Having Fun with "The List"

Sometimes I get into moods that are just silly… I like to have FUN and if I’m having fun – watch out!!!! If I’m tired I get a little giddy and then it’s really hilarious and things can get a little wacky. But that’s what makes things interesting in my life.

You should all know by now that my focus and goal in life, especially since losing my memory and going through something that was pretty much potentially tragic, is to focus on positive things that keep my life exciting and fun. When you deal with a mental disorder, like Bipolar, you have to be in constant check of where your happiness is at ALL times and so I focus on happiness. I think it’s a good rule of thumb for everyone, even if you don’t have a mental disorder! It’s much easier to focus on being happy than focus on being sad, angry, upset, confused or depressed. Wouldn’t you all agree? I have to be realistic and say that depression does jab its way into me, but if I’m focusing on happiness, it doesn’t have as deep a hold on me as it used to before I put happiness practices into play.

What do you do to keep yourself happy? And what do you focus on to make sure you’re keeping yourself as happy as you can be and having as much fun as possible?

Last night I was on Pinterest.com, browsing the pins (one of my favorite pastimes) and I ran across a pin that just brought a big ol’ smile to my face!!!! My husband was sitting on the couch, all serious, as he usually is, and this was where the fun began…

  

The pin took me to a blog called, “Hopes and Dreams” and there was a post about “The List”. This is a list that the author (blogger), JW and his wife Jess were going to post of random things they had conjured up. Jess said, “The idea is to record different parts of my personality for my posterity, and I guess you get to know me better by default.” She also suggested that this list could be something that might be used as a guide for a fun date night. I also thought this could be a fun guide as a conversation between friends, especially newly acquainted friends.

Back to my husband sitting on the couch… I started asking him questions. I thought I knew how he was going to answer – and I even smugly told him so and he quickly told me I was very wrong on some of them. It was kind of late and it was shortly before we were going to turn in for bed. But you can be assured; we will be continuing the conversation. I see this being several conversations! I went to bed with a BIG smile on my face because we were laughing about how we were answering some of the questions and how different we thought each other’s answers were going to be and how after so many years of marriage, we still didn’t completely know everything about each other!!!

I think this would be a great game to play with your kids as well! It would be a great way for your kids to get to know you on a deeper level.

So thank you JW and Jess! Just another way to help us all find happiness and joy in our lives!

Now onto “the list”:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Hope you have hours of fun answering these questions!

Many hugs,

Cathleen


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