Pop Quiz! Let's Do the Proust Questionnaire

Jaidan

October 5, 2020 4:33 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Starting my day slow. Waking up and getting a coffee with my husband. Driving around our little town and talking & planning what we’re going to make for supper that night.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my parents
Which living person do you most admire?
My dad
What is your favorite journey?
I recently made a tough decision to quit my job. I have commuted an hour away from home everyday for over two years. The commute was really affecting my mental health and I decided I needed to do this for me… even if I didn’t have another job lined up. I would say my favorite journey so far is the one I am on now. I am 25 and I am learning what it means to really love myself and letting go of the things that no longer serve me.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Right?”
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband, Christopher and sweet cat, Simon.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Confidence
What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful
Where would you like to live?
I would love to live in Colorado.
What is your most marked characteristic?
That I am sweet
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
The Lorax
What are your favorite names?
Mila & Maverick (I have found that I really love M names)
What is it that you most dislike?
Feeling belittled.
What is your motto?
“Practice self-kindess and know that it is okay when life gets messy”

Reply

Çağla

August 24, 2020 10:18 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness? love, inner peace, lots of green and nature.

What is your greatest fear? losing my independence

Which living person do you most admire? my father

What is your favorite journey? haven’t had a great one yet

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? i use sorry very often and i know it’s bad i am trying to change that.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? my family and my dogs. spirituality and my connection with god.

Which talent would you most like to have? being unbothered and calm. also drawing.

What is your current state of mind? anxious, unsure about the future yet peaceful at times.

Where would you like to live? Australia, Italy or Bali.

What is your most marked characteristic? sensitive and driven.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Thor or Spiderman

What are your favorite names? Natalie, Layla

What is it that you most dislike? negative people.

What is your motto? You are always being prepared for something better or protected from something worse.

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Tati

March 22, 2019 12:00 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness? – watching dogs be their lovable, pure selves

What is your greatest fear? – not being able to be myself

Which living person do you most admire? – najwa zebian

What is your favorite journey? – journey back to my hometown

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? – actually

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? – inspirational quotes

Which talent would you most like to have? – confidence

What is your current state of mind? – hopeful

Where would you like to live? – Japan

What is your most marked characteristic? – kind

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

What are your favorite names? – Suewellyn

What is it that you most dislike? Fake anything

What is your motto? – Create your own happiness

Reply

Emily

March 8, 2019 2:43 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Sunshiny day that starts with coffee, followed by a family hike, a nap, margaritas and playing heads up with my husband on the couch.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my babies, my husband or myself.

Which living person do you most admire?
My mom

What is your favorite journey?
The afternoon walk from the school entrance to my son’s classroom

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“like” (in, like, every sentence); “stop it” (as in “G flushed her underwear again.” “STOP IT” – my version of Elaine’s “GET OUT!”)

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My babies (3 and 1, still babies?! YES.)
my husband

Which talent would you most like to have?
Really great planning ahead and execution (most useful when planning anything for my kids that extends beyond walking to the park)

What is your current state of mind?
Tired, sleepy and sick of being sick with a cold

Where would you like to live?
In a world where I could continue to live in CO and be within driving distance to my family in PA and Brooklyn

What is your most marked characteristic?
humor, Southern roots (re: accent)

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Francie Nolan, Holden Caulfield

What are your favorite names?
Emily – I love my name! I love saying it, hearing it, reading it. It just makes me happy. Good job, Mom & Dad
And of course, my kids’ names – C & G
And Marisol. Sea & Sun – what’s not to love?!

What is it that you most dislike?
Ungratefulness – as a public school teacher, this is a trait I unfortunately see on so many levels

What is your motto?
None of it is important as long as we’re healthy, kind, together and there’s sunshine.

Reply

Brittany

March 5, 2019 2:22 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
-Anywhere in the vibrant, California sun.

What is your greatest fear?
-Living a purposeless life.

Which living person do you most admire?
-My husband

What is your favorite journey?
-The drive from Reno to Susanville, the feeling and scenery of home growing richer and richer the closer I get.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
-“Graham, don’t do that!” (to my toddler)
-“She’s so sweet!” (About my baby)

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
-Jesus

Which talent would you most like to have?
-Being musical. The ability and drive to stick to learning an instrument. Like my husband.

What is your current state of mind?
-Frustrated.

Where would you like to live?
-California.

What is your most marked characteristic?
-In this season of my life, the fact that I’m American.
But outside of this season, normally that I’m friendly and smiley and kind.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
-I don’t think he’s a hero, but there’s a book I’ve loved since I was a child called Tuck Everlasting. The character Jesse has always had a special place in my heart.

What are your favorite names?
Graham and Faye most definitely.
I also really like Maybelline, Clementine and June.

What is it that you most dislike?
My own judgements I make about people in my head.
Also, bundling my children up during the winter.
Also, Kaufland.

What is your motto?
Things are never as bad as you think they’ll be.

Reply

A

March 5, 2019 2:13 pm

I have loved reading everyone’s responses. Here are mine:

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Lazy weekend at the cottage reading, napping, eating and spending time with the family.

What is your greatest fear?
Being buried alive and not seeing my children grow up.

Which living person do you most admire?
Michelle Obama – Just reading her book and I just can’t put it down!

What is your favorite journey?
Currently it is Parenthood

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Right?

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Daughters and Hubby

Which talent would you most like to have?
Creativity

What is your current state of mind?
Anxious and I feel lost

Where would you like to live?
Beach house in a warm tropical climate

What is your most marked characteristic?
My kids will tell you my ability to make them laugh by being weird!!

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Hermione

What are your favorite names?
My daughters names and for a boy Liam

What is it that you most dislike?
People who talk over me when I am trying to explain something

What is your motto?
Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change.

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Anna

March 4, 2019 7:49 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
– Living in a beautiful house with a beautiful garden and a happy family

What is your greatest fear?
– Losing my son in a painful way – he is perfectly healthy but I’ve had dreams about this and each time it takes me a few days to get over it

Which living person do you most admire?
– So many people for so many different reasons – impossible to pick one or compare!

What is your favorite journey?
– I went to university in Yorkshire and used to love driving around the moors. I now live in the South of England and am disappointed by how flat it is! Whenever I see a landscape full of hills or mountains, it makes me feel happy.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
– My 3 year old has clearly shown me these phrases as he now uses them a lot – ‘that’s amazing’, ‘indeed’ and ‘ta da’

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
– My son and husband

Which talent would you most like to have?
– Singing

What is your current state of mind?
– Happy

Where would you like to live?
– In a treehouse in some woods

What is your most marked characteristic?
– Not wanting to say no to people

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
– Anne Elliot – I think she is underestimated when it comes to Jane Austen heroines

What are your favorite names?
– Something I think about every day – I just started trying for my second baby and I can’t decide what names I would pick! I might be getting ahead of myself, but I knew exactly what I wanted to call my son and knew I would have a boy, so that was an easy decision. I also have a double-barrelled surname so need something short and sweet so I don’t punish the child! Suggestions very very welcome…

What is it that you most dislike?
– People who care more about doing something their way or trying to be right, even when presented with the truth or a clear positive path

What is your motto?
– Solutions not problems

Reply

E.

March 4, 2019 7:14 am

Ok, I’m going to do this!
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A freshly squeezed orange juice overlooking the Amalfi Coast on a clear June morning with my wife and baby.
What is your greatest fear? Loosing my wife and baby.
Which living person do you most admire? Anyone fighting disease.
What is your favorite journey? The one back home from work on Friday afternoon!
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Fenomenal, Spanish for amazing, and Jain, excellent German word for yes and no.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My wife and Venice (Italy).
Which talent would you most like to have? I’d love to be great at Maths.
What is your current state of mind? Always worried.
Where would you like to live? In Venice, Italy, or Mallorca, Spain.
What is your most marked characteristic? I digress, ramble… talk too much all the time.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Moana.
What are your favorite names? Olivia, Bruno and Beltrán.
What is it that you most dislike? Injustice.
What is your motto? I don’t have one!
This has been fun! Love reading the other comments!
xx,
E.

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Laura

March 4, 2019 6:15 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A perfectly idle day exploring a new place with my daughter.

What is your greatest fear?
Having harm befall my daughter.

Which living person do you most admire?
Jane Goodall.

What is your favorite journey?
I love going for runs with my daughter in the stroller, then heading to a cafe after.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Cool.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and daughter. I’m obsessed. Truly.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I would like to be able to cut and sew pieces of clothing intuitively.

What is your current state of mind?
I’m stressed and anxious. But that’s layered over a core of happiness and contentment. It’s very odd.

Where would you like to live?
In a medium-sized town surrounded by nature.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Honesty, compassion, kindness, bravery, and a sense of adventure.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Vianne Roche in Chocolat.

What are your favorite names?
Dawn, Laurie, Sadie – all teenage girls I admired as a child!

What is it that you most dislike?
Cruelty.

What is your motto?
Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a hard battle.

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Liz

March 3, 2019 6:05 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Knowing that my family is happy and peaceful.

What is your greatest fear?
Something untoward happening to my child. Also, snakes.
Which living person do you most admire? Malala, perhaps.

What is your favorite journey? Walking on the streets of Paris

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Cool cool. Yep yep yep.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My son and husband.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Speed reading + remembering everything I read

What is your current state of mind?
Wondering what will hapoen next month. (we are shifting countries).
Where would you like to live?
Scandinavia. Or Amsterdam.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My motley accent.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Sita. From Ramayana.

What are your favorite names? Amaya. Nadia. Arjun. Kabir. Thomas.

What is it that you most dislike? Bigotry. People who proudly call themselves bigots.

What is your motto?

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P.G.

March 2, 2019 7:22 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To no longer be held back by being fat and mired in self-loathing.

What is your greatest fear?
That I am ultimately unlovable and unworthy and that people who think they like me will ultimately cut me out of their lives. Living and subsequently dying friendless, unloved and unmourned.

Which living person do you most admire?
Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, Roxanne Gay, Michelle and Barak Obama, Christine Blasey-Ford.

What is your favorite journey?
The drive away from school on the first day of summer, knowing I won’t have grading to do for two months and that I can read whatever I want.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Fair enough.” “I approve this message.” “It’s not the worst thing that ever happened to a person.”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My mom and my nephew.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Organizational skills, the ability to grade essays quickly and efficiently (I’m an English teacher and grading has taken over my life completely).

What is your current state of mind?
Anticipatory compassion fatigue and worry – the area I live and teach in just suffered a devastating flood. I’m worried about my students.

Where would you like to live?
I’ve had a front row seat for four major natural disasters in the last three years, so somewhere near my family where I don’t constantly have to worry about floods and wildfires and other ways for Mother Nature to destroy me and the communities I love.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Gallows humor, dry wit, big vocabulary, blue eyes.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Phryne Fisher, C.J. Craig, Viola from Twelfth Night, Hermione Granger.

What are your favorite names?
Clio, Louise, Lewis, Violet, Henry

What is it that you most dislike?
Entitlement, misogyny, bigotry, carelessness, proud and unflagging ignorance mixed with piggish arrogance. Wet shoes. Beets. People who don’t say “Excuse me.” Cruelty.

What is your motto?
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Perfectionism is a disease.
Start where you are, do what you can, use what you have.

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Jeanne

Reply to P.G.

March 3, 2019 8:20 pm

I just wanted to say I love your answers. You sound like a really awesome person.

Reply

Amber

Reply to P.G.

March 5, 2019 7:10 am

Love your responses! So real, so articulate.

Reply

Elizabeth

Reply to P.G.

November 2, 2023 9:45 pm

Louise happens to be my favorite name as well! I don’t know many things for sure, but this I know to be true – you are not your body. Tall or short, overweight or underweight, boring or ‘normal,’ whatever that means. I share in your fear of body shame. I’m tall and ‘underweight’ and have been since the day I was born. People made fun of me growing up, and they continue to make assumptions today. I’ll say this: you are far more loved than you could know. I know there are students, past and present, who revere you – for making them laugh, having compassion, teaching them, and simply caring about them. I think you sound like a gem of a human being.

Frankly, I’d much rather be friends with a dry-witted, loving, honest, erudite, lexicomane with bright blue eyes than someone with a perfect body. No question.

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Lucie

March 2, 2019 4:24 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Be free – of all obligations, duties and difficulties and exceptations etc.
Somewhere in nature.

What is your greatest fear?
of suffocating

Which living person do you most admire?
Angela Merkel

What is your favorite journey?
Always Italy

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
explicit and indifferent

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
my husband and poetry

Which talent would you most like to have?
dancing

What is your current state of mind?
motivated

Where would you like to live?
Portugal, Crete

What is your most marked characteristic?
scatterbrained

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Ronja the robber’s daughter

What are your favorite names?
Sarah, Hannah

What is it that you most dislike?
selfishness and all the things around cars :)

What is your motto?
Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity (Simone Weil)

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Kaitlin

March 2, 2019 10:55 am

I’ve never heard of this before, and am slowly making my way through the list.

This would be fun to do on an annual basis, like at a new year’s eve dinner or birthday party. It reminds me of 10Q (https://www.doyou10q.com/), which emails you a question per day for 10 days in the fall. They happen to be the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but the questions are non-secular, like “Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?”

Every year, you can answer the questions and then put them in “the vault”. You get to see them the following year. It’s really an amazing to reflect and be more selfaware and I highly
recommend it

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Miranda

March 2, 2019 3:01 am

Thrilled to stumble on this right before bed—I just love reading everyone’s answers, and can’t resist sharing mine.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Swimming in warm, calm, salty ocean water with my family close by.

What is your greatest fear?
Hard to even write it, but anything bad happening to my son.

Which living person do you most admire?
Maria Popova is frighteningly smart and inspiring, but I hate having to pick just one. I think I need at least a year to think this one over.

What is your favorite journey?
Driving to my moms house, with my baby in the car.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Amazing” “I feel like”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My son. (My husband and I both agree that after he was born we’d only ever each be a close second.)

Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d love to be able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime I feel like it.

What is your current state of mind?
Grateful, full of wonder.

Where would you like to live?
I’m thrilled to find that my answer to this question is Portland, which is where I live.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I will have to ask around. Maybe that I am an over-thinker / over-explainer?

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Eloise. Since always!

What are your favorite names?
Griffin, Seamus, Clara.

What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty.

What is your motto?
I’m not sure I have one? “Be kind because we are all the same, and we are all good” sort of clumsily sums it up. Also, I believe strongly in humor at all times.

Reply

Sonja

March 1, 2019 10:47 pm

Idea of perfect happiness:
my own beach house with lovely perfect salty beach in the summertime

Greatest fear:
– my brother dying
– house burning down
– something tragic happening to me and not being able to recover from it (physically or emotionally)

Most admire:
my kind, gracious, wise pastor

Favorite journey:
after the struggle of a period of personal growth/maturity, the new hope one feels when realizing you’ve started to make progress

Overused word:
“anyway”

Love the most:
my family, my kitty, all the people I’ve deeply connected/resonated with

Talent I would like to have:
be able to style my hair beautifully. I have amazing hair that can be naturally curly, wavy, or smooth, but I stand in front of the mirror and don’t know how to take advantage of it! (no matter how many pinterest pins I look up…)

Current state of mind:
cumulatively tired

Would like to live:
in Seattle, Italy or Germany

Most marked characteristic:
passion/energy for life

Favorite hero of fiction:
Captain Jupiter North

Favorite names:
Stella, Astrid, Everly, Reuben, Jeffrey, Loyal

Most dislike:
– not being able to count on someone/something happening that I really care about or really like
– not understanding how to handle negative things about myself

Motto:
ok, so there’s this small wooden camel that I bought that is calmly walking forward, eyes closed not in ignorance but in peace. That camel is my motto/mantra.

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Jo

March 1, 2019 5:47 pm

In reading the answers to What is your idea of perfect happiness, it is so obvious that as humans we are really all the same, and it is the simple things that truly make us happy – books, coffee, loved ones, peace, being in nature. With today’s hectic and rushed lifestyle that we all seem to have it is these simple pleasures that we crave the most not money, status or material possessions.

Reply

Shena

Reply to Jo

March 3, 2019 1:06 am

❤️

Reply

Lynn

March 1, 2019 4:12 pm

May I just say how impressed I am that so many people could come up with their most marked characteristic! I recently watched a video from Swissmiss that still has me thinking about my personal superpower. I wish it were obvious, like something people just tell me all the time, so of course that’s what it is. But no…. (I’m angling for bravery :)

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Em

Reply to Lynn

March 1, 2019 4:55 pm

I would just straight up ask others. Could be fun :)

In design school, we had to ask a bunch of other people to come up with characteristics to describe our work so we could identify our personal brands. I never thought mine would be “elegant” but that was the word I kept hearing from people. It’s like an ego boost! Haha

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Melissa

March 1, 2019 3:08 pm

I got the Proust Questionnaire out of the back of a VF magazine when I was a tween and have given to my family at our gatherings for over 15 years now – we’ve added and deleted some questions. It’s fascinating to see how our answers have changed depending on what we are going through at the time. My brother was 11 when I first interviewed him – his answers are hilarious. Greatest achievement – kick-flip on skateboard. Worst habit – picking his nose. I also cherish the answers I have from my grandparents who are gone now.

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Julie

March 1, 2019 2:24 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Relaxing at home next to my husband, reading a book.

What is your greatest fear? Loved ones dying.

Which living person do you most admire? My mom. She’s the most selfless person and despite some personal obstacles has made sure that her three children feel the effects of her unconditional love.

What is your favorite journey? Watching my friends grow and change, sometimes away from me but always for the better. I have the most interesting people in my life.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Bonkers.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My husband, Court. As my mom would say, he’s magnificent.

Which talent would you most like to have? I’d love to be great at construction, building things, mechanical stuff. I have no spatial reasoning, it’s a wonder I don’t fall down more.

What is your current state of mind? Content with a constant subtle flow of anxiety,

Where would you like to live? Howth, near Dublin.

What is your most marked characteristic? My sense of humor.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Anne Shirley.

What are your favorite names? Caroline, Matthew, Annabelle

What is it that you most dislike? Apathy

What is your motto? If I think something nice about someone, I have to say it out loud to them. Which is why my work friends made fun of me last night after I complimented the bartender’s earrings. I am that weirdo on the street who will compliment your purse.

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Abbe

March 1, 2019 2:20 pm

Fun!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Curling up in a puddle of sunlight with a delicious book, a hot drink, and a warm pastry (and lots of pillows and blankets).
What is your greatest fear?
Accidents. My mind has this great habit of picturing every way something can go horribly, terribly wrong when I’m doing something (driving, walking across a bridge, hiking, etc). Really detracts from fun experiences.
Which living person do you most admire?
My best friend. She has struggled with a lot of mental health issues but continues to be the most generous, warm-hearted person I know
What is your favorite journey?
Walking home in the blue twilight after a long day, pleasantly tired, looking forward to dinner, watching houses light up.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Right? or I know right?
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
I don’t know if I can pick just one. I guess I would say life itself? After a tumultuous adolescence where I never would have dreamed of the friendships I have made, the places I have been, or the wonderful partner I have now, I constantly look at my life and just want to give the whole shebang a massive, squee-ing hug.
Which talent would you most like to have?
An amazing singing voice! Or really any kind of musical talent whatsoever
What is your current state of mind?
Procrastinating. :/
Where would you like to live?
A little town near an alpine lake (I’m big into alpine lakes), that’s accessible to a city.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Physically, probably my nose, which I’m trying to own more. Personality-wise, I would say my sense of humor, which is distinct and always present — which can be REALLY good when others share my sense of humor, and REALLY bad when they don’t.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Anne of Green Gables! I still read that entire series quite often.
What are your favorite names?
So many. I love names and am constantly naming things. Our plants, for example, are named Humphrey and Jezebel. Also, I plan to name my future dog Super Hannah.
What is it that you most dislike?
Clannishness, not to be confused with closeness.
What is your motto?
Know what you build.

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Em

March 1, 2019 2:19 pm

What does it say about me if just reading the questions makes me cry?

I fear I am having a mid-life crisis.

You know, maybe it’s that I don’t have answers for some of the ones I think I should (what phrase do I overuse, for ex) and I am wondering if I even know myself at all.

Maybe I’m just having an off day. Will return to these at a later date!

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JO

March 1, 2019 2:19 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Reading on a quiet beach

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my children

Which living person do you most admire?
All the women right now who are speaking truth to pave the way for others

What is your favorite journey?
Anything along a body of water with my husband and children

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I feel like…”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My daughter and son

Which talent would you have most like to have?
To play the piano; speak a second language fluently

What is your current state of mind?
Tired of winter

Where would you like to live?
In the home we’re in right now :)

What is your most marked characteristic?
Kindness, I hope

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Anne Shirley

What are your favorite names?
Maeve, James, Patrick

What is it that you most dislike?
Smugness.
And plastic water bottles(such a wasteful scam!)

What is your motto?
Before you speak, THINK
Is it Thoughful, is it Helpful, is it Interesting, is it Necessary, is it Kind?

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cherry

March 1, 2019 1:41 pm

no offense to my fiance, my two dogs, or my mom, but my greatest love affair is with myself. learning about myself, understanding myself more fully, and growing into a person I respect and love has been the most fulfilling relationship of my life (and, I hope, will continue to be!)

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to cherry

March 1, 2019 2:03 pm

love this, cherry xoxo

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Robin

March 1, 2019 1:32 pm

I had to participate- these are better than the farticle!

perfect happiness? Star gazing in the mountains.

greatest fear? Losing my mama because I don’t think I appreciate her enough. After that, my husband. My kids will be wonderful people because of him.

living person do you most admire? My 3 year-old daughter. She knows herself already and is unapologetically loving, fierce yet kind, and beautiful.

favorite journey? Road trip to Fort Davis. Stars, mountains and fireflies on a summer night= true harmony

phrases do you most overuse? “or whatever”

greatest love of your life? Husband.

talent would you most like to have? Comedic timing.

current state of mind? gracious

like to live? In the mountains in the spring/summer, beach in the fall/winter

most marked characteristic? My smile to others, but personally, skill in discerning.

favorite hero of fiction? The Dora Milaje.

favorite names? My kid’s names and my long lost puppy’s name, Flacco.

most dislike? Eating crunchy foods with open mouth. Not saying thank you to people who are kind to you.

motto? Why not?

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Kate

March 1, 2019 1:28 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Coming home from a fulfilling day at work, greeted by my dog and husband, making homemade pizza, drinking wine, and eating dinner outside on our deck on a warm summer evening. Bliss!!

What is your greatest fear? My dad passing away before I can make amends with him.

Which living person do you most admire? The Director of the unit I work in – we are in a low-funded area of Student Support at a University in Canada, and she also perseveres, encourages us, and always knows just what to say.

What is your favorite journey? The train journey through the Swiss Alps from Switzerland to Austria. I will never forget it.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “You know what I mean?” – I hate that I say this all the time and I can’t stop!

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My husband.

Which talent would you most like to have? I would love to be able to sing like a Broadway star, or have the stamina to run a marathon.

What is your current state of mind? Overall, at peace and happy.

Where would you like to live? I love our house, but if we’re dreaming here (which I think we are) I would love if we could afford to have a summer house or cabin here in Canada. Our summer’s are short, but to have a place where our family could grow up in the summer (it must have a dock!) is my dream!

What is your most marked characteristic? My eyes.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Chief Inspector Gamache.

What are your favorite names? Lily, Noelle, Luisa, Noah & Theo.

What is it that you most dislike? Unorganized people. lol, so lame, but true.

What is your motto? No day but today (renthead forever).

Reply

M

Reply to Kate

March 1, 2019 5:39 pm

Ooh, I love Inspector Gamache. Louise Penny’s books are some of my favorites. Good pick!

Reply

Emily Bray

Reply to Kate

March 2, 2019 8:01 am

I also love inspector gamache! great choice.

Reply

Emily

March 1, 2019 12:47 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Waking up at home (my parent’s house), having pancakes with my family and my boyfriend, going for a walk together. feeling peaceful and surrounded by the people I love the most.

What is your greatest fear?
I fear being abandoned by those I love. I fear being left alone (recently, been thinking of this in terms of parents passing away) and not being ready or prepared for it.

Which living person do you most admire?
RBG! a total powerhouse.

What is your favorite journey?
I’m currently enjoying the journey through my twenties, hard as it may be at times — figuring out who I am as an adult and what my adult life should be.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Sure” — though it is a great listening word!

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Currently? my two cats, whom I adopted as tiny kittens a few months ago and who sleep with me every night. my parents and my brothers. my boyfriend (though it’s scary to say because of the above fear!)

Which talent would you most like to have?
I don’t feel so much that I lack talent as I do the confidence to share it. I guess I’d like the talent of feeling confident, not shy, when the time comes to share any of my creative skills.

What is your current state of mind?
Calm, thoughtful, peaceful, happy in a gentle sort of way.

Where would you like to live?
I’d like to live in Northern California again, where I grew up. I’d also, adventurously, like to live in so many places.. cape cod, providence, wyoming, montana. it’s fun to dream.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Physically, my big blue eyes, which used to get commented on almost daily when I was young. In other ways, my sensitivity and creativity. I am most marked by my artistic nature and the deep way that I feel things.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Viola, in Shakespeare’s 12th Night! She’s sharp, funny, kind, gets mixed up in some sticky situations but figures it out in the end. and she’s a twin, like I am.

What are your favorite names?
Asher, Lev, Ezra, Ari. All boy names, all hebrew names.

What is it that you most dislike?
People who are disingenuous, unempathetic, self-interested or just mean.

What is your motto?
Lately, it’s been a piece of wisdom shared by my mom: “I made the best decision with the information I had at the time.” this also applies to making current decisions: I am making the best decision with the information [not just logical, but also how I feel] that I have right now.

Thank you for this opportunity to reflect!

Reply

hannah

March 1, 2019 12:43 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Waking up late on a Saturday, curling up on the couch under a blanket with the back doors open sipping GOOD coffee. I love it.

What is your greatest fear?
waking up one day in the future and realizing i didnt follow my dreams and feeling like it’s too late

Which living person do you most admire?
Ina Garten

What is your favorite journey?
Working in a male dominated industry, my favorite journey is looking back at the unsure, not-confident girl i was when i started here to the person i am now.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“You know what I mean?” and “Bddddruuuuuu” (which i say to my dogs everytime i see them. cant explain it.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
my husband and my little sister. they both have my heart in complete and unique ways.

Which talent would you most like to have?
the ability to chop an onion with no fear of tears or wounds like all those famous chefs

What is your current state of mind?
always one step behind

Where would you like to live?
the mountains or spain

What is your most marked characteristic?
my ability to act incredibly confident but actually be not-so-sure

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
can i say Ina Garten here too?

What are your favorite names?
Zora, Christopher, Alice

What is it that you most dislike?
When someone says something rude and you think of the best comeback right after you’ve walked away

What is your motto?
“Anything bad in life can be solved by a good cookie.” – Ina Garten

Reply

Franny Eremin

Reply to hannah

March 1, 2019 2:09 pm

“can i say Ina Garten here too?” hahaha, love this, Hannah!

Reply

Caitlin

March 1, 2019 12:18 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
-Coming home from a long day from work and having my dog greet me happily and lovingly. Waking up on a Saturday off and having true freedom to sleep in, go get coffee, and truly relax.

What is your greatest fear?
-My loved ones being ill or passing. Finances.

Which living person do you most admire?
-My parents

What is your favorite journey?
-Finally going to Positano last Fall with my mother. Hadn’t had a vacation in years and found total bliss there.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
-“The thing is”, “actually”, “seriously”, “you know what it is”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
-my dog :) a true companion through thick and thin

Which talent would you most like to have?
-I would love to be able to play music, or be good at math or science. I stink at all 3!

What is your current state of mind?
-anxious, optimistic, hopeful

Where would you like to live?
-would love to live on the water half the time, and the heart of the city the other half (but with all of life’s conveniences ;)

What is your most marked characteristic?
-honest, empathetic

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
stumped on this one!

What are your favorite names?
Samuel, Olivia, Renata, Lucia, Michael, Valentina

What is it that you most dislike?
Rudeness, lying, people being unkind or unsympathetic to others

What is your motto?
All’s well that ends well

Reply

lindsay

March 1, 2019 11:49 am

Almost everyone says happiness is living in the present and being with loved ones. :)

Reply

Rue

March 1, 2019 11:43 am

3. Most admire: You know what? The living person I admire most is me. I don’t usually think of myself in those terms at all, I should note. But when I think about what I’m working to overcome (a PTSD diagnosis is front and center right now) and the way I’m still able to love, show up and be present in my daily life, and work in a job I truly value, I realize I deserve admiration. I’m sure the people who really know your story admire you, too. But it’s okay to get that from yourself.

6. Greatest love: The first thing that popped into mind is music. It’s funny because playing an instrument isn’t nearly as prominent in my life now as it was for a long time. But even listening rather than playing has grounded me in a way that few other things can, and that seems to only deepen and strengthen over time. I also love the way it connects me to other people in many different dimensions, whether it’s friends I’ve shared a favorite band with, fellow musicians I’ve had the good luck to perform with, or just feeling connected to professional musicians.

9. Like to live: Coastal Maine or the Canadian coast. Mountains + steely grey ocean + plenty of snow.

12. Names: Oh I have a long list. It’s an email draft that I update periodically. The idea is that I’ll use it for eventual kids’ names. But maybe the extra names on the list can be book characters one day. Some of my favorite names are ones from departed relatives that could work as men’s or women’s names, like Frances/Francis and Carrie/Carry. My grandfather was named Moses and I’d love to give that name to a son if I have one, but it also seems like a heavy name to saddle a kid with.

Reply

Ashley Brown

March 1, 2019 9:24 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
As a theory? Contentment. How do I become content? Get me beachside when I’m actually in peak shape with a cocktail in my hand, my kindle in my other hand on full battery, and the sun warming my skin.

What is your greatest fear?
Embarrassing myself

Which living person do you most admire?
Blake Lively

What is your favorite journey?
Studying abroad in Australia. I can’t believe I’ve let 10 years go by without returning

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I mean…”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My boyfriend Dan and I dated when we were 17 for 6 months, my first love. Now we are back together as adults. It feels like a fairytale sometimes

Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d love to be an excellent dancer, or I guess in general to move my body in amazing ways

What is your current state of mind?
Is my coffee ready yet?

Where would you like to live?
Australia. But if I have to stay within the USA, maybe Nashville? Though I love beaches. Okay, it’s settled. Australia.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I have a feeling if I ask people, it’s probably my booty. I think my huge mane of (usually) blonde hair is pretty stand-out, esp in NYC

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Khaleesi

What are your favorite names?
Like to name a child? I love names that start with a V – Victoria, Violet, Olivia (though that doesn’t start with a V)

What is it that you most dislike?
People chewing loudly. Lots of headphones happening at my desk around lunchtime.

What is your motto?
Try harder

This was fun!
xo,
Ashley

Reply

Melanie

March 1, 2019 9:23 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Cuddling with my husband and 7 month old son

What is your greatest fear?
Missing my life because I’m too focused on something that doesn’t really matter

Which living person do you most admire?
My mom. She is kindest, most loving person I’ve ever known

What is your favorite journey?
The drive from Houston, Texas to Portland, Oregon by way of the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s not efficient, but it’s beautiful. And fun.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“like” “I don’t know”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband, son, and every dog or cat I’ve ever called mine

Which talent would you most like to have?
Speaking multiple languages

What is your current state of mind?
Happy, content, and anxious, always anxious

Where would you like to live?
The Pacific Northwest

What is your most marked characteristic?
I appear very calm and reserved on the outside (I’m not calm, haha)

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

What are your favorite names?
Louis, Cora, Miles, Joy, Flora

What is it that you most dislike?
Rudeness

What is your motto?
Live. Each. Moment. with gratitude and wonder

Reply

Julie

Reply to Melanie

March 1, 2019 1:06 pm

Love your answer that you look calm and reserved but you’re not, really. I can totally relate.

Reply

MCaddy

March 1, 2019 9:05 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being content no matter the circumstances.

What is your greatest fear?
Myself or a loved one being in a traumatic car accident.

What is your favorite journey?
As cheesy as it may sound – my life is a journey. I find purpose in all the highs and lows.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I’m not joking.”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My wonderful husband ?

Which talent would you most like to have?
To be an excellent, more creative writer.

What is your current state of mind?
Ambitious.

Where would you like to live?
Canada.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Being a perfectionist.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Harry Potter.

What are your favorite names?
Amelia, Louise, Everett.

What is it that you most dislike?
Laziness.

What is your motto?
Slow down.

Reply

Alison

March 1, 2019 8:52 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
– A bathtub where the water never gets hot, a big stack of books, and a bowl of strawberries.
What is your greatest fear?
– Probably never getting married TBH
Which living person do you most admire?
– Roxane Gay
What is your favorite journey?
– The journey of learning to love myself and my body
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
– “you know?” and “right?”
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
– Probably my little sister. Although I’m falling in romantic love for the first time right now and it feels like everything.
Which talent would you most like to have?
– I’d love to be a dancer…or be a more commanding teacher.
What is your current state of mind?
– Blissfully calm
Where would you like to live?
– Carmel Valley, California
What is your most marked characteristic?
– Very loud and frequent laugh
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
– Meg Murray from a Wrinkle in Time
What are your favorite names?
– Girls: Rosemary, Sylvia, Marianne, & Quinn
– Boys: Philip, Theo, Arthur, & August
What is it that you most dislike?
– In food, chocolate (which always surprises my students)
What is your motto?
– the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing

Reply

Rue

Reply to Alison

March 1, 2019 11:45 am

let’s be friends!

Reply

Arzoo Amer

March 1, 2019 8:15 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
– the sound of my children laughing
– a glorious eight hour stretch of uninterrupted deep sleep
– a good meal, a good trip, a good story (book or film), good company, good conversation

What is your greatest fear?
– losing my parents or my children (one is inevitable and one i hope never to witness, but both remain greatest fears)

Which living person do you most admire?
– my mother for her strength, beauty and warmth

What is your favorite journey?
– any road trip with my loved ones
– after any long trip, pulling up into “home”
– this one time my husband and i traveled for vacation to thailand, tokoyo, and maui. after the jet lag and touring the different cities and sights, maui was our last stop and it was just the best few days that i still often think about. the sound of the waves and smell of the sea, the sunshine, the glittering stars, the cool night breeze. just perfection.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
– “sounds good”
– “makes sense”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
– my husband, i waited for him for 19 years, have spent 12+ years adventuring with him, and can’t wait to spend the rest of always with him <3

Which talent would you most like to have?
– ignoring negativity

What is your current state of mind?
– sleepy, grateful, content, but still trying to sort and figure out my new identity as i balance being a mother and still who i was pre-babies (even though i've been doing this mom gig for 2+ years now!)

Where would you like to live?
– somewhere remote close to an ocean or in the middle of a busy city

What is your most marked characteristic?
– my curved nose and quiet demeanor

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
– it changes based on what i'm reading. currently it's the character jane from miss jane by brad watson. i'm so intrigued by her.

What are your favorite names?
– isaac and elias, the names of my two boys

What is it that you most dislike?
– intentional unkindness/rudeness

What is your motto?
– no real motto but "be kind" seems a good one

Reply

Nigerian Girl

March 1, 2019 7:49 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being surrounded by the people I love the most and, instead of worrying about money and my future, just being present in the moment and being thankful for all my blessings.

What is your greatest fear? I’m too afraid to type it. I believe in speaking and writing things into existence.

Which living person do you most admire? My mum. Beyoncé . Barack Obama.

What is your favorite journey? My ongoing journey to finishing my first novel and finally, finally, finally publishing it. It hasn’t been easy at all. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m doing. But I love it and I wouldn’t change anything about it.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ‘I can tell you that for free’. ‘Please.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Abeg, abeg, abeg.’

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My siblings. My writing.

Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could sing. Really sing. I also wish I could draw. I’m helpless with a pencil.

What is your current state of mind? Excited. I’m going out for dinner later today with a work-friend-turned-real-friend and I’m looking forward to it.

Where would you like to live? Paris. It’s a childhood dream I hope to achieve someday.

What is your most marked characteristic? I do whatever I want to do as long as it makes me happy; I don’t need to be liked by anyone.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? This is a tough one. I don’t have a single favourite fictional character; but I do have a special place in my heart for Kambili in Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Also, Jane Eyre all day and every day.

What are your favorite names? Alero (As a little girl I told my family and friends to start calling me this.); Daisy (I once affixed this to my name and started bearing a double-barrelled name. My poor parents.); Zikora and lately, Majesty.

What is it that you most dislike? Snakes – both in animal form and human form. Also:

– All forms of discrimination and abuse.
– The corrupt, subservient, materialistic, bigoted, entitled, wilfully
ignorant nature of a certain set of Nigerians.
– People who don’t know when to mind their business.
– Women who are fixated on men and marriage.
– Men and women who are overly concerned about what a grown woman does with her time, her money and her body.

What is your motto? I don’t have any.

Reply

Laura-london

March 1, 2019 7:12 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being in nature with as many loved ones as possible.

What is your greatest fear? Something awful happening to my kiddies. Second to that is fear of vomiting.

Which living person do you most admire? My frenchy ‘mum’ – she’s the most resilient person I know and does so with grace and dignity

What is your favorite journey? Flying home

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Right. Oh.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? Kids, first love, husband

Which talent would you most like to have? Photographic memory or the ability to recall names easily

What is your current state of mind? Impatience

Where would you like to live? Melbourne, parts of the US, Corsica, holiday home near Lyon

What is your most marked characteristic? my laugh

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Maud Lilly in Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

What are your favorite names? Lucy, Bruce, Celeste

What is it that you most dislike? The sound of people bringing up phlegm. Makes me want to be sick (see biggest fear)

What is your motto? Be bothered

Reply

Laura

March 1, 2019 6:57 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Witnessing the happiness of my children. And also reading a book at my grandparent’s cabin in the wilderness by their wood stove, sipping a glass of wine. Typical introvert!

What is your greatest fear? Experiencing the deaths of my loved ones. Experiencing regret at my own death bed.

Which living person do you most admire? My aunt by marriage has a sister named Louise. She lost two of her children from cancer. She gets up every day and continues to love her life, and somehow works hard at charities she’s created in their names.

What is your favorite journey? Parenting! What a crazy experience to witness my children grow from tiny helpless babies into little people with big personalities.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Probably complaining about how tired I am. My husband hears me say this all the time.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My husband. We met in kindergarten class but didn’t end up dating until we were fifteen. I feel like he’s a part of me now, like another limb or something. Haha

Which talent would you most like to have? I would love to play an instrument! Maybe the cello.

What is your current state of mind? Tired!

Where would you like to live? Sounds cheesy but anywhere my family is. We’ve all always lived in Newfoundland, Canada and Newfoundlanders don’t tend to move off the island.

What is your most marked characteristic? I am really perceptive. I can pick up on other people’s moods pretty easily.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Like a good Atlantic Canadian, Anne of Green Gables. I’ve visited Green Gables as a kid and it’s a really magical place.

What are your favorite names? My children’s names, James and Lila.

What is it that you most dislike? Hatred, condescension, passing judgement on others.

What is your motto? In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Reply

Lee Ann

March 1, 2019 6:27 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
-Seeing joy on my son’s face.
What is your greatest fear?
-Losing someone close to me.
Which living person do you most admire?
-My sister. She’s younger but I definitely look up to her.
What is your favorite journey?
-Being pregnant. What a hard, emotional joyful privilege it was.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
-Literally. Seriously. (So annoying, i know!!)
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
-My son. He is truly my joy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
-To be able to kick butt at public speaking!
What is your current state of mind?
-So happy to be a mother finally, but also really sad about the reality of my relationship with my husband.
Where would you like to live?
-Next door to my sister. We live in different countries unfortunately.
What is your most marked characteristic?
-Personality wise, I’m very outgoing. Physically, my big hair maybe??
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
-Anne Shirley!
What are your favorite names?
-Ezra. Milo. Chloe. Leon.
What is it that you most dislike?
-Shots, showering, touching raw meat, being hungry.
What is your motto?
-This too shall pass.

Reply

Tess

March 1, 2019 3:50 am

Loving reading the other replies.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Skiing.

What is your greatest fear?
My children dying.

Which living person do you most admire?
Anyone who is honest and loyal and kind.

What is your favorite journey?
Life. It’s a privileged gift, however hard it can sometimes be.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Uhhm” (I’m English).

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My children, my husband, and a quiet corner of my heart for my first love. But I’d lie down and die a grisly death for my children, so then first.

Which talent would you most like to have? I’d like to have Flashman’s remarkable ear for languages.

What is your current state of mind? Blue-to-mid-to-reaching-to-singing.

Where would you like to live? I live in a lovely house in the countryside but my heart longs for my old house in London. Tiny and cramped but my home. Home is a feeling.

What is your most marked characteristic? Friends say I’m loyal, but really you’d have to ask them out of my earshot.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Becky Sharp (Vanity Fair).

What are your favorite names? My children’s names, which are beautiful.

What is it that you most dislike? Rudeness. And bad table manners.

What is your motto? Head up! Head up!

Reply

Nancy

March 1, 2019 1:54 am

Perfect happiness..cozy spot with a cup of chai, a good book and no time limit;
Greatest fear.. that I won’t be able to live up to the requirements needed by the “power of attorney” for the two people that I accepted that duty for;
Living persons most admired: Nadia Murad and Amal Clooney;
Favorite journey: exploring new places and stopping for tea or coffee along the way;
Most overused ..Hmm…
Greatest love- my child;
Talent I would like to have: to speak fluent Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish;
Current state of mind: pondering;
Where would I like to live: happy in Santa Barbara..but could live in Bali, Lamu, Oaxaca, Fez, or actually many places.
Most marked characteristic: patient and persistent;
Favorite hero in fiction: Mma Ramotswe, “Elephant and Piggie”;
Favorite names: Forest, Aurora (Rory), Elizabeth, Marisol;
Most disliked: colonoscopy, mammogram, and someone yelling at me;
Motto: “Every day, think as you wake up, Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I’m not going to waste it…(H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama)

Reply

Amy

March 1, 2019 1:00 am

Can I just say…I heart the Cup of Jo comments section! So much fun reading through everyone’s answers. What a great group.

Ok here I go…

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Snuggled up in bed reading my own book with a cup of tea and with both of my kiddos draped over me, passed out after a reading marathon.

What is your greatest fear?

Deep water

Which living person do you most admire?

Malala

What is your favorite journey?

A road trip out west that I took with my father decades ago when I was moving from Texas to Oregon to live with my college boyfriend, now husband. We took the backroads the entire way.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I’m worried I overuse “literally” bc my seven year old definitely does…and he had to pick it up from somewhere…

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

My daughter and my son. Holy cow, there is something so powerful about the mother connection.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Green thumb (plants wither at the sight of me)

What is your current state of mind?

Calm and content

Where would you like to live?

Iceland, but probably would change my mind with the weather

What is your most marked characteristic?

Glasses and hair pulled back in a ponytail bun

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Mr Darcy (says every English major everywhere…)

What are your favorite names?

older names with some history and meaning attached

What is it that you most dislike?

I’m an introvert so anything with crowds, loud noise, forced socializing

What is your motto?

Be true to yourself and kind to others.

Reply

Lindsay

March 1, 2019 12:50 am

my perfect happiness:
nothing on the horizon to worry about, being able to live and love the present moment. surrounded by my family on a beach with sun, food, laughter, flowers, art and music too. Seeing my children love each other.
greatest fear: to have anyone in my family or myself have a tragedy happen such as being killed. or public speaking.
living person I admire: my husband. his integrity and strong need to always do what is right.
favorite journey: becoming a mother.
words/phrases I most overuse: really? wow! Im exhausted. little stinker. cutie.
who/what is the greatest love of your life? my parents. my husband. my children. God.
what talent do I wish I had? I wish I was really articulate and great at conversing with people. I think then I wouldn’t fear public speaking! oh and to be really funny.
my current state of mind: very sexual lately. feeling pretty good about where things stand in my life, at peace with everything. relaxed. adoring my family.
where I’d like to live: a quiet village in the south of France or Carmel by the sea
my most marked characteristic: i laugh a lot and try hard to make everyone happy
favorite hero of fiction: Dumbledore
favorite names: Jamie/James, Sam, Henry, Isla, Hanna, Esme, Emma, Beatrice, Sylvie, Meg, Louisa
I most dislike: cancer, flossing, waking up early, addiction to phones, when people try to show off and are not genuine and real, when my husband gets mad at me
my motto: go with the flow. Only I am responsible for my happiness.

Reply

Anna

March 1, 2019 12:10 am

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having a whole weekend to walk on the beach or in the woods, meditate, do yoga, and be on my own schedule without anyone to answer to.
What is your greatest fear?
Not ever being happy with things just the way you are.
Which living person do you most admire?
I admire all my friends for different reasons.
What is your favorite journey?
I’m always on a journey to stay curious and follow my curiosity.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Recently my toddler’s been lecturing me: “Now when we get to the store I’m going to need you to cooperate.” So I guess I overuse the phrase “I’m going to need you to cooperate.”
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My daughter
Which talent would you most like to have?
Singing and playing an instrument
What is your current state of mind?
Worried
Where would you like to live?
Closer to family and friends
What is your most marked characteristic?
My bookishness
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Elizabeth Bennett
What are your favorite names?
Rose, Faye, Beatrice, Paul
What is it that you most dislike?
Greed, brashness
What is your motto?
“Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” – Joseph Campbell

Reply

Jessica Q

March 1, 2019 12:00 am

A friend gave us Table Topics a couple of years ago and my husband and I played at dinner almost every night. We just started the kids version with our daughter who’s 4.5. Some of the questions are still a little too advanced for her, but some of her answers are sweet and/or hilarious. “What is the most beautiful thing you saw today?” Her response: “Rio” (her baby sister). And “what makes you laugh?” “Farting!” We’ve played at dinner parties too and it’s such a great way to learn new things about your family and friends. Great conversation starters.

Reply

Britt

February 28, 2019 11:58 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
An early morning where the air is still quiet and few people are up with a good/strong cup of coffee, seeing the sunrise from the peak of a hike
What is your greatest fear?
Living a life without purpose or accomplishing little of value, or dying alone
Which living person do you most admire?
Anyone who is self-made, Michelle Obama
What is your favorite journey?
Going to any destination that I have never been to before – going to Japan in May!
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Asking someone to do me a favor when what I’m asking for should already be a given, like communication or being honest. Over apologizing.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
The what would be rock climbing and running. Don’t have a who.
What is your current state of mind?
Wide awake. Just came back from an interval training speed
workout.
Which talent would you most like to have?
To care less, or to be better at programming than I am
Where would you most like to live?
Back in Seattle. Moved to SoCal several years back and I still miss home, especially the coffee :)
What is your most marked characteristic?
Honesty
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Natasha from War and Peace, Elizabeth Bennett
What are your favorite names?
Can’t quite remember them now. It also depends on whether they are boys’ or girls’ names.
What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty or disloyalty
What is your motto
When I was younger, I loved the ASIC motto – Latin phrase that translates as a sound mind in a sound body (it’s a running shoe company). I do set a mantra or a word to live by each year. This year is healthy. To continue healthy eating habits and exercise, but more than that, to make emotionally healthy choices. To surround myself with people that I care about who treat me with value, to participate in activities that bring me joy, to pursue the goals that matter to me.

Reply

Sarah K

February 28, 2019 11:50 pm

Perfect happiness: beautiful summer day at a cabin somewhere in the mountains with my family, nothing to do but relax and be together and soak up sunshine and read books.

Greatest fear: a terrible fate befalling all my children but not me.

Living person most admired: my intelligent, well-read, world-traveled, gentle, generous father is the best person I’ve ever known.

Favorite journey: the process of an outdoor run, especially when the weather is not great but you slog it out and conquer.

Overused phrases: Like. Awesome. Cool. (How old am I anyway?!)

Greatest loves: my children, including the one we buried, and my husband who lives with love even when he doesn’t always say all the lovey things I expected based on the movies.

Talent I’d like to have; effortlessly asking great questions that start deep conversation.

Current state of mind: ready for the long midwestern winter to be over.

Where I’d like to live: on a ranch with horses, lots of green and sunshine, and mountains in the background. While I’m dreaming: Kochel-am-See, a small town in Bavaria, is my favorite place in the world, and this vision fits there perfectly.

Most marked characteristic: lots of words. Constant inner monologue, and I think my words before I speak them, but then I use a lot of them.

Favorite heroine: tie between Anne Shirley and Harriet Vane (of Dorothy Sayers’ Peter Wimsey novels). Favorite hero: Francis Crawford (Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond novels. Read them).

Favorite names: Edith, Maude, Agnes, Una, Rilla, Michael, Bredon, Alastair, Hugh, Otto. I got my husband to agree to 3 of these. ;)

Greatest dislike: all manner of vices to do with chewing (loud, open-mouthed, talking during, obnoxious gum usage, etc).

Motto: “Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say” (from the ending of King Lear).

Loved reading so many people’s answers!

Reply

Midge

February 28, 2019 11:48 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A road trip with my family.

What is your greatest fear?
Pain.

Which living person do you most admire?
I once read about a woman who became a leading Egyptologist after her kids were grown and gone. I have no idea where I read it, and I can’t find anything about her now, but I think becoming an academic expert on something in your 60’s is so inspiring.

What is your favorite journey?
Somewhere new.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Legit. Get much sharper and you’ll cut yourself. WHAT?!

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d love to be a painter.

What is your current state of mind?
Content.

Where would you like to live?
In my house.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I’m pretty calm and certain about how I want to live my little, individual life.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Seymour Glass.

What are your favorite names?
I’ve always loved the name Irene, from The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.

What is it that you most dislike?
Moths and know-it-alls.

What is your motto?
Be a wall of love and strength.

That was fun!

Reply

Kara

February 28, 2019 11:46 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The moment when an ocean wave hits just under your rib cage and you do a little jump into it, or how unexpectedly quiet the FUMP of hitting a good patch of powder on a snowboard is, or watching a sleeping dog dream so hard his lip flaps are wiggling
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my husband or child in an accident
Which living person do you most admire?
My friend Kate is in Sierra Leone doing mental health work with war refugees, and before that she was a community health nurse in the prison system. She is a fearless compassion machine.
What is your favorite journey?
Finding a joke in my mind, telling it out loud, sticking the punchline landing, hearing laughs.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Correct!” For when I like or agree with something
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and son, the Pacific Northwest
Which talent would you most like to have?
Organization skills
What is your current state of mind?
Anxious- I’ve got a cold and change is afoot and we are stretched thinly
Where would you like to live?
In the woods near the Oregon coast
What is your most marked characteristic?
My bright red hair ??‍?
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Weetzie Bat
What are your favorite names?
Cedar and Tallulah
What is it that you most dislike?
Selfishness, arrogance
What is your motto?
There is only the joke and the sea

Reply

shirls

February 28, 2019 11:15 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Anytime I can relax and enjoy the moment. Oh the bliss, even if it lasts only a few seconds.

What is your greatest fear?
Growing old and dying alone.

Which living person do you most admire?
Anyone and everyone because we all have our own unique stories of ups and downs to share.

What is your favorite journey?
The journey of finding my true self— appreciating, accepting and loving myself.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Really”, “honestly” and my classic “five more minutes!”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My pet(s) and plants.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Arts and music. Creativity and the ability to express oneself.

What is your current state of mind?
Que sera, sera. C’est la vie.

Where would you like to live?
Anywhere that has freedom and peace. Non-realistic?

What is your most marked characteristic?
Changing my appearance whenever. I am unafraid, bold and proud of it, even if it doesn’t look good to anyone else besides myself.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
No one particular.

What are your favorite names?
Any besides my own :-P

What is it that you most dislike?
Inconsiderate, overly-opinionated and selfish people.

What is your motto?
The more the merrier. (And I’m an introvert!)

Reply

Heather

February 28, 2019 11:05 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
•the beach in June, blue skies and sunshine, vanilla bean ice cream in a waffle cone and sandy toes. also, my wedding reception: when everyone I loved the most was gathered in one room. ?
What is your greatest fear?
•losing my greatest loves.
Which living person do you most admire?
•my grandmother. 80 years old this summer, with all of the wisdom, grace, and great strength.
What is your favorite journey?
•in my minds eye? every time I drove up Signal Mountain to see my beloved family.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
•dude, man, for sure, yesss
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
•my husband & three boys
Which talent would you most like to have?
•to sing!! Of course!
What is your current state of mind?
•expectant
Where would you like to live?
•Tennessee has my heart, but Florida has my home
What is your most marked characteristic?
•Loyalist (total enneagram 9)
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Anne with an “E”!
What are your favorite names?
Caroline, Elizabeth, Lane … and my boys’ Hampton, Carter, Will
What is it that you most dislike?
•unkind people
What is your motto?
•stop & smell the roses

Reply

Jade Lees

Reply to Heather

February 28, 2019 11:44 pm

Vanilla Bean Waffle Cones & Anne with an ‘E’… are you my soul mate??

Reply

Julia

February 28, 2019 10:21 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Snuggled up with my daughter, son and husband reading books before bed. The kids are fed, clean, in pjs, and calm. It’s my favorite part of the day.

What is your greatest fear?
Something happening to my children.

Which living person do you most admire?
My mom

What is your favorite journey?
The drive from Anchorage, AK to my hometown Seward. I get to back every 2-3 years and the beauty and anticipation never gets old.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Sorry, so…..

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My children and husband

Which talent would you most like to have?
Oh how I would love to be able to sing

What is your current state of mind?
Calm, tired, and accomplished

Where would you like to live?
Alaska during the summer, Minnesota in the fall and spring and Seattle during the winter.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I’m a good listener

What are your favorite names?
Henry and Ida

What is it that you most dislike?
Spiders, veins and people who litter.

What is your motto?
Most people are doing the very best they can. Always try to put yourself in their shoes.

Reply

Hannah

February 28, 2019 9:59 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Curling up with a mug of early grey tea and a good book or hiking
somewhere with lush vegetation and birds in peaceful solitude
What is your greatest fear?
My sister or brother dying
Which living person do you most admire?
David Attenborough and Jane Goodall
What is your favorite journey?
My yearly pilgrimage to my parent’s house on the coast of Maine
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Have you read…?
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Reading anything and everything, my husband
Which talent would you most like to have?
To sing or dance beautifully, or really any kind of artistic expression
What is your current state of mind?
Expectant – verging on 30 and about ready to try and start having kids,
but savoring my last year of (relatively) abundant free time
Where would you like to live?
Portland, Maine
What is your most marked characteristic?
Obdurate pragmatism
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Anne of Green Gables or Hermione Granger
What are your favorite names?
Juniper, Luisa, Davis, Keith
What is it that you most dislike?
People with no regard for others on public transportation
What is your motto?
Don’t tell me what to do

Reply

Thrift at Home

February 28, 2019 9:52 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Well, I have many. After a dinner party at our house, when everything is cleaned up and the house is quiet but still humming from the electricity of the people who filled it – and I get to snuggle in bed with my husband and talk over the party. Another one: having one of those landmark conversations with one of my kids where we are intensely connected and listening to each other. Another one: exploring a new place with my family and everyone is eager and enthusiastic and curious.

What is your greatest fear?
Being caught in a fire or seeing my loved ones suffer

Which living person do you most admire?
Michelle Obama!!!!

What is your favorite journey?
Anywhere with my beach girls – they are the BEST travel companions and I don’t love car trips, but with them, oh yes.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“like” (that’s embarrassing)

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
my husband, my children, my BFF

Which talent would you most like to have?
choral conducting

What is your current state of mind?
a little fried – I should go to bed

Where would you like to live?
In a cottage on a hill with a VIEW – and nobody else around.

What is your most marked characteristic?
opinionated

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Linda Martin in Nine Coaches Waiting – or maybe, really, any of Mary Stewart’s women

What are your favorite names?
Asa, Rosemary, Eden, Penn

What is it that you most dislike?
dishonesty

What is your motto?
The truth will set you FREE.

Reply

MelTown

February 28, 2019 9:37 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Freedom.

What is your greatest fear? Failure.

Which living person do you most admire? No one comes to mind.

What is your favorite journey? Self discovery.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I’m currently stuck on the word “garbage.”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My children.

Which talent would you most like to have? Math.

What is your current state of mind? Chaotic and sad.

Where would you like to live? Houston, and I do!

What is your most marked characteristic? I’m hilarious (but you won’t get that from these answers).

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? I prefer the antiheroes.

What are your favorite names? My husband’s least favorite names, apparently (naming our babies was HARD).

What is it that you most dislike? Weakness.

What is your motto? I don’t have one.

Reply

Veronica Vega

Reply to MelTown

March 1, 2019 12:22 am

made me laugh :)

Reply

Sarz

February 28, 2019 9:37 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Any low-key day with my boyfriend. (We work in the same building, and still rarely see each other!)
What is your greatest fear?
Never achieving the level of financial freedom I’d need to help out my parents.
Which living person do you most admire?
I have a colleague whom I’m pretty certain never thinks of herself, and still seems to possess an enviable, effortless self-confidence. She may be the Greatest Person. David Sedaris was truly lovely when I met him at a book signing, too!
What is your favorite journey?
Visiting my sister in Edmonton a couple summers back ranks pretty high.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I’m a server, so it seems I say the same few things over, and over, and over…
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
I’m truly fortunate to have my family and friends. My cat, though? I insist I’m not a Cat Person, but this one’s always been my guy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I have such admiration for seamstresses.
What is your current state of mind?
Grateful. I just finished dropping in on some old friends.
Where would you like to live?
A less-frigid part of Canada. British Columbia sounds lovely this time of year.
What is your most marked characteristic?
It would seem it’s my diminutive size. It makes for a common conversation starter in the food service industry.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
The Pilot from the Little Prince.
What are your favorite names?
Clayton, Lauria and Pearl.
What is it that you most dislike?
Greed and lack of humility.
What is your motto?
My Scottish family’s motto: Sweeter after difficulty.

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Sarz

February 28, 2019 9:43 pm

Oh my gosh I love your Scottish family motto! Our creed for the macpherson family on my grandmothers side is “touch not the cat but a glove,” meaning don’t touch us without a glove or you’re in for it. Love how fierce it sounds!

Reply

M

Reply to Sarz

March 1, 2019 7:21 pm

“Touch Not The Cat” (from the same Scottish motto) is also the title of a novel by Mary Stewart.

Reply

Molly

February 28, 2019 9:33 pm

If you don’t mind me asking…is it hard living so far away from your sister? I just moved back to the east coast from LA to be closer to my sister/family. I couldn’t get past being so far away from them and I wanted my son to grow up around family but now I miss LA and think I could’ve made it work. Deciding on where to live is such a major decision!

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Molly

February 28, 2019 9:45 pm

It’s tough but we are so used to it. We never loved near family growing up (cousins, aunts, uncle etc were always an ocean away) so we sort of expected to live far apart as adults. We text and chat a lot and of course always pick up where we left off. I honestly can’t imagine living in the same place as family bc it has never been part of my life — but I would LOVE it.

Reply

allie

February 28, 2019 8:55 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Saturday morning, coffee and my husband and kids.

What is your greatest fear?
Until now it was giving birth (which I’ve done twice now) and my beloved Dad dying (which happened last month) so now I am basically invincible.

Which living person do you most admire?
My Mum <3

What is your favorite journey?
Giving birth! (funny how the things you fear make you stronger, huh?)

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Maybe just "darling" because I call my husband and both kids darling and they never know who I'm talking to.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
my husband.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I actually can't think of anything. I sort of believe that anything I'd like to do I could achieve with hard work. So, maybe willpower!

What is your current state of mind?
Peaceful. Kids napping!

Where would you like to live?
Exactly where I am. Sydney.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Kindness.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
This week, Moana. For giving my little girls a strong, independent female role model.

What are your favorite names?
My daughters are Holiday and Miriam. But I love Vincent and Julian for boys.

What is it that you most dislike?
Cruelty/self-interest.

What is your motto?
Yes you can (stolen from the midwife who delivered my first baby)

Reply

Heather

February 28, 2019 8:50 pm

What is your greatest fear?
drowning
Which living person do you most admire?
What is your favorite journey?
any journey with my child. it changes the experience, makes it fuller, brighter
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? any work jargon in a regular conversation

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
my child
Which talent would you most like to have?
writer
What is your current state of mind?
delighted
Where would you like to live?
Garmisch, Germany
What is your most marked characteristic?
bluntness
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

winnie the pooh
What are your favorite names?
Ruby Rebbeca and Violet Chrysanthemum
What is it that you most dislike?
violence and cilantro
What is your motto?

if it is to be it is up to me

Reply

Brit

February 28, 2019 8:20 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

– Living out my lifes happiest moments, whether on a beach or on my couch. As long as the warm fuzzy feeling is there, im good.

What is your greatest fear?

– Dying alone

Which living person do you most admire?

– Tricia Griffith, Beyonce, Soledad Obrien

Which talent would you most like to have?

– Singing & calligraphy

What is your current state of mind?

– Tired

What is your most marked characteristic?

– Work ethic

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

– Hermoine

What are your favorite names?

– Danielle & Roger & Xavier

What is it that you most dislike?

– Drama for the sake of drama

What is your motto?

– Always be yourself because those who matter dont mind & those who mind dont matter.

Reply

Caitlin L.

February 28, 2019 8:06 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect warm weather, lying on a chair next to the ocean reading a book. My husband can be there too, haha. And maybe (somehow) a very cold glass of wine or iced coffee.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing people that I love.

Which living person do you most admire?
My mother.

What is your favorite journey?
The journey that brought my husband and I together. We met when we were 14, lived in different states (MA & NC) and managed to have our first kiss at 16, and stay in touch until we both were in New York at 21. Now we are 11 years into our together-together relationship and 4 years married. It’s nice to remember this when our day to day is very old married couple.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
TOTALLY.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and my two sisters.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Singing ability.

What is your current state of mind?
After work blurry.

Where would you like to live?
In a pretty little bungalow near the beach.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Smiley. Physically I get the most comments on my hair. I have very very thick long naturally blonde hair. It drives me insane but other people like it, haha.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Jo March.

What are your favorite names?
Claudia and Rhys

What is it that you most dislike?
Ego

What is your motto?
“Be safe and be smart” – my Dad

Reply

Sarah Jane

February 28, 2019 8:06 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Wine and apps with my wife after a day of paddle boarding or exploring and soaking up the sunshine somewhere warm.

What is your greatest fear?
Neither of us being able to have children.

Which living person do you most admire?
Barack Obama

What is your favorite journey?
The end of the road trip to my favorite cabin in Canada when we start rolling through familiar towns along the lake.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
You got it.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My wife.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Turning off my worries/ to do list at will.

What is your current state of mind?
Productive, happy.

Where would you like to live?
San Diego, but I’m also mighty happy working on our (first!) sweet little house in Seattle.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My laugh– People say that they recognize me by it.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
I’m not sure.

What are your favorite names?
Oliver, Henry, Anna, Callie, Lucy.

What is it that you most dislike?
Greed, especially that which hurts or deprives others.

What is your motto?
Just because something scares you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

Reply

Malia

February 28, 2019 8:04 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
It is a gorgeous sunny day in the PNW , eating a meal with those I love outside on a harvest table……ahhhh. With music.

What is your greatest fear? Out living my children

Which living person do you most admire? My Father just passed away, Mr Rogers is gone…. I have to think about this one.

What is your favorite journey? Literally travel! My time in Kyoto with my husband and sons, Budapest and Israel, I would so love to return there.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Really??” and “Lovely”.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My sons, husband and one that will remain un-named.

Which talent would you most like to have? singing

What is your current state of mind? A ball of yarn.

Where would you like to live? Where I am or middle Tennessee

What is your most marked characteristic? Optimistic with curly hair

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Mary Tyler Moore

What are your favorite names? Morgan, Benjamin and Stella

What is it that you most dislike? Jealousy & Beets

What is your motto? “Bull by the horns”, Also…. the Golden Rule fixes about everything!

Reply

Em

February 28, 2019 7:59 pm

I have these questions memorized (by accident from reading so many vanity fair magazines). So now when there is way too long pause in conversation with someone, I’ll just ask one of these at random! ?

Reply

Lisa B

February 28, 2019 7:54 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
-Being with people I love and enjoy, in nature, doing something fun.
What is your greatest fear?
-That my son won’t ever want to move out (he’s 15 and says, “Can’t I just live with you?”) Um, no.
Which living person do you most admire?
-Women who are boldly true to themselves.
What is your favorite journey?
-Learning how to just be and how to let my kids just be
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
-“Awesome” “Notice I’m not yelling…I’m asking calmly” “Whose dirty dishes are these?”
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
-Time to myself
Which talent would you most like to have?
-Guitar playing
What is your current state of mind?
-Cautiously hopeful
Where would you like to live?
-By larger body of water, esp where there are no mosquitoes
What is your most marked characteristic?
-Tie between Witty/funny and Getting sh!t done
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
-I can’t pick a fave – I love reading and there are so many amazing characters. Getting lost in a book is THE best.
What are your favorite names?
-Mom (sometimes I really HEAR when one of my teenagers says it and I think, “Wow, I’m a mom!”)
What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty (and I agree with the plastic pollution comment above)
What is your motto?
Only complain to someone that can do something about it/If you have a complaint and don’t tell someone they don’t have the chance to fix the issue

Reply

Dawn

February 28, 2019 7:48 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Exploring a new city with my husband, worrying about nothing other than what our next meal will be.

What is your greatest fear?
Never being a mother.

Which living person do you most admire?
My husband for working full-time while going to school and still picking up the clothes I leave on the floor every night.

What is your favorite journey?
Walking into a bookstore.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Sounds good.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and my four younger siblings.

Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to pick up languages (said after three years of arduously studying French and still not being fluent).

What is your current state of mind?
Worried but hopeful about the future.

Where would you like to live?
Anywhere and everywhere.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My extreme friendliness.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Mary from The Secret Garden

What are your favorite names?
Boys: Perrin, Leon
Girls: Louise, Norah, Fiona

What is it that you most dislike?
Feeling out of control of a situation.

What is your motto?
Be curious and kind. I read this on a Cup of Jo post and have tried to live by it ever since!

Reply

Rosalie

Reply to Dawn

March 1, 2019 4:06 am

Yess walking into a bookstore is definitely my favourite journey too!!

Reply

Julie

Reply to Dawn

March 1, 2019 2:06 pm

Yes to walking into a bookstore… so many possibilities depending on my state of mind.

Reply

Dayna Armstrong

February 28, 2019 7:46 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Floating in the ocean, eating dinner with my family on the deck in the summer, doing the crossword with my boyfriend.

What is your greatest fear?
Home invasion.

Which living person do you most admire?
My dad!

What is your favorite journey?
Driving through France.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
In text: Ok cool.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My dog Roger!

Which talent would you most like to have?
To be a great dancer.

What is your current state of mind?
Excited for what’s to come.

Where would you like to live?
Mexico, Spain, anywhere by the Ocean.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Decisiveness.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Hermione Granger.

What are your favorite names?
All the Von Trapp children names!

What is it that you most dislike?
Not getting enough sleep.

What is your motto?
No official motto but I constantly find myself telling friends “think of it in the grand scheme of things”. Also a big fan of “No rain, no flowers”.

Reply

Jen

February 28, 2019 7:45 pm

Lets do this!!! Lol

What is your idea of perfect happiness? My cat, being able to smile and coffeehouse atmospheres.

What is your greatest fear? Being forgotten. Not being enough.

Which living person do you most admire? Myself

What is your favorite journey? Being lost in semi translation

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Huh? Uh? Well. Idk. And comeplete silence.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life? Other than god my cat my family two significant others. One from the last one now.

Which talent would you most like to have? Make others smile.

What is your current state of mind?
Coping with loss
Where would you like to live?
Back home in nyc ,a Korea,Tokyo or Canada
What is your most marked characteristic? Will power

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Gene starwind, cap marvel, dr strange
What are your favorite names? Emiko, Jennlynn

What is it that you most dislike?
Being asked to lower my standards and values
What is your motto? Put god first and all will follow.

Reply

Christina

February 28, 2019 7:14 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
On a beach on Kauai with my family.
What is your greatest fear?
Fire
Which living person do you most admire?
My mom and my dad
What is your favorite journey?
From the couch to the fridge
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
That’s so cute!
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My family.
Which talent would you most like to have?
To effortlessly engage others.
What is your current state of mind?
Peaceful and calm.
Where would you like to live?
Where I do- Santa Barbara. Second choice is Kauai.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Diligence and commitment
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Ramona Quimby
What are your favorite names?
Freja/ Freya
What is it that you most dislike?
Probably spiders
What is your motto?
Appreciation is the magic formula you’ve been seeking.

Reply

Dawn

Reply to Christina

February 28, 2019 7:49 pm

“From the couch to the fridge” YES!

Reply

Maggie

February 28, 2019 6:51 pm

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A summer day at the Yuba river with a great book, a cold drink, salty snacks and my loves all around.

What is your greatest fear?
That my daughter might suffer something catastrophic.

Which living person do you most admire?
A dear friend who owns nothing, lives nowhere and rides her bike around the world, visiting friends on every continent.

What is your favorite journey?
Friendship

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Seriously. Dude! Hella.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My sweet girl.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Making music

What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful

Where would you like to live?
Pt Reyes

What is your most marked characteristic?
I’m good with people.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Jane Eyre

What are your favorite names?
Proberta Gerber, Boz Skaggs, Splickett, Moog, Levi, George & Frances

What is it that you most dislike?
Self-righteous dogma

What is your motto?
I try to adhere to that golden rule

Reply

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