I don’t do all that many memes here these days, and it’s been a while since I’ve posted one that wasn’t book-related. But I’ve been tagged a couple of times lately, and I decided it wouldn’t be nice to ignore these – besides, they were fun to answer!
I was given this little “blog challenge” by my friend April of It’s All About Balance. Some of my answers turned out to be the same as hers, but you wouldn’t know that if I didn’t tell you – she’ll probably spot them pretty easily, though.
1. If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?
Try seeing the other person’s side of the issue before you decide yours is right – because maybe it isn’t. (Seriously. I’m SO tired of the “my way or the highway” attitude. How will our kids learn the art of compromise if the adults are acting like four-year-olds?)
2. If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?
Guess ☺. Books, of course!
3. What do you value most in other people?
Openness, compassion, and a good sense of humor. (This question wasn’t limited to one thing!)
4. If you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would it be?
Hey, isn’t the premise of Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey something like this? (I have the book, but my husband will most likely read it before I do; it’s on his nightstand right now). I think I’d choose blue – it’s not necessarily my favorite color, but it’s the color of some of my favorite things in nature (and my husband’s eyes).
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My height – I’d be 5’2.” If we’re not talking about physical characteristics, though, I’d be more of an extrovert (although I wouldn’t change my love of reading!)
6. If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass on to your children, what would it be?
My child will be 26 (!!) in July – I probably have readers his age and younger! (This is where I tell you that he was born when I was 20, so I’m not as old as you might guess – and although it actually worked out pretty well for me, I don’t recommend starting out quite that early.) In any case, I suspect that window of opportunity has closed – at this point, he’s pretty much his own person, and I see traits from both his dad and me in him. He has my love of reading and writing, in any case.
I sometimes see habits and traits in my stepchildren which I think they may have picked up from me – they live with their father and me half-time – and that tends to surprise me. It also makes me consider the whole nature/nurture question.
7. What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
Some sort of extreme physical challenge, like rock climbing or scaling a wall – one of those things I swear I could never do when I watch people do them on The Amazing Race.
8. Would you rather teach a young child to read or have to learn again for yourself?
Teach a child, because if “learning again for myself” means I would have lost the ability somehow, forget it!
9. What is the best advice you’ve ever given and received?
I tend to avoid giving advice, partly because I don’t always appreciate getting it, but also because it makes me a little nervous to have anyone listen to what I say and act on it. Having said that, “Recognize what you can control, deal with that, and let the rest sort itself out” is a pretty good rule – it’s helped me worry a lot less, anyway. (Unfortunately, I haven’t quite gotten it across to my husband.)
Best received advice? “Maybe you should talk to someone.” It took a few attempts before therapy really accomplished much for me, but it was worth it every time.
10. How would you like to die?
With my mental faculties as intact as possible…my mother died of early-onset Alzheimer’s, and I truly hope not to have the same fate.
Laura of Musings wanted to know a few of the things I like and don’t like (“hate” is such a strong word):
I like getting up early.
I like quiet time to myself in the morning.
I like breakfast.
I like reading at breakfast.
I like reading over breakfast and coffee on weekend mornings at Starbucks.
I like talking over breakfast and coffee with my sister on weekend mornings at Starbucks.
I like mornings when I don’t have to rush off to work.
I like vacations.
I like hanging out with smart, funny people.
I like living with smart, funny people.
I like cooking and baking for people.
I like good food and good conversation.
I love talking about blogging and social media with people who get it.
Today (which will be yesterday when this posts) was one of the more productive days I’ve had lately.
I hate driving with the sun in my eyes.
I hate sitting in traffic.
I hate leaving early and still arriving late because I’ve been sitting in traffic.
I hate days when I can’t seem to accomplish anything.
I hate governments that can’t seem to accomplish anything except infighting.
I hate misplaced priorities.
I hate not knowing the right thing to say or do.
I hate not having enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do.
I (secretly) like going to bed early.
I love the way my husband and I make each other laugh, every day.
I’m not tagging anyone to do either of these, but feel free to steal ’em and answer ’em yourself!
Have you entered my Blogiversary Giveaway yet? Entries will be open until March 27! You could win a $35 e-gift card to the shopping site of YOUR CHOICE (because not everyone wants to buy from Amazon.com).
