This year I received a thought provoking gift from sister number 1. Literally, a gift that requires me to think. Every day my present throws me a question. Engaging me. Challenging me. Making me stop, remember, assess and think. And, come up with answers. Already, I have made some interesting discoveries. I have confirmed a sprinking of facts I have known all along. I have learnt a few not-so-happy truths about myself.

It’s only four weeks into the new year, and I have been stumped many times by my, ‘A Question A Day 2020 – A Planner of Self-Discovery.’ It’s not the end all or be all of self-discovery. Not at all. I see it as my little diary of self-awareness. It’s a bit of fun. A little nudge. Maybe towards understanding myself a little better. I am excited about this year-long interaction with my non-officious questioner. I realise that it’s still early days. Hence, I am not entirely sure if I will entertain the questions and diligently produce answers until Dec 31, 2020. That said, it has been going well so far. As of today, I have answered 28 questions as best as I can. I think I know a little bit more about myself or at least a little bit more about my likes than I did before.

My favourite and happiest question so far was 1. “What are your favourite foods?” Easy. Desserts. Chocolate. Chocolate cakes. Chocolate biscuits. Ice-cream, all flavours. I enjoyed thinking and answering these other questions. Question 2. “What are your five favourite movies?” I only managed three. Shrek 1, Christopher Robin and Forrest Gump. My husband was sure I would have included, ‘Shawshank Redemption.’ I liked the movie a lot but it didn’t make me smile and feel happy. Gleefully, juvenile happy like the other three always do. I have lost count of the number of times I have watched Shrek 1 and Forrest Gump. I love the understated wisdom of Pooh. I write and recite, ‘What day is it?’ It’s today.’ ‘My favourite day.’ Smile.

Question 3. “If you could go back to childhood and give yourself some advice, what would you say?” Be more confident. Learn and try new things just because… Question 4. “What are your core values?” Kindness in thoughts and actions; minus expections. Honesty. I always try to be true and fair. Perseverance. For better or worse I am like a dog with a rag. Question 5. “If you could have 8 friends over for a dinner party tonight, regardless of where they live, who would they be?” This question was a little tricky and a little sad for me. Firstly, I don’t do dinner parties. Secondly, I recognised that while I could name 8 friends, I didn’t want to invite them and I am quite sure they wouldn’t want to come to my fictional dinner party. Sigh. I prefer smaller or one-to-one meetups where I can have more meaningful conversations. And, for someone else to take care of the food and drinks. Like a café or restaurant.

Coincidentally, I made a fun fact list for my husband and me a few months ago. In no particular order or importance, it covered personal thoughts and perceptions about things we have shared, new adventures and changing views. The operative word was ‘fun.’ Not intrusive, not too personal and no psychoanalysis. Over the more than two decades of being together, I realised that there are things that I still didn’t know, hadn’t cared enough to find out and didn’t think important or relevant to me about my other half. Some mystery is nice. I thought. I still do.  The list was to help us share and re-live past experiences. And, to learn how we, individually and together, are evolving in our likes, wants, direction and plans. 

My list included: funny moments shared; top three memorable places or countries visited; favourite colour/s; a difficult time in our lives; holiday destinations in the next 1-3 years; train journeys to explore; musical instrument/s to learn to play on our own and/or together; most liked songs and bands; a superhero power we would like to have; one crazy thing to do in 2020; some activities or hobbies to try out on our own and/or together; things that make us happy; favourite TV program as a child, and as an adult; favourite actors and actresses, an ideal day, weekend and holiday; when I think of you, I think of this moment; and I love you because…

I like thought provoking questions. They awaken memories, trigger ideas and gather information along the way. Nice.