I have been inspired by Vanity Fair (who regularly features this on the last page of their magazine) and the lovely Coco & Lowe ladies (who are featuring it as a series on their blog) to begin the new year by answering the Proust Questionnaire. I have heard of this before but never done it, and I thought it would be fun to be all reflective and pensive this Saturday morning. A good way to start off the new year! Marcel Proust was a french novelist and essayist, his most famous work "In Search of Lost Time," is considered one of the greatest works of fiction. Proust once answered a series of questions and based upon his enthusiastic responses they have become popular as a form of interview and recognized or known as the "Proust Questionnaire." So, with my glitter tea in hand (yes, glitter tea!) off I go! Thirty-five questions, thirty-five answers!
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The Proust Questionnaire
I have a few answers for this. A Big Mac –McDonald’s dates are truly wonderful. Something as simple as a cup of tea and a romance novel. I think perfect happiness exists in wanting what you’ve got and having the freedom to make your own choices, decisions, and shaping your life into one you want to live.
2. What is your greatest fear?
That one day the world will be taken over by garbage. Seriously people, please recycle.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Indecisiveness
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Insensitivity
5. Which living person do you most admire?
My Mom and my Great Grandma Grace. This was her 100th Christmas, she has a firm grasp on reality and an iPad.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying things that I don’t need. My latest obsession is Sabre Cutlery. Yes, teaspoons.
7. What is your current state of mind?
A combination of worried, curious and inquisitive.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Moderation.
9. On what occasion do you lie?
When I feel the truth needs to be stretched ever so slightly.
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My butt/hips. I think they’re disproportionately huge compared to the rest of me and I think my arms are too long.
11. Which living person do you most despise?
I’m not sure I could despise anyone. I think it’s more of a not understanding or not agreeing with why certain people do the things they do. Actions can lead to anger but anger also fades.
12. What are qualities you most like in a man?
ambitious, open-minded, good listener, trustworthy, chivalrous
13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Non-judgemental. Rare I think, a lot of women are calculating.
14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Love, Like, Fun, Yummy, Sweet
"Oh dear" "I’m being a grandma" "it’s basically a disaster" "so cute"
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Probably my work and my family, my siblings in particular are high on that list.
16. When and where were you happiest?
Most recently, the day Pert opened!
17. Which talent would you most like to have?
Probably dance. I miss classical ballet training.
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To be more realistic, I am very naive.
19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Actually opening Pert! Once it’s taken off and I know I’ve got something good going and can make a living running hopefully a few stores (big dreams!) that will be my greatest achievement. Until then, I’ve got work to do!
20. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be?
The woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Imagine the 21st century version of her? Totally cool.
21. Where would you most like to live?
I actually think it would be neat to live out of a hotel...one of those boutique hotels in New York, just for a few months or a year.
22. What is your most treasured possession?
My polar bear stuffed animal whom I call “Beer”.
23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Having nowhere to call home or a family.
24. What is your favourite occupation?
Entrepreneur, I love the creativity behind it, and teacher because there are few good ones who actually care about their students and want to make a difference.
25. What is your most marked characteristic?
I’m not sure, I have been told I am very animated. Does that count?
26. What do you most value in your friends?
I actually have few close friends but I love that they understand me, respect me, want to be around me. Even if I don’t see them often it’s as if we never were away from one another!
27. Who are your favourite writers?
Charlotte Bronte, John Irving, Meg Rosoff, Thoureau and Shakespeare
28. Who is your hero of fiction?
Jane Eyre
29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Hmm...
30. Who are your heroes in real life?
My Dad and My Brother. They are both the sweetest people and I love them to death.
31. What are your favourite names?
Jaybie, Lilibet, Wallace, Trenton
32. What is it that you most dislike?
Waiting.
33. What is your greatest regret?
Losing friendships
34. How would you like to die?
peacefully and glamorously
35. What is your motto?
Smile, Miss. (My Dad always says this to me. Honestly, I can’t fake it, whenever I think of this, all worries fade away and here I am with this stupid grin. So cheesy).
