The last photo I took was of my nephew, who isn't quite one month old.

Turn off the DVD I just watched.  It's returned to the menu, and the music is playing and resetting itself, playing and resetting itself, playing and resetting itself.  I've just been too lazy to get up and turn it off.  It's not unpleasant music...

Then I'm going to exercise a bit, as I'm sorely out of practice for some reason.

A good education is one that works at meeting its goals, whatever those goals might be.

The short answer:  everyone who means something to me.

Isn't that the point of living?  To let everyone you love know that you love them so that if and when there comes a time (and there will come a time) when one of us leaves this earth, the other person isn't questioning or doubting that they were loved, or that they themselves loved.

A little long and rambling, but I think if we all strove for that in every interaction, we might not be so afraid of leaving this earth.

Every day that I wake up is a very good day.  But in general, I like major holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I live alone, so there's always a few hours of quiet anticipation as I sit around and wait to start getting ready to head over to see my family.

My mother died when I was 22, and I've often thought that if I were a religious woman, I might find comfort in the belief that my mom was in a better place.  But because I'm not a religious woman (though I seem to grow more and more spiritual as my temples begin to gray), I have often questions where she is now, and felt somewhat unsure when people initially told me that "she's in heaven now."

I think that religion brings people a comfort that may help them to make sense of life, not only the good things but the unpleasant and painful things.  I used to think that religious people couldn't think for themselves, but now, I think I somehow admire people who have taken a leap of faith.  I mean, who has proof?  Who knows for sure?  I certainly don't.  Neither does my born-again aunt, but the difference between us is that she doesn't need to see it to believe it.  She knows it in her heart.

Me, it's not that I completely disbelieve it; I believe in my heart that there's more to life than what we immediately see.  I believe that there is a connection between me and everyone else on this planet, even if I can't easily or readily describe it.

For me, this question is both simple and not simple to answer.  Simple because I knew the answer immediately.  Not simple because it's something of an emotional topic to me.

The area where I have to demonstrate the most willpower has to do with food, and my relationship with food.  At this point in my life, I am at my healthiest.  Of course, I could be healthier, and in part I'm learning to be healthier, and in part I'm learning to be at peace with where I am at the moment.  Despite my good health (or, ironically, perhaps because of my obsession with it), I derive a good amount of pleasure and comfort out of eating.

Like almost everyone else, I'm sure.

Also like almost everyone else, I grew up in a family that equated food with love.  When I think about my family, we could all stand to lose a few pounds, and we all seem to derive a good amount of pleasure and comfort out of eating.  I am certainly a product of my environment.  And while, on one hand, it is my goal to live a life directed toward optimum health of body and mind, it is also my goal to learn to live without heading toward the fridge when I feel like something is missing.

I'm sure I could go on, but I'm a little tired, and there are plenty more posts you could be reading.  I'm grateful for this small space of time to explore a concept that's very close to my heart.  (Pun-like reference that my stomach is close to my heart is completely unintentional.)

I'll go with the fantasy answer.

Assuming money were no issue, I'd say the best job in the world is the volunteer job.  As a volunteer myself, as well as a nonprofit professional who relies heavily on the kindness of volunteers, there is nothing quite like making a difference in the lives of others when one doesn't have to.  Volunteering comes from the heart, it comes from a place of love.

Nowadays, where I live, high school students are required to complete volunteerism as a part of their studies. Growing up, I didn't have to do that.  Well, I did, but it was a requirement from my mom rather than my school.  And I'm a better human being and a better professional because of it.

Quite probably the transition from being a blind to a sighted person, and I don't mean that literally.  I have spent so much of my life with my own internal agenda guiding me.  It's refreshing to finally realize that it doesn't have to be that way.  But at the same time, old patterns can be very difficult to break.

The fear of spiders!

And the fear of loss is a close and not insignificant second.