Falling in Love

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about this Modern Love column where Mandy Len Cantron wrote about a study by Arthur Aron (among others) about the questions it takes to fall in love with someone, even a stranger.  This other news article compiled the questions here.  Given I’m fighting off the beginning of a cold and too scratchy to think of something to write about, I’m going to take a stab at these–maybe to fall more in love with myself.  Maybe as a throw back to the livejournal days of doing self-quizzes (anyone? anyone!?).

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

First of all, I like how grammatically proper this questionnaire is already. Whom.  Nice.  Okay.  This is hard.  I hate questions where you have to pick just one song, band, book, or dinner guest.  I feel so much pressure.  (I’m writing all the thoughts I have that I would likely say on a date as a way of stalling and giving myself more thinking time).  I feel like Dorothy Parker would be a blast.

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

Mergh.  Yes and no.  I would like to have readers.  But I’d rather not have the kind of fame that comes with not being able to go to the corner store in sweatpants and unwashed hair without shame/having my photo end up in a tabloid.

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

Sometimes, if it’s a work related call and I’m anxious about how I’m going to come off in a professional situation.  Rarely when it comes to personal calls though.  Anyone who has received a voicemail from me can attest to the awkwardness of this fact.  Ramble ramble.

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

I hate the word perfect.  I’ve spent my life trying to get okay with not being perfect/a perfectionist.  A nice day would enjoy getting up early (I know) and enjoying a cup of tea on my own while writing, then having a late breakfast somehow involving bacon with my boyfriend and going on a run or walk with him while the sun shines on a body of water.  Then lunch with my favorite gal pals who magically all manage to be in the same place for this day, and a quick call home.  Followed by an afternoon reading a wonderful book with my cat curled up on my lap with yoga before or after.  Concluding with a romantic evening with my boyfriend where neither of us has anything to do for work and I get to wear something on the fancy side–even if its just for him cooking for me in my kitchen.  Bonus: minus the teleportation of my friends from different states, I get to have a perfect day on a pretty regular basis.  That’s because I’m trying to live my life more purposefully by making room for all the things/people i love.

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

Earlier this afternoon while cleaning.  To my cat sometime this week, I’m sure.  Or sarcastically and loudly in the car to my boyfriend as something loud and pop-like played and he winced good-naturedly.

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

Oh jeez.  Probably the body–if only because, barring any disease, I think I’m going to dig my mind at that age.  Plus I can see from my relatives how tough it is to have your body deteriorate.

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

I’m deathly afraid of being underwater, so drowning?  Fingers crossed for old age, though.

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

This is where the quiz doesn’t make sense to do by yourself.  But I’m going to answer for me and my current boyfriend: we both love to cook; we’re both writers; we’re both earnest and thoughtful.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

So much.  Mainly being able to pursue my writing dream, which wouldn’t be possible without my parents’ help along the way, and the twists and turns and adventures I had to get here.

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I would strip the household of negativity and add more compassionate listening.

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I’m just going to do the first 10, but it’s an interesting set of questions to check out!