no thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire

How short would your life have to be before you would start living differently today?     living differently is not necessarily about how short life is, but maybe realizing what matters most. No one else can decide that, and no time limit is really going to change it. I've come to loathe the concept of "prioritizing" one's personal life, but...

Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all?     Loving is always worthwhile. There are no guarantees, ever. The ride is worth it, even if you don't get to "the" destination. And loving does something good to a person. It changes you, inside.

If you were forced to eliminate every physical possession from your life with the exception of what could fit into a single backpack, what would you put in it?     phone, keys, wallet. Laptop, Kindle. A journal and a good pen. My camera. The necklace that I got for my last birthday. Glasses, headache medicine, hand lotion, lip balm. A protein bar and a bottle of water. A couple pairs of undies & socks.

When does silence convey more meaning than words?     when someone's in shock or grieving. When you're trying to let someone know that you love them. When the coast is clear.

How do you spend the majority of your free time?     listing items for sale on eBay

Who do you think of first when you think of ‘success’?     a friend from college. He started with not so much, and made himself financially secure. More importantly, he helps others, and does what he wants when he wants to. Having that much leisure and latitude is one of my definitions of success.

What did you want to be when you grew up?     super rich and even famous

How will one day matter in five years from now?     Some days are just outstanding days. For instance, I had a late Christmas with the BFF and family a couple weeks ago. We munched on desserts, played games, opened presents, and watched a couple of Charlie Brown specials. I played with kitties and the dog (!), and napped, and tried to help the one with a broken wrist. This will stand as one of many happy memories with that clan.

How have you helped someone else recently?     I had dinner with a former colleague that turned out to be more like group therapy than dinner. It was a really good night.

What is your greatest skill?     I have no idea. Really wish I knew!

 

[from here; the title quotation is by L. Frank Baum, from The Lost Princess of Oz]