what's meant to be will always find a way

51: Who is the last person you met? What did you think of them?

a new staffer started in my office last week. On a visit to the office to swap files, I met her. She seems bright, a little snarky, and as if she does not take herself too seriously.

52: What makes you nervous? 

unleashed dogs, tall ladders, and secrets

53: How far in advance do you like to plan? 

I like having plans far advance, but not making them. Something to look forward to...is lovely. However, there is also great joy in surprise and spontaneity. Following impulse can be profoundly meaningful.

54: Is it more important to love or to be loved? 

to love

56: What is your most preferred medium for expressing art and emotion? Dance? Painting? If you do not use art to express yourself, what do you do with your feelings? Do you keep it inside of you?

writing

57: Have you ever fallen in love? Do you hope to (again)? 

Yes. 

    And no.

58: Can teenagers fall in love? Or are they too young to know what love is? Is love limited to certain ages? 

I think that there are different kinds of love, different degrees of it, different depths. It is possible for teenagers to fall in love, within their constraints. They are not too young to know what love is, but maybe not mature enough to know what it can be. 

    Love is not limited to certain ages. It just is. It becomes what it will be, regardless of time or age or circumstance. It's not possible to will it away, or push it away (or to will it into existence, for that matter). It's the strongest force in the universe.

60: Who are 3 important people in your life at this moment? 

Derek, Bryan, and Christina

62: What have you learned the hard way? 

the importance of sunscreen

63: Looking back at your life, what are some things you got but never worked for? What parts of your life have been easy? 

    • education (in some ways)

    • nice feet

    • an expansive vocabulary

65: What can you do to make someone's day? 

I'm in regular contact with a friend who is also trying to get fit and healthy. We report how things are going, pluses and minuses, and kind of "emotionally refuel" to keep going. It's good for both of us.

66: Do you think anyone can truly accept themselves?

sure

67: Do your loved ones know that they are loved by you? 

yes

68: Summarize yourself in 5 words. 

I do not like following rules

69: Describe yourself without using your name:

short, persistent, sunburnt, intrigued, headachy, blue-eyed, and sleepy

72: What are some things that are OK to give up on, if there is anything? 

not sure what you should give up on, but definitely don't give up on your stupid, stupid little dreams. (This is my new journal!)

73: When did you last do something outside of your comfort zone? 

I drove with a valuable asset in my car last week, for work

74: How much control do you have over your life? 

I'm of two minds on this. Part of me wants to say 100%, but the other, more emotional side says maybe 60%.

75: How much control do you have over your feelings? 

Ha! Feelings just are, and trying to control them is futile. Controlling one's reaction to them... that's possible, sometimes, depending on the strength and importance of the feeling.

76: Do you think being emotional is being weak? 

not at all. I think it's hard on a person not to acknowledge their feelings sometimes.

[from here and adapted; the title quotation is from a song by Trisha Yearwood]