50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

While working on my 101 in 1001 list, I kept coming across people talking about answering the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind.  I decided to add this to my list, as well.  I have not read through all of these questions and I am a little afraid of what they might be. 
1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
I would be 24.  I loved being 24.  I thought it was the perfect age.  Graduated from college, full of ambition, no true responsibilities but still out on my own.  All of life ahead of me!

2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
Tough one.  I hate failure and, for the most part, I feel that I am realistic enough to know if I will be able to accomplish something or not.  I don't know if I truly subscribe to the "You'll never know unless you try" philosphy but, at the same time, I do believe in "Practice makes perfect."  Lots to think about on this one.

3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
I think we do the things we don't like from pressure to fit either with family, friends or co-workers and because we don't want to be the one that holds others back by saying "No."  Also, sometimes we have to do things we don't like . . . I don't like to do the laundry but I have to do it.  Doing things that we don't like but yet are our responsibility is part of being an adult.

4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
Unfortunately, at this very moment, I would say "Yes."  There are so many things that I would love to do but either because of financial reasons, family responsibilities, physical hold backs, I just can't do them all. 

5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Wow, what a question.  Other than everyone knowing Jesus, I think the one thing that I would change is that people can batter, bruise, mistreat and kill children.  For many it isn't just children but their own children.  I would take away the suffering of the children and have all children know that they are special, they are loved and that they can do anything in life.

6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Traveling with my family.  Having some type of job that incorporated discovering the world but I would definitely want my family with me.

7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
I am doing what I believe in.  I truly believe that it is important for me to be at home with my children.  I know that it is not possible for all mothers and I am so grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to stay home.  I can work again when they are all in school but, for now, this is where I need to be.

8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
I would have traveled more when I was younger.  I would try to make every single day an adventure.

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
I believe that I have controlled 99% of what has happened in my life.  I've made choices, both good and bad, that have put me in this exact situation.  It has been so easy to blame the hard times on others' actions but I definitely had a choice in all of my life's decisions.

10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
I believe I have a pretty good balance on this.  There are definitely more "right" things that I want and need to do and to teach my children but I always try to make decisions based on what is the right thing to do.  On the other hand, I do like to have things done right and correctly.  I don't think that I go overboard on this, though.  (just come look at my house-LOL)

11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?
I hope and believe that I would say that I haven't seen those qualities in her and that she is my friend.

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you would only do what your Mommy and Daddy ask/tell you, you will never be in trouble.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Absolutely.

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
Not that I can think of on a personal basis, maybe when at an art show.

15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
Use certain words or pronounce certain words.  Not answer my phone all of the time.  Sometimes ignoring the problem instead of facing it.

16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
Because everyone has their own ideas of what happiness is.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?
Go to Europe.  Finances, Small Children

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
There are a couple of situations in which I am holding on to anger and hurt.  I have gotten a lot better about it and have let some of it go but I know that some is still buried deep inside my heart.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
If I had to move to another state, it would probably be Florida, California or Arizona.  I would go to all of them because they can offer a warm climate.  Arizona is awesome (lived their twice) and you can have the heat or the mountains.  California offers heat, mountains, ocean.  Florida offers great climate and ocean.  All of them have great entertainment spots.

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
No, I don't unless the door doesn't shut and then I remember to push the close door button.

21.Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
Definitely a joyful simpleton.

22.  Why are you, you?
I am me because of my parents.  I am me because of my faith.  I am me because of the small town I grew up in and the country values.  I am me because of my desire for knowledge.  I am me because of my experiences.  I am me because of my husband and his love.  I am me because of my children.

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
I think that most of the time that I have been.  I try to be a good friend but I also do not consider myself to have a lot of "good friends".  I have a lot of friends but not too many that I would call if I were stuck on the side of the road.  I'm ok with this because friends or "good friends" I still need them all.  I hope that I am the kind of friend that can be called at anytime.  As I've gotten married and had children, though, I think I've slipped sometimes in my friendships but I feel that I should put my family's needs first.

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
I think losing touch with a friend who lives near you.  When a friend moves away then it is almost justified that you two will drift apart.  When the friend lives right around you and you drift, it makes it harder to face.

25. What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful that I finally have the life that I always wanted.

26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
I think that since my children are so young, I would rather lose old memories.  I can't imagine not making many more years of memories with them.

27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
Yes.  It is called faith.

28.  Has your greatest fear ever come true?
No, thank God.

29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?
Yes, I do remember and no, it does not.

30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?
My happiest childhood memory is probably just the memory of roaming around outside, riding bicycles, being whistled to come home for dinner.  I think these memories are so special because it was 100% pure innocense.

31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
I am passionate about my children all of the time.  I guess if we are talking about that totally free and alive feeling, as silly as this sounds, would be riding all of the big rides at Disney World with my son back in September.  It was his first time on a roller coaster or any big ride and he loved them as much as I did.

32. If not now, then when?
I am hoping to feel this way after running the half-marathon later this year.

33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
Nothing really to lose but I guess a fear of re-injuring my ankle in the training.

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

35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
I don't believe that the religions cause war.  People cause war.

36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
Certain things, yes.  But I also believe that things that are very evil can be disguised as doing good works.

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
Since I already stay home, I wouldn't have a job to quit. 

38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
I'd rather have less work to do.

39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
Yes!

40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
In a way, I am trying to do that now.

41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
What a horrible question.  Of course, I would spend as much time as possible with Scott and the kids.  My parents, my sister and her family, all of Scott's side of the family, then my friends. 

42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
No.  I wouldn't want the fame, maybe the $$ but not the hassle of the fame.  As far as attractive, of course, I would love to be one hot momma but not at the expense of 10 years of my life.

43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
Being alive is what everyone on the planet is.  Truly living is loving the life that you live.

44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
If you know that something is right, then you should always do it.

45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
Because the lesson may be too costly.

46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
I would home school my children. 

47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
In yoga class.

48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
I love my family.  I love sports.  I love blogging.  I think that I show my love for these all of the time.

49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?
No. 

50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
Ha, funny question.  In all honesty, a lot of decisions regarding my life are not made by me.  They are dictated by the children.  Scott handles all of the finances so I really don't make any of those decisions, either.  I mean I definitely have input and pretty much get my way or what I want but I don't have unilateral control.  I'm not sure if any married person does, though.