The Proust Questionnaire

I've been tagged by Loden Jinpa to answer the following questions, The Proust Questionnaire, which began in Vanity Fair with Norman Mailer. Loden was tagged by Danny Fisher.

I'm feeling a bit goofy after a long week, so I can't be held responsible for my answers. OK?

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Morning nookie. But since I am currently single, I'll get all philosophical and say, Feeling that my life is aligned with the Eros of the Kosmos.

What is your greatest fear?
Wasting my life -- not giving something back.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Don Quixote, although he is a fictional figure. So, historically? Li Po.

Which living person do you most admire?
Pema Chodron -- so much heart, so much wisdom.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Fear -- I don't like feeling afraid of new things, new feelings, or anything else.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Certitude. People who are certain are seldom open to new information, which tends to make them dogmatic.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Books. I love books. I buy books the way Imelda Marcos bought shoes.

What is your favorite journey?
Life -- what better journey is there?

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Certitude -- see above.

On what occasion do you lie?
When it's necessary to spare another's feelings in the absence of any chance that the truth will benefit that person.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Dumb question.

Which living person do you most despise?
I try not despise anyone, but there is a long list of people who I think are not acting from compassion, and that bothers me.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Fuck. Shit. Dumbass. Cool.

What is your greatest regret?
This could be a long list. In general, I regret anything and everything I have done that needlessly hurt another person. But regret is useless. I err, I learn, I try to make amends.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Other than cashew butter? Oh, OK. Who: CNT (formerly CNS). What: growing as a person.

Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to be patient and compassionate when that isn't what I'm feeling.

What is your current state of mind?
Goofy, but trying to be serious.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
My family is gone -- nothing to change.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Haven't done it yet -- and if I can ever name this, then it's time to move on to the next life (if there is one).

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A new me, hopefully a little closer to enlightenment.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A raven. Brain, wings, no predators. How cool is that?

What is your most treasured possession?
Friends.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Self-doubt and self-loathing.

Where would you like to live?
A little cabin someplace in the mountains, near a lake, or a river, with lots of trees. It would be nice, of course, if this was within 30 minutes of a "real" city, like Seattle, Portland, or Denver.

What is your favorite occupation?
Right now, the ones I have -- writer and personal trainer.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Intensity? Knowledge? Presence? I don't really know. It could just as well be stubbornness.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Balance.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Balance.

What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty and presence. Compassion and empathy are good, too.

Who are your favorite writers?
Charles Wright, Shakespeare, Melville, Rumi, Rilke, Faulkner, Pema Chodron -- this list could go on for days.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Coyote -- except he is sort of an anti-hero, being a trickster and all.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Anyone who lives a life of integrity, compassion, and service.

What are your favorite names?
Who cares?

What is it that you most dislike?
Mosquitoes, cockroaches, wasps -- see a theme here?

How would you like to die?
Peacefully, without pain, and high on mushrooms.

What is your motto?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I tag: Peter, John Craig, Renegade Buddha, Albert, Shaman Sun, Apollo. And anyone else who wants to play.

Tags: The Proust Questionnaire, memes, personality quizzes