all manner of goodness can come after, but it's different

221. Who is the closest to being a perfect human?  'perfect' and 'human' do not belong in the same sentence

222. What makes you feel old?  being reminded of my niece's son's age

224. What is considered normal and is accepted but really shouldn’t be?  toilet paper hoarding

225. What are some of your personal tips on how to live a remarkable life?  be more kind than you need to be. Remember peoples' birthdays, pets' names, and significant losses. When you notice something nice about someone, say something. (I mean, on the level of "those shoes are awesome!" or "that hairstyle is super flattering!", not "is that an eggplant in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?!" or God forbid "when are you due?") Sometimes if you choose the salad rather than the pizza, the dessert is all the better. (This is both literal and a metaphor.) It probably all comes down to the same thing, in a sense. Prioritize your damned life. If something is important to you, behave as if that's so.

226. What is the worst emotion?  there is no "bad" emotion

227. What do people most often take for granted?  loyalty—and a fully functioning airway

228. What quote are you sick and tired of hearing?  it's not a quote but I'm SO sick of the words "normalize" and "adulting." The former is only so much value judgment about others, in the guise of inclusion and positivity. The latter is a pathetic grasp toward cleverness and an age long past.

229. What would your child have to do for you to disown them?  ...exist?

231. When is it better to act first and ask for forgiveness later?  first kisses

232. What are you surprised a lot of people don’t know how to do?  cook without recipes

233. What was the biggest lie your teachers told you when you were in school?  Do what you love, and the money will follow.

234. What is something you tried that doesn’t live up to the hype even though other people seem to

be crazy about it for some reason? crème brûlée

235. What do you wish someone had told you, so you didn’t have to learn the hard way?  lack of access does not necessarily imply brooding mystery or fate; sometimes it's just a ... missed connection

236. What is the dumbest thing that a lot of people believe?  that their opinion (about politics, religion, science, sex, etiquette - whatever) matters to other people

237. When was the last time you felt your perception of reality shift in a major way?  early October

239. If you see money on the ground, where is the line between you picking it up and you not picking it up?  if it's the dead of winter and it's a coin in a muddy puddle, I'm not going to pick it up

240. What would be the most useful mandatory class to add to public schools?  "Basic Skills 101." Things like sewing a button on a shirt, ironing, tying a necktie, balancing a checking account, making a grilled cheese sandwich, doing laundry, filling a car with gas, putting air in tires, using an ATM without letting anyone see your business, rigging up temporary curtains in a pinch....

[cut from here; the title quotation is by Joe R. Lansdale, from Paradise Sky]