#82 50 Questions That Will Change Your Life...1-10

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

Hmmm tough question. In some ways I would be in my mid 20's, in others - late 30s.Having suffered from depression for probably well over 10 years you do develop a weird kind of wisdom beyond your years. You also tend to have a number of 'lost' years too so I am finding I am making up for a lot of my 20s in terms of being out and about and my 'youthful' attitude to things.

2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?

I would like to say never trying as I really do believe this to be the case. Unfortunately my own insecurities frequently prevent me from trying in case of failure.

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?

Social responsibility in short. Life is indeed short, but life is also about the people in your life and frequently we have to do things for those people that might not be to our own liking. I guess the thing to like about that though is the fact that you are making someone you care about happy!

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

Oh god I hope not but the crippling fear of risk instilled in me by my mother suggest I probably will. I am desperately trying to reverse this cycle but am often held back by finances etc. It is a focus of mine though in the near futrue and beyond to take more risks.

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

Selfishness/sense of personal entitlement. If people cared more about their community a lot of the worlds problems would be solved.

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

Something where I get to combine creativity with genuinely helping someone else.

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

I have the potential to be doing what I believe in. Unfortunately the reality of my current employment has rendered the potential unmet. My employer is not really interested in letting me actually do anything that will have a long term effect. I am literally here to spend a grant and keep up appearances.

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

Take more risks! Put up with less crap from the damaged people I have had in my life and get out and about in the world to experience it more.

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

We all control our lives to a very high degree. Whether it be because we are proactive in taking charge of things or because we are crippled by fear of failure and don't take actions. Life has dealt me some horrible crap and I haven't always dealt with it as well as I should have. I could blame the crap (and let's face it, I often do!) but at the end of the day the course of my life is in my hands. Sometimes it's just a little more obtuse than we would like it to be.

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

Definitely doing the right things. I guess the next question becomes "what is right?" and this is definitely something I struggle with. I am working hard to readjust my own notions of "right" and "wrong" and I truly believe this is a life-long process. I only hope I get better at it soon! :)