Haiku 18 and 19
7 years ago
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
25 QUESTIONS
The
oft-mentioned remark “asking the right questions is the answer” may very well
be our foolproof reminder when it comes to deciphering the meats and potatoes
of everything and, I guess, everyone. As they say, wielding the right questions
is tantamount to having great power. Well, I couldn’t agree more. This time,
though, let me willingly give you that “great power”: to know me more. If
you’ve got the time (AND interest), that is.
Oops, so
serious eh?
My apologies. That was just me trying to sound like I
have long known what “meats and potatoes” is and not just a while ago.
Anyway, I came across this 25 Questions
assignment we had way back in college while rummaging my digital files the
other day. And because I’ve been in kind of I’m-so-bored-I’m-gonna-die mood
lately, I decided to post my answers here, for the heck of it.
My apologies. That was just me trying to sound like I
have long known what “meats and potatoes” is and not just a while ago.
And
I’ll tell you what, I was oddly surprised with some of them. Maybe that’s what you get when you have
gotten way past your younger self and have quite forgotten who and what
you were back then. Or maybe, again, that was just me.
There’s also this 25 random questions tag that has been gaining ground on YouTube and some blogging sites. But if you go for heart-rending, headache-inducing questions, you may look into this awesome website.
1. What are your most compulsive habits? Do you regularly struggle to break these habits?
I do have quite a few compulsive habits. But I won't reveal all of them because I think it's too personal. But let me tell you one which, I think, is worth telling.
I have this habit of looking out for my things over and over. It's as if someone's going to take them away from me. And no matter how I try to fight such unwanted thought, I just can't help but follow "this" voice inside my head that keeps on telling me repeatedly, "Look, your books are lost!" or something like, "You have left your stuff over there." Then I have to check if I really don't have it with me.
It's really hard. Though I believe it's still okay as long as it doesn't cause me problems and the like.
2. You know you will die of an incurable disease within three months. Would you allow yourself to be frozen within a week if you knew it would give you a modest chance of being revived in 1,000 years and live a greatly extended life?
It is not that I'm against the idea of being "frozen" but I just don't feel like it.
If I will die within three months, then I will just let myself die. Besides, if it's only me who will be frozen for 1,000 years, I won't be happy. Because when I "wake up," there won't be familiar faces to greet me and for sure I'll live in a strange and different sort of way where nobody will really love me as I am.
3. If you were to discover that your closest friend was a shabu dealer or user, what would you do?
If that happens, I'll ask what made him/ her do that. If it's about sustaining his/ her family's needs and he/she just did it once (be a drug user), I'll forgive him/ her and help him/her get out of such problem. But if he/she still uses shabu frequently or still sells it, I guess this time professional help is needed. I'll take my friend to a drug rehabilitation center and let him/her be treated.
This question really bothered me a lot because a close friend is involved. I think I have given an honest answer though I am not really certain if that's what I'll do if that'll happen. I just hope it won't.
4. What do you most strive for in your life -- accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge or something else?
I would say that it's happiness. And I think almost everybody would say that, too. whatever you strive for in your life, whether it's accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, etc., all of them lead to happiness. Whatever you think would make you happy, you will try hard to achieve that.
5. Have you considered suicide? What is so important to you that life, without it, would not be worth living?
Yes. The reason, though, was very personal so I won't elaborate more about it.
6. If you were having difficulty on an important test and could safely cheat by looking into someone else's paper, would you do so?
No, I certainly won't. But I admit that I did cheat once, back in high school. We had a short quiz (I don't remember the subject). Actually it was a surprise quiz and I really didn't know anything about our recent lesson then (the reason was valid). And I didn't want to flunk that test so I hid my notes inside my transparent file case and placed it atop my armchair. When the professor wasn't looking, I simply peeked into my file case and feigned that I was just thinking of the answers. Luckily (is that the right term?), I passed the test.
It gave me a guilty feeling and right after, I promised myself that I would rather have a score of zero than cheat. And I have kept it in my heart until now.
7. How do you picture your funeral? Is it important for you to have people mourn your death?
I want my funeral to be filled with the people I loved and shared my life with. But I don't want them to grieve over my death. And I don't want balloons; I just don't like them at my funeral and I really don't know why. Perhaps it is because they make me sad when they're up in the air. And I don't want sadness pervade my funeral.
I would also love to have everybody singing my favorite songs so that I won't forget them. That is my ideal funeral. Oh, I want to be cremated though.
8. Can you urinate in front of another person?
Yes, I can. I actually do it but only in front of a girl, too (don't expect me to do it in front of a boy!).
Though, I guess, to actually do this in front of another person is quite a taboo. But what would you do if you really need to do it and someone's in the john?
9. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
I sing to myself every minute. I sing when I take a bath, when I write or even when I am just thinking of something. Music indeed is a part of my life. And I won't last a day without singing to myself or simply humming a tune.
When it comes to singing to someone else though, I think the last time I did it was last month when my friends and I sang in a nearby mall's KTV.
10. When did you last say "I love you" to your loved ones?
I am not the type of person who says "I love you" verbally to the ones I love. I don't know why but I am really shy when it comes to that matter. Though I always make it a point to hug and kiss my mom everyday for her to know that I do love her.
11. What was your best experience with drugs or alcohol? Your worst?
I can't answer this one for I don't take drugs and alcoholic drinks.
12. If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
In case a nuclear war will happen and I have a week's leeway to prepare or do the things I want to do, I'll probably travel with my family and friends to places I want to visit. I want to have my happiest moments with the people I love before I die. And at least, for the last time, I would have to see the peaceful and wonderful world God created for us before it will be turned to kaput by man.
13. What was your most enjoyable dream? Your worst nightmare?
I have several enjoyable dreams though I can't remember my most enjoyable one. But I do have this certain dream which I find extraordinary -- I fell in love with a guy whom I have never met. And while I was having that dream, I really felt that I was attracted to him.
My worst nightmare, on the other hand, was when someone tried to kill my mom and then I found her in a coffin. I remember that in my dream, I was really scared when I saw her there. It is probably the worst thing that could ever happen to me, lose my mother.
14. Which sex do you think is easier for our culture?
At present, it doesn't matter what your sex is. Even women, who were stereotyped as second-class citizens are now given equal opportunities and rights as male citizens.
15. Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger, terrorism in the world?
No, I won't! And besides, what has killing an innocent person got to do with ending hunger and terrorism?!
16. Would you accept $1M to leave the country and never set foot in it again?
I won't! I am not saying that I will never go abroad. But not to return to my homeland ever again is a thing I will never do. I believe everybody would say that, too. No matter how far one has traveled, the thought of coming back to where he or she was born would always be present. And for me, I would love to spend my last days reminiscing my fondly experienced times here in my beloved country.
17. Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted?
Though still in denial, I would say that I believe in spirits or evil spirits. But not in ghosts because the Bible says that they don't exist.
I have encountered few situations where I have seen or sort of felt their (spirits) presence but I don't want to entertain the idea that they really exist that is why I just ignore them. I am scared of them. And if I would be asked to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted by evil spirits, I would refuse even if I would be offered with P1 billion or even any higher amount.
18. Would you rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life?
I would rather have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life.
Well, I am not saying that to have an extremely successful professional life would not make me happy. But there would always be a "sacrifice" if I would have such kind of life. And that "sacrifice" would be an unexciting private life where I certainly won't find peace. I would rather choose to be an ordinary person than to fret about being intruded by other people.
19. Are there people you envy enough that you would want to trade your life with them?
Honestly, I don't want to trade my life with somebody else's. Although there are some whom I really admire, still I want to be unique. I want to be successful in whatever endeavors I would take by myself. And I can say that I am happy and content with my life right now. I have a loving family, really good friends, and a peaceful life which I will never trade for anything else.
20. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
I won't tell that my greatest accomplishment would be my academic achievements because what I consider as one is somewhat a personal triumph.
I was a pyrophobic. I was really afraid of fire more than anything else. I couldn't even light a match or even turn on a stove because I always thought that it would explode right on my face. Even to hear a discussion about fire was something I can't stand. And for more than ten years, I had lived my life denying the fact that someday my fear of fire would be gone.
But, over this last summer vacation, it did. And I am very glad to say that I now cook food for my family. And it is something that I am really proud of.
There's just this one habit of mine that I can't get rid of until now, my tardiness. I really want to be on time but I can't do it. I just hope that one day, I'll learn my lesson and change for the better.
21. When were you last in a fight? What caused it? Who won?
It is not in my nature to be quarrelsome. I really don't want to be in a fight. Though an angry argument or disagreement can't be avoided. And for that matter, I can say that I was in such, with my brother or sister perhaps, last week or maybe yesterday. I really don't remember when because it was just a petty disagreement and no one really won.
22. If you could choose the manner of your death, what would it be?
If I could have the chance to do that, I would choose a natural death. I certainly don't want to be killed in an accident or to be murdered by somebody. It is really horrid for me. Though I am not afraid to die. Really!
To talk about death is a reluctant thing. But we have to accept that all of us are going to die. We just have to live our life to the fullest to serve our purpose.
23. What is the worst psychological torture you can imagine suffering?
The worst psychological torture that I can see myself suffering is to see my loved ones being killed or hurt in front of me and I can't do anything to help them.
Just thinking of it really scares me. I don't want to be in such situation. I would rather sacrifice myself just to save them.
24. Would you like your spouse or sweetheart to be both smarter and attractive than you?
If I would have a special someone who is both smarter and attractive than me, well I would be proud of him. But it doesn't mean that I look for someone who is smarter or more attractive than me. It is okay if he is not. What is important is he is true to me and really loves me as I am.
But if I would have a boyfriend who happens to be smarter than me, I don't want him to brag about his intellectual superiority. I won't tolerate that!
25. If you found out that your good friend has AIDS, would you avoid him or her? What if your brother or sister has it, would you avoid him or her?
I certainly won't. But I won't say that I won't be surprised if that will happen. Of course I'll be shocked if a good friend or a sibling of mine has AIDS. But instead of avoiding them, I will help them in any way I can. I know that people with AIDS need love and understanding. And even if everybody hates them because of what they have, I will still accept them and never leave their side.
It's really hard. Though I believe it's still okay as long as it doesn't cause me problems and the like.
2. You know you will die of an incurable disease within three months. Would you allow yourself to be frozen within a week if you knew it would give you a modest chance of being revived in 1,000 years and live a greatly extended life?
It is not that I'm against the idea of being "frozen" but I just don't feel like it.
If I will die within three months, then I will just let myself die. Besides, if it's only me who will be frozen for 1,000 years, I won't be happy. Because when I "wake up," there won't be familiar faces to greet me and for sure I'll live in a strange and different sort of way where nobody will really love me as I am.
3. If you were to discover that your closest friend was a shabu dealer or user, what would you do?
If that happens, I'll ask what made him/ her do that. If it's about sustaining his/ her family's needs and he/she just did it once (be a drug user), I'll forgive him/ her and help him/her get out of such problem. But if he/she still uses shabu frequently or still sells it, I guess this time professional help is needed. I'll take my friend to a drug rehabilitation center and let him/her be treated.
This question really bothered me a lot because a close friend is involved. I think I have given an honest answer though I am not really certain if that's what I'll do if that'll happen. I just hope it won't.
4. What do you most strive for in your life -- accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge or something else?
I would say that it's happiness. And I think almost everybody would say that, too. whatever you strive for in your life, whether it's accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, etc., all of them lead to happiness. Whatever you think would make you happy, you will try hard to achieve that.
5. Have you considered suicide? What is so important to you that life, without it, would not be worth living?
Yes. The reason, though, was very personal so I won't elaborate more about it.
6. If you were having difficulty on an important test and could safely cheat by looking into someone else's paper, would you do so?
No, I certainly won't. But I admit that I did cheat once, back in high school. We had a short quiz (I don't remember the subject). Actually it was a surprise quiz and I really didn't know anything about our recent lesson then (the reason was valid). And I didn't want to flunk that test so I hid my notes inside my transparent file case and placed it atop my armchair. When the professor wasn't looking, I simply peeked into my file case and feigned that I was just thinking of the answers. Luckily (is that the right term?), I passed the test.
It gave me a guilty feeling and right after, I promised myself that I would rather have a score of zero than cheat. And I have kept it in my heart until now.
7. How do you picture your funeral? Is it important for you to have people mourn your death?
I want my funeral to be filled with the people I loved and shared my life with. But I don't want them to grieve over my death. And I don't want balloons; I just don't like them at my funeral and I really don't know why. Perhaps it is because they make me sad when they're up in the air. And I don't want sadness pervade my funeral.
I would also love to have everybody singing my favorite songs so that I won't forget them. That is my ideal funeral. Oh, I want to be cremated though.
8. Can you urinate in front of another person?
Yes, I can. I actually do it but only in front of a girl, too (don't expect me to do it in front of a boy!).
Though, I guess, to actually do this in front of another person is quite a taboo. But what would you do if you really need to do it and someone's in the john?
9. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
I sing to myself every minute. I sing when I take a bath, when I write or even when I am just thinking of something. Music indeed is a part of my life. And I won't last a day without singing to myself or simply humming a tune.
When it comes to singing to someone else though, I think the last time I did it was last month when my friends and I sang in a nearby mall's KTV.
10. When did you last say "I love you" to your loved ones?
I am not the type of person who says "I love you" verbally to the ones I love. I don't know why but I am really shy when it comes to that matter. Though I always make it a point to hug and kiss my mom everyday for her to know that I do love her.
11. What was your best experience with drugs or alcohol? Your worst?
I can't answer this one for I don't take drugs and alcoholic drinks.
12. If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
In case a nuclear war will happen and I have a week's leeway to prepare or do the things I want to do, I'll probably travel with my family and friends to places I want to visit. I want to have my happiest moments with the people I love before I die. And at least, for the last time, I would have to see the peaceful and wonderful world God created for us before it will be turned to kaput by man.
13. What was your most enjoyable dream? Your worst nightmare?
I have several enjoyable dreams though I can't remember my most enjoyable one. But I do have this certain dream which I find extraordinary -- I fell in love with a guy whom I have never met. And while I was having that dream, I really felt that I was attracted to him.
My worst nightmare, on the other hand, was when someone tried to kill my mom and then I found her in a coffin. I remember that in my dream, I was really scared when I saw her there. It is probably the worst thing that could ever happen to me, lose my mother.
14. Which sex do you think is easier for our culture?
At present, it doesn't matter what your sex is. Even women, who were stereotyped as second-class citizens are now given equal opportunities and rights as male citizens.
15. Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger, terrorism in the world?
No, I won't! And besides, what has killing an innocent person got to do with ending hunger and terrorism?!
16. Would you accept $1M to leave the country and never set foot in it again?
I won't! I am not saying that I will never go abroad. But not to return to my homeland ever again is a thing I will never do. I believe everybody would say that, too. No matter how far one has traveled, the thought of coming back to where he or she was born would always be present. And for me, I would love to spend my last days reminiscing my fondly experienced times here in my beloved country.
17. Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted?
Though still in denial, I would say that I believe in spirits or evil spirits. But not in ghosts because the Bible says that they don't exist.
I have encountered few situations where I have seen or sort of felt their (spirits) presence but I don't want to entertain the idea that they really exist that is why I just ignore them. I am scared of them. And if I would be asked to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted by evil spirits, I would refuse even if I would be offered with P1 billion or even any higher amount.
18. Would you rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life?
I would rather have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life.
Well, I am not saying that to have an extremely successful professional life would not make me happy. But there would always be a "sacrifice" if I would have such kind of life. And that "sacrifice" would be an unexciting private life where I certainly won't find peace. I would rather choose to be an ordinary person than to fret about being intruded by other people.
19. Are there people you envy enough that you would want to trade your life with them?
Honestly, I don't want to trade my life with somebody else's. Although there are some whom I really admire, still I want to be unique. I want to be successful in whatever endeavors I would take by myself. And I can say that I am happy and content with my life right now. I have a loving family, really good friends, and a peaceful life which I will never trade for anything else.
20. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
I won't tell that my greatest accomplishment would be my academic achievements because what I consider as one is somewhat a personal triumph.
I was a pyrophobic. I was really afraid of fire more than anything else. I couldn't even light a match or even turn on a stove because I always thought that it would explode right on my face. Even to hear a discussion about fire was something I can't stand. And for more than ten years, I had lived my life denying the fact that someday my fear of fire would be gone.
But, over this last summer vacation, it did. And I am very glad to say that I now cook food for my family. And it is something that I am really proud of.
There's just this one habit of mine that I can't get rid of until now, my tardiness. I really want to be on time but I can't do it. I just hope that one day, I'll learn my lesson and change for the better.
21. When were you last in a fight? What caused it? Who won?
It is not in my nature to be quarrelsome. I really don't want to be in a fight. Though an angry argument or disagreement can't be avoided. And for that matter, I can say that I was in such, with my brother or sister perhaps, last week or maybe yesterday. I really don't remember when because it was just a petty disagreement and no one really won.
22. If you could choose the manner of your death, what would it be?
If I could have the chance to do that, I would choose a natural death. I certainly don't want to be killed in an accident or to be murdered by somebody. It is really horrid for me. Though I am not afraid to die. Really!
To talk about death is a reluctant thing. But we have to accept that all of us are going to die. We just have to live our life to the fullest to serve our purpose.
23. What is the worst psychological torture you can imagine suffering?
The worst psychological torture that I can see myself suffering is to see my loved ones being killed or hurt in front of me and I can't do anything to help them.
Just thinking of it really scares me. I don't want to be in such situation. I would rather sacrifice myself just to save them.
24. Would you like your spouse or sweetheart to be both smarter and attractive than you?
If I would have a special someone who is both smarter and attractive than me, well I would be proud of him. But it doesn't mean that I look for someone who is smarter or more attractive than me. It is okay if he is not. What is important is he is true to me and really loves me as I am.
But if I would have a boyfriend who happens to be smarter than me, I don't want him to brag about his intellectual superiority. I won't tolerate that!
25. If you found out that your good friend has AIDS, would you avoid him or her? What if your brother or sister has it, would you avoid him or her?
I certainly won't. But I won't say that I won't be surprised if that will happen. Of course I'll be shocked if a good friend or a sibling of mine has AIDS. But instead of avoiding them, I will help them in any way I can. I know that people with AIDS need love and understanding. And even if everybody hates them because of what they have, I will still accept them and never leave their side.
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