question

As every A-Z Blogger will tell you, "Q" is a very hard post to come up with. There just aren't very many q words that spark up the ole creativity side of the brain. And I did quiet last year, so there goes one of my go to words.

So, I decided I'd simply answer some questions tonight. For the record, I think it's good to ask people questions. It's important to learn about each other. And it's important to answer them honestly.

1. Which is worse, failing or never trying?  Never trying. At least when you fail, you can say you tried, you can learn from the experience. If you never try you will always have that nagging "what if".

2. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? That's tough. Is it possible to do a little of both? Because I believe in touching lives and I believe I am able to do that with my current job. However, I'm not going to lie and say this is my calling, or this is where I will be the rest of my life.

3. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Easy. Nashville, TN. In a heartbeat. That place is magical. Okay, maybe not magical, but it's pretty awesome. I love the atmosphere, I love the people, I love the weather. I am really, really hoping to end up there someday, somehow.

4. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?  Ironically, this just happened to me on Sunday. I took a new volunteer to visit a patient. I left the room to let them speak. I was in the hallway of the nursing home and this little old lady came out of her room down the hall, using her walker. I could tell it was going to be a struggle for her to walk by herself. I could also tell she couldn't see very well. So I got up, walked over to her and then walked beside her. We made it down the hallway, and she plopped down on the very couch I had been sitting before. I thought we were going to have this outstanding conversation that I'd be able to use in upcoming volunteer trainings. Instead, she smiled at me, mouthed "hi", and then closed her eyes. She reached her hand out and patted mine, and then she fell asleep. I knew that was her way of saying "thank you". When I was leaving, I patted her hand and whispered that it was nice to meet her.

5. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Yes. That's probably not a good feeling, right? Isn't every day supposed to feel brand new?

6. What is your favorite vacation memory? I have so many. I guess just simply Fort Walton in it's entirety. Running on the beach, walking down to where my uncle was fishing, going to the water park, church on Easter Sunday with all my cousins.

7.  What is your earliest memory? Hmm. Sometimes I'm not sure if my memories are actually memories or just a result of watching home videos and seeing pictures. I don't know how far back we're "supposed" to remember, but my earliest memories that I can really recall are preschool age-kindergarten. I very clearly remember going to school, then going to lunch and running errands with my mom. My favorite days were the days when we went to the Troy Library. I probably can come up with some earlier ones, but when I think of childhood that is one of the first things I remember.

8. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would you choose and why? Now this is a tough one. I've already typed and deleted my answer five times. I should probably say Obama, but I'm not going to be that predictable. If I were to be choosing someone dead, I would say Catherine Mccauley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. That woman was braver, stronger, more compassionate than anyone I've ever heard of. But someone living, at this very moment today? I'm going to have to very seriously answer that with Adele. I know that sounds bizarre to some people- I could meet ANYONE in the world and I'm choosing a singer. But here's the thing. Adele writes music that I feel. I would just like to be able to talk to her and pick her brain.

9. What song best defines and describes your life? Oh there are several songs that I lovingly dub as "my song".  But the songs that I feel describes me is "Let The Rain" by Sara Barielles. I immediately connected with the words of the song my first time hearing it, and wrote in my review of the album that I felt the song described anxiety to a T, better than any song I've ever heard in my life. Then I read an interview where Sara said "This song is all about facing your fear and digging deep and finding your own inner courage and deciding that whatever happens, you're gonna be ok."  Yes sir!


10. What do you do on Sundays? Oh, nothing. No really, nothing. A few weeks ago I decided that Sunday was going to be MY DAY to just sit and do what I wanted. I sleep in. I read. I write a little. I walk. I go to Church, I go to youth group. I do all things that I want to do. I don't make any plans. I just do me.

Back to the topic at hand: questions. Ask them. When you need help, ask for it. When you're curious, ask about it. When you need a 2nd opinion, get it. When you're unsure, be sure. You don't have to fight those battles alone, go through the back and forth, ups and downs...you don't have to stay up all night worrying and wondering. you can simply ask.

Oh, here's a fun question to ponder. Have you ever asked a simple question that then changed something drastically? I think that happens more than we realize.  I will tell you the best question you can ask someone, and you can do it daily.

"How are you?".

Ask it, and mean it.