1) How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

J: I'd be 3 schools, 3 universities, 3 cities, 2 close friends, bunch of good ones, 2 relationships, 1 broken heart, 4 bikes, 2 sets of teeth, 80 GB of photos, dozens of failures, tens of success stories, hundreds of expectations from life, thousands memories and million dreams old.

R: Not knowing how old I am does not change how old am I, when it comes to age. I'd be the same age, just wouldn't know it ;)) And when it doesn't come to age, I'd be as old as I feel, so I'll know it all the time. BUT it wont be a constant, it will depend on what I am experiencing at the moment and what thoughts are influencing my mood. Sometimes i'd feel more old, sometimes - less, sometimes I'd feel so strange and alienated that perception of time will be all mixed up or off the table altogether.

2) Which is worse, failing or never trying?

J: Never trying. "If you never try you'll never know", if you never try you will regret...

R: I'd automatically say that 'never trying' is worse, because of the same reasons as you, but that is not always true unfortunatelly... I think when failing means bad concequences for other people as well, than 'failing' is worse than 'never trying'... An example on the top of my head - having children...

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?

J: I think that we do so many things we don’t like because we don't have enough courage to stop doing them, because we are afraid of failing, because it's sometimes easier to deal with the way it is and not to change anything. Sometimes, we also do it because someone expects us to do it, like parents or partners and we don’t want to disappoint them or feel guilty. Also, it happens that we do things we don’t like to achieve something in a longer period of time, as Tori Amos said “sometimes you have to do what you don't like to get to where you want to be”…. We like so many things we don’t do because things we don’t usually do seems always more interesting, more fun. Or, very often, we just don’t have time or money to do things we like; and things we like are usually money and time consuming. On the other hand if we would do only things we like, we wouldn’t like them so much, as they would become everyday routine; possibly we wouldn’t even like them anymore… So, life is short, but long enough to do both - things we like and things we don’t like – the secret is to find a balance between them...

R: A tough one… So I’m gonna use a few quotes to support me here ;) First is by Steinbeck and goes like this: “What a frightening thing is the human, a mass of gauges and dials and registers, and we can read only a few and those perhaps not accurately." People are weak, weird, totally imperfect (maybe that’s the charm of it but that’s not the point here). We don’t know what we are doing here; most of people stumble through life not even asking themselves that question, other look for answers all their lives. That’s why this is such a difficult question for me. I think about it, but I have no idea. Why do we do so many things we don’t like? Maybe because we are too weak when facing circumstances and rules and norms and standards and expectations and hopes of others and of ourselves…. so basically - created by more or less the same weak people, so it’s a vicious cycle. Why do we like so many things we don’t do? This one is also more of a mystery, but a nicer one. I think it is good we are capable of liking many stuff even if we can not do them all, or wont do them all because of various of reasons. I wish I was able to do more stuff that I like, but somehow I feel like I wouldn’t have liked it if I can do everything I like :). And to wrap up this mess of an explanation in an acceptable and neater way, I’ll throw a very favorite one at the end: “All you can do is play along at life and hope that sometimes you’ll get it right”…

4) When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

J: Yeah, I’m definitely mumbling too much ;) At the beginning I wanted to write that unfortunately I’d have said more than I’ve done. Because I want to do so many things in my life and yet I’m mostly only talking about them, not actually acting to do stuff. Some of them are just impossible to happen right now because of circumstances, but some of them I could do – it’s just a matter of my own will – and still I’m not doing them. But as I was thinking about it I decided that this is not necessary that bad. Because I think that when you’ve done more than you’ve said is like you accomplished something, finished it, there’s nothing left to do. And to enjoy life you cannot just do everything, because than what? You need to set new goals, keep going, plan things you want to do, dream and make the dreams come true...

R: Most of the time more is said than done - it is inevitable. But as long as sometimes something good is done and comes out of it eventually – everything should be fine. Acting upon is not always easy. Important is to have the good intentions and the intentions to act and most of all that, as they say: your heart is in the right place!

5) What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

J: The thing I hate most about the world is violence; however lame it sounds. I totally don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt/kill other people, for any reason. I’m not telling that everybody should love each other – because it’s impossible as people are different (plus it would be crazy boring :P); I just wish people could be nice to each other; always finding some kind of compromise to deal with each other; don’t disturb if it’s not necessary; just live in peace next to each other. If it worked, the world would be totally different place with no wars, no rapes, no endless enmity… and I have no idea how other things would work; probably “something else would suck”… But I truly wish people would be nice to each other – not because it’s their obligation (because of work, position etc) but because it’s what they really feel.

_R:_What I wish the most is that life was less painful. I just wish for more harmony in the world of people, I think than there will be less pain in general. I wish people weren’t so different from one another, not in a way that everybody acts and thinks the same. I still want everybody to be unique and special. But I want us to be closer to one another, I want it not to be so hard for people to connect and relate, and people themselves to want to connect and relate and care. I want people to realize its better to be dependant from one another. I don’t believe you should be responsible to make yourself happy, I think we should care for each others happieness, not our own.

6) If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

J: Traveler, Professional Bubble Maker, Hug Supplier... preferably all at once :)

R: I'm still not sure I understand the question right :D I keep reading it and reading it... One thing I know - I'll work my ass off to get rich if I was payed with happiness :) And I have a business offer for you - we can open a hug store - hug supplier and hug receiver so we can switch whenever :)

7) Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

J: Unfortunately I’m settling for what I am doing most of the time. The problem is that I don’t really know what I believe in, who I really am and who I’d like to be, so it’s hard to follow my believes. I’m just trying not to do things that are in my opinion stupid, meaningless or are totally against of how I feel. Whatever I do in my life, I’m trying to give some meaning to it, explain to myself that it’s the right thing to do, persuade myself that it's what I believe in. Maybe it’s just a trick to shut up the conscience, but otherwise most of the things I do, would seem senseless… It’s sad but isn’t life mostly about setting for what you doing? Trying to believe that what we do is what is right to do?

R: Again – depends on how you interpret the question. According to the association that brings to my mind I definitely think I do what I believe in, in general. On one hand I consider being ethical and having strong personal principles as very important and judge myself very harsh if I fail somehow to follow them. So I can’t see myself doing stuff I don’t believe in and settling for them. Ridiculous for me is that I’ve been often judged from people in my life, when I do something that’s not convenient for me but I believe in it, they either judge me seeing this as self-destructive or in other cases are suspicious of me and look for hidden agendas and ulterior motives and don’t even believe for a moment I do it because I strongly believe in it. What my problem considering the question is, is that since I’m not always capable of doing a loooot of the stuff I want to do from those I believe in (meaning - I cant express what I believe in actions and everyday life), I get stuck… and do nothing… and I feel like my life is passing me by… and I regret that even more and it becomes a cycle and that makes me sad…

8) If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

J: Up till now it wouldn't be much different I think. I’d still go to school and then university because I believe that it is the best time of one’s life. Than I’d like to travel, discover places, meet people… and find that someone special and die happy.

_R:_Well I don’t know if I would manage to live it differently… I would want to go to school and university and travel as much possible as well. Probably I’d be even more worried about finding a soul mate while I’m still young and have time to spend my life with :) I’ll have the need to be ready to make a family of my own sooner (compared to now), because I want to raise children and see them grow up and help them as much possible. That means I’d have to do a lot and have to have accomplished a lot by 20 for example… Like being happy... Other than that… I can think of a lot of things I want to do more of now as well, but knowing I have for sure less time, would make the desire of it more stronger – like reading a lot of good books and watching a lot of good movies ;), meeting more people, learning more stuff and so on

• 9) To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

J: Pretty much I think. I was lucky to be born in a free country already, so all the politics haven’t influence my life much. Also, my parents have never pushed me to doing anything – they suggested schools I was attending, but have never order me to go there. The last choice was always mine. The same with university and field of study. As every person - the older I get , the more I control my life and right now I’m almost totally in charge of it. Although there are some factors that influence my life choices, but I can control them (or at least I think I can). Feeling free feels good :)

R:

10) Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

J: Doing the right things. But than when I do the right things I try to do them right.

R:

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?

J: First I stay quiet and listen, trying to figure out why they think so.. and if I think they have no reason to talk about my friends like that, I explain that I know the person really well and like her/him a lot so I don't understand and like what they say about her/him. Everybody has the right to think whatever they want to... But for sure I wouldn't admire those people any more.

_R:_I would definitely get into the conversation with my own opinion. Since theirs is unjustified, as said, I’ll try to show them that. But if they don’t change their mind about the situation nor admit that they pre-judged my friend and they need more information to form such opinion, a lot of the respect and admiration toward them mentioned above will simply go away. In general I imagine me asking a lot of questions to figure out where all of this is coming from.

12) If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

J: 'Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow'

R:

13) Would you break the law to save a loved one?

J: If it doesn't include killing or hurting innocent people than yes.

R:

14) Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

J: well, yes, for example at the concerts while jamming. Although it wasn't that crazy I think.

R:

15) What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

J: You tell me! From small things I put cereal first and than the milk - never the other way around ;)

_R:_From small things as you said – I like pealing my oranges like people peal apples; there are some more, but that’s what came to mind when I read about your cereal, but yeah we are so used to that stuff that they are more easy to listed from others they’ve notice those stuff about us :) From big things – sometimes unfortunately, sometimes fortunately – I feel like I do a lot of stuff different (like I know everybody does it different, but mine I feel is too different). I love quite differently… I feel like I perceive the word and life quite differently in general...

16) How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

J: That's easy - people are different so different things make them happy.

R:

17) What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

J: Pack my backpack and travel the world!!! I'm not doing it as I'm afraid that once I come back I will have no money, no job and no place to live and I will need to ask my parents or friends for help (which I know I'd get, but I'd feel bad with it). Plus I wish so much to do it with someone special, and I still haven't found him...

R:

18) Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

J: Yes. But at least I realize it and I'm trying to let go... I want to let go. "The hardest part about letting go, is finally realizing that there wasn’t much left to hold on to".

R:

19) If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

J: The Netherlands/Bulgaria, because Romi is there! Canada or Alaska, because it's beautiful there. Or Prague - I love the city and the Czech language and food ;) So many places I don't know yet...

R:

20) Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

J: Yes, I do :D And no, I don't believe it makes the elevator faster, still - can't stop doing it.

_R:_I take the stairs: P … But yeah… I do and I realize it's silly and after this question I’m gonna feel twice as silly every time I do it again from now on :)

21) Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

J: Hmm, joyful simpleton. Than I wouldn't even know what I am missing.

R:

22) Why are you, you?

J: Because of when and where I was born, because the way my parents raise me, because of schools I attended, because of people I met, because of books I read, music I listen, movies I watch, because of places I have visited, because of you and because of me.

R:

23) Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

J: I'm trying as hard as I can, as I take friendship as one of the most important elements of my life.

R:

24) Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

J: Losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you... Distance have nothing to do with how strong the friendship is; I guess we both know something about it :)

R:

25) What are you most grateful for?

J: For being healthy and being free.

R:

26) Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

J: Hard choice...but if I really need to, I'd rather lose the old ones in order to be able to make new ones. Living with old memories only and re-thinking them all the time would be very exhausting.

R:

27) Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

J: I don't understand the question ;P

R:

28) Has your greatest fear ever come true?

J: No. And hopefully it never will.

R:

29) Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

J: I was upset for more or less the same things that I am now, so it kind of matter. That's what makes me so sad- I have the same problems all the time, no big changes...

R:

30) What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?

J: Watching stories at slide projector with my brother, our sister reading for us // listening to grandma's stories // the smell of my mum when she was huging me // dad carrying me to bed when I fell asleep at the TV - they are special, because they all are conected with the people I love :)

R:

31) At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

J: when he kissed me // all the time when I travel

R:

32) If not now, then when?

J: than never.. or just later ;)

R:

33) If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

J: All the things that I have archived already.

R:

34) Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

J: yes, mmm....

R:

35) Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

J: Because different religions have different perception of love and of what is right.

R:

36) Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

J: It is not, we can only assume what is right. And the right thing might be different for different people.

R:

37) If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

J: Yes.

R:

38) Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

J: Depends - if I have nothing more interesting to do, than more work that I actually enjoy doing.

R:

39) Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

J: Sometimes, especially if it's just another day when I get up, go to work, come back home, stare at comp and go to bed again. I'm trying to fight it as much as I can. Routine kills!

R:

40) When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

J: Long time ago, too long...

R:

41) If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

J: ...

R:

42) Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

J: I'm not interested in being famous at all. Being extremely attractive - I'd do so :)

R:

43) What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

J: Everybody who breaths is alive. The ones who are truly living are only those who follow their hearts in every single thing they do.

R:

44) When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

J: When you feel there's nothing else you can do, when you feel it's the right thing to do.

R:

45) If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

J: Because sometimes we have a lot to loose or we are not sure if it's the right thing to do and we are afraid that we will regret later.

R:

46) What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

J: Nothing. I mean, I don't do some things not because I am afraid how people will judge me but because I am afraid I will feel bad about it. It's not always good for me though...

R:

47) When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

J: Right now, after I read it ;)

R:

48) What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

J:

R:

49) In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?

J:

R:

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?

J:

R: