what and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?

from 132 Best Questions 

 

What motivates you when you’re most productive?

  caffeine, fear, money, lust

What kinds of conversations do you have with your closest friends?

   all over the map. No limits.

What’s on your bucket list?

   if I had one, it would include visiting Ireland, kissing in the rain, seeing Isle Royale, winning a (major) jackpot, walking along the Susquehanna, publishing a photograph, traveling to Aruba, shaving my head, crossing into Canada, taking a plunge, touring the Canal Zone, wearing (to its fullest extent) an adorable and functional ninja suit...

What’s something you’ll spend time doing, no matter what?

  properly polishing my toenails

Over the last 6 months, when have you felt the most alive and electrified?

   in Kansas City

If you had to leave your house all day, every day, where would you go and what would you do?

  someplace quiet. I've spent years doing this in various ways for various reasons and have become pretty good at seeking out hidden spots to be by myself.

If you could be a different person, who would you be?

  "anyone but the one that I am now..." 

Why do you value what you value?

   because it's valuable? What an odd question.

Why do you do what you do?

   for money, and because I care about people there and that makes it hard to just leave

What job other than your own would you like to have?

  overpaid personal assistant to a charismatic and arrogant man

What gives you strength?

   protein

What kind of “shower ideas” do you get?

  my former spouse called them "shower epiphanies." Mine come more often right after I've gotten into bed and turned off the light, so I either have to get up and write it down or try and send a message to myself on my phone. Either of those options wakes me all the way back up. The ideas are usually about something that I want to write, or something about work that absolutely positively needs to be done the next day (which I would not have forgotten anyway).

What do you enjoy reading about?

  I'm into poetry lately, more modern than not

What abilities did you have as a child?

   philosophical questions, mouthiness, and comprehension above grade level

Walk around your home. What clues does it reveal about what you love?

  I like movies, reading, open space, photography (my own and others'), plants, cats, fish, rabbits, and shoes

What did you want to be when you were a kid? 

  a photographer

What would you go back to school for? 

  if I were completely practical: an LLM in tax or an MBA. If I were practical but still cared about my sanity: a Masters in library science. If I only cared about my sanity: an MFA in writing.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? 

  commit

[from here; the title quotation is by Ralph Ellison, from Invisible Man]