50 Questions that will free your mind

Today, one of my goals is to answer the “50 questions that will free your mind”. 

My answers are below.  I wouldn’t say this changed me, but it does give a bit of perspective.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?  40 yuck
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying? Never Trying
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Fear of failure, lack of resources.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? Hell no
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Religion.  Don’t know how or what needs changing but the radicals are causing an awful lot of headaches.
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Being in nature doing something... anything
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? Settling for sure
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? I’d have bought a whitewater raft and been a Dirt Bag Paddler.
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? Who knows.  I sees my opportunities and I takes em’.
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?  Doing the right things.
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do? Take a deep breath, and then justify that person. 
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?  Climb a Mountain. 
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes sir!
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? I’m a good judge of character.  Nope.
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people? Stupid people don’t know that they are stupid.  I think I’m pretty smart.  I see the big picture a lot.
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?  That’s the essence of being human.
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back? Thru-Hike the Appalachian trail.  Job, Family obligations.
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? My baseball cards and my electric guitar.  See task number 59 & 60.
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?  Colorado.  The hiking there from what I hear is incredible.
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Yes and No, just don’t believe technology always works the first time.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? I wish I was a joyful simpleton
22. Why are you, you?  It’s complicated.
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? At times. 
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?  When a good friend moves away.  I’m kinda sick of that.
25. What are you most grateful for? My son.
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?  Never be able to make new ones.
27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Sometimes.  I guarantee the apple on my desk is an apple.
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true? Nope... I’m still here.
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?  Yes, it shaped me a bit for the better.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special? Going on a Canoe trip around “The Bow”.  I was 10.  My dad was sick and brought me anyway.  He could have cancelled and had a great excuse but didn’t.  I remember paddling across a very rough lake and making it feeling like something was accomplished.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? Guided Whitewater again for the first time in nearly a decade.  It was great. 
32. If not now, then when?  Never
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Everything?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because you’re wrong and I’m right.
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Sometimes yes.
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? No, I would continue to do it and then find another job that affords me a bit more free time.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More work I actually enjoy doing.
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?  Yeap, that’s why I’ll probably forget it.
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? Probably when I started backpacking.  I did some research and went alone.  I knew I wanted to do it but wasn’t sure why.  It was great.
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? I have two approaches here.  Meet someone today that will die tomorrow that wouldn’t have died had I never met them today.  (Kim Jong-un)  Or I could visit someone I truly love...My son.  I would pick him up from school and go on a hike with him.
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? No thanks
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living? Experiences
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? Life or Death situations to those I love
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Sometimes mistakes hurt physically or emotionally. 
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?  I’d stop shaving altogether!!
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?  A few nights ago when I was snoring...oops.  I woke myself up.
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I love hiking.  Yes, I’ve made it evident to those around me that I love it.
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that? Yesterday I started the 101 in 1,001.  I think I’ll remember.  The day before that I don’t even remember now but the day before that was pretty good.  I’ll try to make more memories.
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? Myself.  I will allow input but the decision is mine.

Now that you know my answers, what do you think?  I'm thinking that I have a lot of work to do to be epic.