The Proust Questionnaire
Know thyself and whatnot.
Are you familiar with the Proust Questionnaire? The magazine didn’t invent it, but a celebrity profile using the famous questions is often the final page of each edition of Vanity Fair and as a longtime subscriber, I usually flip directly to the back to see who is profiled this month. I loved Stanley Tucci’s edition, although arguably I just love all content related to the Tooch. Allison Janney also had a nice one. Ultimately, I enjoy seeing that we’re all just people, aren’t we? Although some folks are more profound than others.
I thought it would be fun to complete an abbreviated version, but I’m going to pull in the full list of questions to share with the gang. Ask your friends! Grab a bottle of wine and make a whole evening out of discussing with your partner. I think this could be such a fun activity to spark some conversation!
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What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Waking up in a cottage overlooking a body of water, with a walkable neighborhood nearby. I wake up early. My family sleeps in late. My sister and her family would be perched up in an adjacent cottage, so we could be together often but not all the time. It would be lovely warm and the kids play without asking us for snacks every 15 minutes. We would find ourselves sitting outside at a patio table with a glass of wine early and often.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I’m very conflict-averse, which in theory doesn’t sound so bad, but actually I avoid a lot of valuable things or conversations because I don’t want to deal with a confrontation.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Keyboard cowboys. People who write nastygrams that they would never say face-to-face are the wooooorst. My secret antidote to this behavior is to immediately call them. Usually settles those little jerks down because people are a whole lot less brave when they have to actually say that shit aloud.
What is your greatest extravagance?
When I go out to eat, I’m going to get myself whatever I want. Three appetizers? Yes. Four cocktails? Yup. The most expensive entree? If that’s what I want, yes. I just go in knowing that I’m going to spend more money than I want to anyway, so I might as well really enjoy the experience. I will get anything that catches my eye and just really go for it.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
“Just being honest” because it usually actually means delivering something rude without any tact.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I seem to be getting older and boy is that hard to see in the mirror every morning.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“You guys” and “you know” are heavy-hitters in my vocab. I am also guilty of saying the “f” word, like, a lot.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I have always wished I could play the piano, but life is long and I could still do that I guess. A natural talent I surely wish I had is the gift of gab. Not in a gimmicky way, but you know how some people are so easy to talk to and make you feel immediately comfortable? I’d love to be that kind of person.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
If I were more virtuous, I think I’d say motherhood or giving birth, and look, that was work, but is it an achievement? I don’t know. I just took the drugs and did what the doctor told me. So, if I’m honest, I’d say graduating from college. That was a four year long act of discipline that I have never duplicated. I don’t know if I’d have the stamina now if I had to do it again.
Where would you most like to live?
Oh boy, this changes every time I visit somewhere new. I have a habit of thinking “this place sure looks nice” every time I travel and totally ignoring that the trash still needs to be taken out and the laundry needs to be done whether you’re in Savannah or Austin (two places I’ve visited and promptly started fantasy shopping on Zillow) or at home in northern Michigan. In a broad sense, my dream is to live on the water with quick access to a walkable neighborhood. Alternately, I’d settle to live in a beach town where I could walk to the water, as long as I could also walk to the coffee shop. In summary, I like to walk.
What is your most treasured possession?
Absolutely my family, although I guess I don’t possess them. They’re my most treasured asset. Do I possess my dogs? Because boy do I love them too.
What is your greatest regret?
Never living alone. Although I might have liked it and known what I’m missing out on now. Ha! Things have a habit of working out how they’re meant to, don’t they?
Here’s the full list of questions if you want to ponder your many selves too!
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2. What is your greatest fear?
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
5. Which living person do you most admire?
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
8. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
9. Which living person do you most despise?
10. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
11. When and where were you happiest?
12. Which talent would you most like to have?
13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
16. Where would you most like to live?
17. What is your most treasured possession?
18. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
19. Who are your heroes in real life?
20. What is your greatest regret?
Addendums -
A gentle journaling practice for February.
Random things in my Amazon cart: a speaker/lamp combo in an extremely beautiful body // electrolytes in a more economical format than packets // encouragement to print out photos // stainless steel snack containers.