I’ve said it before but it is always worth repeating because there is such truth in it, but one of the best things that came from starting this blog remains the relationships I have fostered as a result of it. There are so many kick-ass, inspirational people I have met from this little blog and my friend Hallie is definitely one of those. She wrote this post recently as a result of this article and challenged a few of us to do the same. In short, the article explores the idea of making any two strangers fall in love in an accelerated and almost controlled environment based on a series of 36 questions.
As someone not in love, the article gave me chills, hope and a twinge of heartache. But mostly hope. And I loved that about it. It’s been several years since I’ve been in love and while one can certainly feel out of practice, you don’t forget the feeling of being in love. That being said, while I am not currently involved in romantic love, I certainly have a lot to love in life. So I conducted the exercise of answering a selection of the questions from my own POV for today’s post vs.a regularly programmed Wednesday Wish List.
It’s very real and transparent and I hope you enjoy…here goes:
Would you like to be famous? In what way? For my profession I often contract celebrities for campaigns and therefore am frequently reminded how little of your life is truly your own when you are famous. So I can say “no,” but with the caveat that I’d like to be more well-known for my efforts as they relate to this blog.
Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why? Nope! I have an awful memory so if I rehearsed and then didn’t deliver what I had rehearsed, I’d just get upset. Plus, I work in communications so I figure I should know how to talk on the fly, am I right?
When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else? To myself in the shower to this album. On repeat. To someone else? With my family to oldies out in Colorado.
If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want? Mind without a doubt. It holds my memories and life experiences.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful? My family. My parents raised me with wonderful values, afforded me such amazing experiences and they and my siblings continue to provide me with support, laughs and endless amounts of joy that I feel grateful every day for each of them.
If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be? Patience. I don’t exhibit it regularly and it really would help so much in so many areas of my life. [Insert deep breathing here.]
If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know? When I’ll meet my other half and whether I’ll have children.
Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it? Yes. Moving to Paris. I want to so badly but it terrifies me and I have no idea how to make it happen (recommendations welcome!)
What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Getting into the college of my dreams and having it open so many doors for me. I worked hard, I met people and became involved in activities that led me to lifelong friendships. I worked diligently to get my major (Communications) and minor (French) and demanded excellence in myself when it came to getting internships and eventually the entry level job that would set my marketing job on that path that led me to today.
What do you value most in a friendship? Honesty, humor and being present. I sadly live 3,000 miles away from my best friend but for the past 4 years we’ve made it through by being present for each other – despite our distance. Andrea is the type of person who continues to make me to want to be a better friend to all those in my life and someone I trust fully. There’s no better feeling than having a best friend you can rely on. And humor? My god am I lucky to have such funny friends. The laughter they bring me is the best medicine in the world.
What is your most treasured memory? I have two that spring to mind. One was sitting on the plane as I had just had my one way ticket from San Francisco to New York scanned. I was so scared but excited. Anxious but hopeful. I had a pit in my stomach but a dream in my mind and nearly 4 years later I look back and think, “thank god I didn’t remain thinking – what if?” The second is the last time I saw my Grama Franny. I knew it would likely be the last time and I sat by her bed- just her and I – sharing memories and holding hands. After kissing her goodbye one last time, I walked out to my car and just cried and cried. I prayed for her and thanked God I was able to fly home and see her one last time. She passed away not long after. She remains a guiding light in my life to this day however.
If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why? Yes. I would be more spontaneous. And care less about what people thought. I would see my family more. Travel more. Surprise my friends more for special occasions. And save more. (Clearly I have a lot to focus on…)
Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? Audrey Hepburn. I’ve been fascinated with her for years and I just love her story, her sincerity and of course, her style. I’d want to hear about her childhood, what she feels her legacy is and what advice she’d give to girls growing up in today’s day in age.
How do you feel about your relationship with your mother? My heart beams when I think about our relationship. She’s one of my best friends and the most reliable and thoughtful person I know. She’s funny, finds joy in the smallest of things, consistently puts others before herself and expresses gratitude in the most genuine of ways. She is also the most positive person that I know. She regularly makes me want to improve my outlook on situations and life in general. If I can be more like my mom a bit each day, I will be proud of the woman I continue to become.
Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share…” Companionship.
What is your most terrible memory? A car accident in high school when I was rear-ended and since that day I have lived with chronic headaches.
If you were going to become a close friend with your partner readers, please share what would be important for him or her to know. I’m trying to be more real. Sometimes I focus so much on consistency (having regular posts and content) that I forget that what readers seek is information and special attention to detail. I’m trying to put more thought into my posts and be more honest and transparent in my content. (I hope you can tell! It’s a 2015 resolution of sorts for me.)
When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself? In front of someone? At the Cincinnati airport last week. At security. I was so weak that I was in a wheelchair after my bout of food poisoning and I was trying to keep it together when really I felt so alone, and so, so ill. And everyone was being so nice. Each time they’d ask me how I was, I’d start crying. I was so exhausted from not having slept for 30 some hours and just overwhelmed with everyone’s concern. It made me want to be more compassionate. By myself? During this post when I wrote above about my grandmother and then my mom.
Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would be in Paris. It would involve exploring the city with no set agenda – being spontaneous and not knowing where the day would take me. It would end in a cozy cafe sitting outside sipping cocktails with my best girlfriends surrounding me. There would be memories shared and lots, and lots of laughter. We’d watch the sunset go down with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. We’d be full, happy and most of all…together.
Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why? My Grama’s last bottle of Chanel No. 5 which reminds me of her and all my favorite moments with her (I eternally looked up to her as aforementioned) and a framed photo of my mom and I in Paris when I was very young.
So there you have it! If you feel like taking this exercise on, I’d love for you to share it with me (you can read the rest of the questions here). It is actually such a wonderful thing to go through – I highly recommend & I hope you enjoyed reading.
[P.S. read some others from favorite bloggers of mine – Meg, Hitha, Julia and Grace]
