A new year is always a good time to rethink. Re-evaluate. But not just in making resolutions or planning to solve problems that have haunted us the previous year. It’s also a good time to ask the same questions of ourselves that we may have answered years before, to guage our growth, to see how much we may have changed or how far we’ve come. Or even just to measure our state of mind.
With that in mind, here are James Lipton’s famous questions that he always asks famous people in his “Actor’s Studio”. The answers here are mine, but you could ask them of yourself — just for fun.
1. “What is your favorite word?” – Yes.
2. “What is your least favorite word?” – Busy.
3. “What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?” – Revelation, some fresh insight I’d never heard of or thought of before.
4. “What turns you off?” – mean people. Rudeness. Cold-heartedness. Greed. … this one is too easy.
5. “What sound or noise do you love?” – the sound of a kiss by two people who are in love
6. “What sound or noise do you hate?” – a slamming door.
7. “What is your favorite curse word?” – I try not to curse (too much), but I’m kinda fond of the word “bitch”, said affectionately to snarky friends, of course. (Sorry, mom!)
8. “What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?” – the one I dreamed of for years: University professor.
9. “What profession would you not like to do?” – oh, so many! Politician, for one. Salesman. Doctor. Attorney, accountant … all kinds of things.
10. “If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?” – Thank you. I needed that done.
… At least for this year.