Proust

If you've read/followed Vanity Fair - they do the Proust Questionnaire with noteworthy persons as a last page thing. Well, the questionnaire has its origins in a parlour game popularised (though not devised) by Marcel Proust (1871–1922), the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature (paragraph lifted from Vanity Fair site).

Anyhow, I thought I'd put myself to the Proust Questionnaire (at least the applicable & more interesting questions) so here goes -

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
That I've managed to recognise (happiness) and enjoyed it, although mastering a difficult yoga pose comes very close.

2. What is your greatest fear?
Embarrassment, and being unnecessarily judged for it.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
That I had to look up "deplore" in the dictionary.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Condescension.

5. Which living person do you most admire?
LKY. Cliche, I know.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Carrying forward a credit card bill.

7. What is your current state of mind?
I really really want to do this questionnaire.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Humility.

9. On what occasion do you lie?
When it makes life easier.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The shape of my head.

11. Which living person do you most despise?
It's a secret. I really can't tell you. And it's not because I don't have an answer.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Moderate possessiveness.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Hello Kitty!" (Don't ask)

16. When and where were you happiest?
Actually, when I was working in the little sushi shop in Perth. It's the little things...

17. Which talent would you most like to have?
To be a great conversationalist.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To be less guarded... to the right people.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
To have cheated and gotten away with it till now.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A goldfish.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Pain, ill-health, and loss. You pick one.

24. What is your favorite occupation?
Haven't had that many to begin with.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?
I think some people would say sarcasm.

26. What do you most value in your friends?
Candour.

31. What are your favorite names?
Rebecca. Emily. I also like 千寻 (Protagonist's name in Spirited Away)

32. What is it that you most dislike?
Regret... But being interrupted comes close.

33. What is your greatest regret?
That I'd made the wrong decision and couldn't persuade myself any further.

34. How would you like to die?
Quickly. Or during my sleep.

35. What is your motto?
Karma karma karma!