As part of my Day Zero Project, I am answering “50 Questions to Free Your Mind” (Google it).   I had originally thought to do these in my personal journal, but then I thought, why not put them on my blog.  So get ready for some rambling answers.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you… Here's my post for questions #1-5.  And here for questions #6-10.

11. You're having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do? Speak up.  I'm not sure why people feel the need to be negative all the time.  I know that I need to work on this and I think everyone else also needs to focus on this.  Since working in customer service, I've noticed how negative people are to total strangers.   I can't imagine how negative they are around so-called "friends."   

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Don't let people talk down to you or put you down in any way.  I spent too much time in my life feeling like there was something wrong with me.  It all goes back to kindness...

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes.  While I believe that the law is very important to our society, human life is even more important. 

14. Have you ever seen insanity where later saw creativity? Yes.  In teaching, we often view others' ideas and techniques with suspicion.  Only later does it become apparent that some of those weird ideas and techniques were pure genius!

15. What's something you know you do differently than most people? Lately, I've been getting the feeling that I think about and consider others more than most people I know or meet.  I'm not saying that I am in any way an awesome person, but I try to be polite and courteous most of the time. 

16. How come things that make you happy don't make everyone happy? Because we all unique beings.  I know, such a clichéd answer, but it's true.  Each one of us responds postively to different things.  I love a good book, a hot cup of tea, and a dark chocolate bar.  Not everyone finds so much satisfaction in those things.  That is what makes humans so interesting.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What's holding you back? Travel... time and money.  Up until now, I've had a ton of constraints on my time.  In reality, I still do, but some of the current commitments are more flexible.  And up until now, and still now really, I'm fairly poor.  I would love to have the time and money to travel all over the world.  As it stands, I have limitations.  But I'm really pushing for an out-of-state vacation within the next year.  It doesn't even have to be out of the country, I'd be okay just getting out of Nebraska (and not back to Indiana).

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Yes.  Anger.  I still have some anger about things from my past.  I am working to let go.  I've been working for years to let go.  I still have some to go.  It's an ongoing process.

19. If you had to move to a state or country beside the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Somewhere warmer.  I like snow, I really do.  It's beautiful and fun to play in.  But then the bitter cold sets in and I get sick.  And suddenly winter isn't fun anymore.  I would love to move somewhere southern.  (But then I would have to deal with extreme heat and humidity...  blah!)  How about Hawaii?

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? No, but I see people do it all the time.  I really want to smack them...  Does that make me a horrible person?