Twenty Questions: Part Two

Last week I posted the first part of a twenty-question challenge, and this post today is the second half, where I answer questions 11-20. You can see the first part here, and if anybody would like to give this post a go, too, please do! Just make sure you leave the link to your post so I can have a read!

11. What's the hardest part of growing up?

I think the realisation that life does not usually go the way we plan, and that it's not as easy as we think it will be. I always assumed my life would all make sense by eighteen, but at twenty-seven (almost twenty-eight) I still don't have my life in order, or any idea what to do with my life. And I certainly never expected to go through a life-changing (at least temporarily, anyway) set back in my mid-twenties, or to have battled depression since my teens. Nobody ever prepares you for that kind of life.

12. Describe 5 weaknesses and strengths you have.

What is this, a job interview??

Weaknesses

-I'm very shy, so I'm just so awkward all the time.
-I'm easily stressed under pressure.
-And I can be a moody bitch.
-I can be impatient at times.
-I'm never quite on time for anything... I always end up running five minutes late, or if I get somewhere on time it's by the skin of my teeth. It's not intentional, but it happens.

Oh, I hate talking about my 'strengths'; it's so immodest! I'll answer the question, but please know I'm not trying to brag...

Strengths

-Getting lost, even with a map to hand. I excel at that!
-I always try to make the best out of a bad situation.
-I know my way around a computer.
-I'm not bad at visual merchandising.
-I'm great at getting nail polish on everything but my nails...

13. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

-Definitely getting through the last nineteen months of constant unbearable pain, and somehow coping with my life being shattered beyond recognition because of it.

-This blog. I have it to thank for the above.

-Living for over a decade with depression, No easy feat, let me tell you.

I can't think of another two things I've truly accomplished...

14. What is the thing you most wish you were good at?

Writing, drawing/painting, making things, and being creative. I've always enjoyed doing these things, but I've never possessed any real talent for writing, or art.

15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

I've absolutely no idea. I never plan anything that far ahead. Hopefully I'll be fully recovered from my disc injuries, out of pain, living life to the full, and happy!

16. What's your favourite holiday and why?

In August 2011 I went to New York for a week with my older sister. It was my first time out of Europe, my first time on a long-haul flight, my first time to America, and a place I'd dreamt of going to my whole life but never imagined I'd experience.

I can't describe how exciting, overwhelming, and surreal it felt the first time I saw the sky line as a taxi drove us from JFK to Manhattan. We stayed in the most gorgeous hotel with really lovely staff (The Muse, in Times Square, FYI, and I highly recommend it), the weather was gloriously hot and humid the entire time (so welcomed when you live in England, trust me!), we got to see so many iconic sights and landmarks we'd spent a life time falling in love with from a far, made so many great memories, ate good food, and I loved every minute of it. It was one of the last fun things I did before I injured my back, so I'm still clinging on to those good memories, and I can't wait to go back to do it all over again.

17. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?

I've never really given this topic any thought in the past, so I really don't have any idea. A dinner with my idols would be a disaster and more than likely render me speechless and a trembling nervous wreck, so it probably wouldn't be a sensible idea to go ahead with...

18. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

I think society's attitude regarding weight, size, and appearance. How we're taught from a young age that we have to be skinny to be desirable, attractive, worthy of living, and likable et cetra, as you can't possibly be any of those things if you're fat. *GASP!* And also how society as a majority believes fat people are all lazy slobs who sit around eating too much junk food while avoiding all forms of exercise. It's not true, (just as it's not true that all skinny people eat healthily, and exercise regularly), and even if it were, people shouldn't be concerning themselves with other people's bodies, which are none of their business.

19. What is your favourite part of your body and why?

My freckled skin, because I'm proud of my freckles. And also my hair because it's so thick and glossy.

20. List 10 things you'd like to be remembered for.

Ten things? I doubt people will even remember one!

I guess I'd just like people to remember me for who I am. Louise, the awkward, dress-loving, freckled girl, who wears a lot of polka dots, and crazy colourful eye make up. The girl who loves music and going to concerts; the girl who loves Linkin Park, and Fall Out Boy, and has been fan-girling obsessively over Boyzone and Ronan Keating since 1994. And mostly, I hope people will remember me for being a fighter, a decent person, and a loyal friend.