Monday, April 30, 2012

Unfinished business

What remains unfinished in your life?  What are the big projects that you have promised to do but haven't yet started?  What lifelong ambitions are still unfulfilled?

Do you keep a "bucket list," a list of things you intend to do before you die?  If so, how many things are on the list?

This week's theme is unfinished business.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Tell us a story: helping a stranger

Tell us about a time when you helped out a stranger, not for any reward but purely as an act of kindness — just because you happened to be there and it was clear that they needed help.  Where were you?  What happened?  What did you do to help?  How much of your time did it take?  Did your efforts make a difference?  What might have happened if you hadn't stepped in to help?

Saturday, April 28, 2012

How to sleep better

What's the best advice you could give someone who told you they were trying to have better-quality sleep? 

Of the things that you would advise the person to try, are they all things that you do yourself?

Friday, April 27, 2012

I'm wearing it ironically

What are some things that you wear or do with self-conscious irony, because you enjoy them even though they seem to clash with your stylistic identity?  (Or is irony not your style?)

This week's theme is your personal style.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Likes and dislikes

When you list your likes and dislikes, do they tend to be fairly conventional, or do you tend to have eclectic and idiosyncratic tastes?  Are you generally open to trying anything, or are you particular and picky about stylistic details?  How easy or difficult is it for people to buy gifts for you? 

This week's theme is your personal style.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Out of style

What is one thing that you're sorry is out of fashion, because you think it might be fun to wear?

This week's theme is your personal style.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

It fits, but it doesn't fit *me*

What was one piece of clothing that didn't work out for you, because it simply didn't fit your style?

This week's theme is your personal style.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Your personal style

Think about your personal style, your own distinctive way of doing things.  What are the common threads that tie your style together?  How would you sum up your personal style in four words or less?

This week's theme is your personal style.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tell us a story: expanding your style

We could all come up with plenty of stories of people who cramp our style, people who arbitrarily limit our self-expression. But today, tell us a story of someone who did the opposite. Who helped you expand your style? Who helped you find ways to be more yourself than ever before? 

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Practicing and getting better

What new skill or new attitude did you practice this week?

Friday, April 20, 2012

A better place

Some environments tend to support your strength of character, and other environments tend to undermine your best intentions and lead you astray. What is one place in your life where it seems to be easier for you to be a better person?

This week's theme is character strengths and virtues.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Imagine you are going to a costume party dressed as your favorite villain, or perhaps as your own evil alter ego. What is your costume character's principal vice, the character trait that offers the sharpest contrast to your everyday virtuous self?

This week's theme is character strengths and virtues.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

If you want to be my friend

Which character strength do you consider most important for your friends to have? What character flaw do you find hardest to put up with?

This week's theme is character strengths and virtues.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Patience

What person or experience in your childhood helped teach you the value of patience?

This week's theme is character strengths and virtues.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Character strengths and virtues

Think of character strengths, such as loyalty, integrity, perseverance, discipline, resilience, boldness, creativity, teamwork, courage, and responsibility.

If you had to pick one, which of these is your strongest trait? And which is your weakest area, the one you would most like to improve?

This week's theme is character strengths and virtues.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Tell us a story: a great find

Tell us a story about an unexpected shopping triumph. Where were you when you stumbled across something rare and special, or got something you needed or wanted at a laughably low price?

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Personalized

What is something unique that you did or made in someone else's honor? Was it their birthday or some other special occasion?

Friday, April 13, 2012

Secret cleaning agent

What are the cleaning experiences that you've never told anyone about? Are there things that you clean in secret, when no one else is looking? Or do you have a cleaning secret, your own clever technique that makes cleaning up easier?

This week's theme is dirty and clean.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Now I feel dirty

Some things just feel dirty, even when they're not actually dirty or infectious. Is there something that makes you feel the need for hand washing (or some other form of cleaning), even though you'll admit it's not logically necessary?

This week's theme is dirty and clean.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Mt. Washmore

The ancient hero Hercules proved his strength by singlehandedly cleaning up some notoriously filthy stables. What is your claim to fame in the annals of cleaning? What monumental cleaning task did you take part in? What impossible stain did you expunge? What epic mess did you clean up?

This week's theme is dirty and clean.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Work style

Which would suit you better: working in a place where everything is perfectly clean and tidy, or working in a place where making a mess is accepted or even part of the job?

This week's theme is dirty and clean.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Dirty and clean

What the dirtiest or messiest room in your home right now? And what's the cleanest or tidiest room?

This week's theme is dirty and clean.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Tell us a story: planting a seed

Tell us a story about a time long ago when you helped plant something, such as a vegetable crop, a tree, or flowers. Who were you with? What did you plant? And were you around later to watch it grow?

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Influence

Suppose for one whole day a magic spell made everyone take your advice and suggestions seriously. Who would you make a point of talking to? And what advice would you give them?

Friday, April 6, 2012

"You can't frustrate me — I quit!!"

Some people complain. Some people give up and go away. Some people look for someone to blame. Some people become bitter or irritable or inflexible. What is your typical, characteristic response to a frustrating situation?

This week's theme is frustrations.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Obstacle course

We always prefer to avoid frustration — or do we? There are many puzzles, games, and sports challenges that are deliberately packed full of obstacles, and we enjoy them all the more. What are some "frustrating" forms of recreation that you enjoy? And what's the difference that makes some experiences aggravations and others entertainment?

This week's theme is frustrations.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

"I don't know how you can stand it"

What is one thing other people find enormously frustrating that you can tolerate with no problem? Do you sometimes do this particular thing as a favor for other people, in order to spare them frustration?

This week's theme is frustrations.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

...as molasses

Was there a period of your life that had a slow, maddening progress, a time that you were just counting the days until it was over? What was impeding you, and how did it end?

This week's theme is frustrations.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Frustrations

What are some otherwise worthwhile things that you avoid because of the likelihood of running into difficulties and frustrations?

This week's theme is frustrations.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tell us a story: ironic timing

What was something that you finally gave away or threw away, and then shortly afterward unexpectedly found a need for it and wished you had kept it?