying to grad school.

50 Q to free your mind. (1-3)

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

I think it would depend on the day. Yesterday I was 5. I was so excited to get a new box of 64 crayons and coloring book it was a little ridiculous. I had a great time coloring in between walking the dogs. Other days when the weight of bills and stress of taking care of everything while Andrew is gone I feel like I'm 60.

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Never trying is definitely worse. If you don't try than you will never succeed. Even if you do try and fail then hopefully you learn something from your failure and will be successful next time.

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?

I read a quote the other day that reminded me of this question. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need -Fight Club. As for menial tasks we hate such as dishes, cleaning, laundry, etc. We do it because other wise we would end up like those people on Hoarders. One of my biggest fears is being like those people and so I will gladly clean up after myself even though I don't enjoy it.

50 Questions that will free your mind.

I stumbled across these the other day and I thought it would be fun to answer them. I'll probably do a few a day until I'm finished.

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

Which is worse, failing or 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

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

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

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

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

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

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

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

Why are you, you?

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

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

What are you most grateful for?

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

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

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

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

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

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

If not now, then when?

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

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

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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