my answers to the proust questionnaire, age 23
Okay. I've seen the questionnaire floating around before. I saw it first from inch's blog, attempted to do it, but backed out upon realizing I don't know my own answer for most of the questions. But then I saw it again from cherry's room tonight1, and figured, you know what? Maybe I can record things I don't know the answer to yet and look back in the future, when I probably (hopefully) know better.
Your favorite virtue
First question and I'm already not doing so well. I have no premeditated answer and I had to scroll through some choices to pick one. I think what's resonating with me the most right now is responsibility.
Your favorite qualities in a man
Can I say none? I don't know, probably leadership or dependability.
Your favorite qualities in a woman
Girlhood, is that an acceptable answer? When a person is a girl's girl. Instant sisterhood. Solidarity (against men)!
Your chief characteristic
I know patience is not my best virtue, but I believe I have a high tolerance for anything that calls for responsibility born from duty. Whatever's activating my big sister button.
What you appreciate the most in your friends
The meaningful silence! Or at least, that peacefulness hanging with them without having the awkward urge to fill the room with words.
Your main fault
I have a hard time trying. Either I practice in secret or give up if I'm not immediately good at something.
Your favorite occupation
Being in the zone while reading.
Your idea of happiness
Being stable in many, if not all, kinds of ways while being surrounded or in close relationships with my friends and family.
Your idea of misery
Being a burnt-out, clueless former academic achiever (aka my current reality).
Your favorite color
I always say my all-time favorite color is persian plum (#701C1C). But I also like sage (#9CAF88) and all the neutral colors.
Your favorite flower
Did you know I never really thought of any flower in general until Addie asked what I wanted for our graduation? I think poenies.
Your favourite animals
I used to not have any but after watching Hoppers (2026) - beavers!
If not yourself, who would you be?
I'd probably be someone who's very confident with her creativity.
Where would you like to live?
Anywhere but here!
Your favorite prose authors
Ann Patchett, Madeline Miller, Ocean Vuong, Sylvia Plath.
Your favourite poets
Mary Oliver, Anais Nin.
Your favorite painters
I tried to study painters but for some reason wasn't able to continue. But on my very short list, there was mostly Monet. I was also interested in Gogh back in high school.
Your favorite composers
My favorite would be Bach solely for Cello Suite No. 1. But I also have a lot of Mozart in my playlist. I also like Debussy.
Your favorite heroes in real life
Hank Green.
Your favorite heroines in real life
My girls Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, and Joss Fong.
Your favorite heroes in fiction
Finnick Odair..?
Your favorite heroines in fiction
Jude Duarte.
Your favorite food and drink
I'm always a sucker for anything rice bowl that my old book blog was called Rice Bowl Reads. A good rice bowl is overnight rice and whatever Frankensteined leftovers from the fridge. But that's homemade. If not that, probably sushi. And chocolatey coffee (I can't drink caffeine).
Favorite names
Charlie. Reid. Henrik. Andie. Archer. (Do we all agree this question is to be answered with our OCs?) I also have some names listed for my future children (aka furbabies): Beowulf, Finch, Perceval, Goethe, Bean, Frankie.
Your pet aversion
I had to Google what this meant. Pet peeve! People who ask me to repeat what I just said more than three times (because they weren't actively listening).
What characters in history do you most dislike?
They're mostly all here.
The natural talent I’d like to be gifted with
Being able to sing on-key, honestly. I feel like a failure to my fellow countrymen.
How I wish to die
You'll have to ask my psychiatrist.
What is your present state of mind?
Weirdly clutching onto the burnt toast theory. Rejection is redirection. Maybe that book fair that we were supposed to go to but got cancelled would've resulted in us being hit by a car. Be thankful we weren't hit by a car.
For what fault have you most toleration?
Could I say laziness? But that's a symptom. One can argue laziness does not exist at all.
Your favorite motto
I have a meaningful answer to this, I promise. Let me just look at my notes.
This was initially written on March 24, 2026 at 2:38 am↩