no! I always forget this place exists.
I mean, not completely, because I get the emails, I just will not have time to look at them and then they pile up so that now I have about 90 gaia emails in my inbox and every once in a while I go through them! :P

Most of the time I answer these because they are either

(1) Things I've never really thought about before, and the question posed makes me go "hmmmm"

(2) Thing I've thought about a lot and I have a strong opinion that I want to share and get out in writing, which helps me process it.

(3) Just something I find interesting and want to reflect on more.

anyway, It also just keeps me writing, and in a somewhat public sphere (because I know people SOMETIMES will read these). It also reminds me to think about spiritual things. I forget sometimes.

This is a tough question! First of all, DO I allow for expansion in my life?
I think the answer is yes, though sometimes I have to force myself to do so. I do tend to resist change, not in a "I'm scared" sort of way, but in a lazy, "why bother" sort of way. Comfort and complacency will set in anywhere, any time.

But when I meet people, I listen to them, try to get to know them. If I befriend them, there is a good chance I will be inspired by them, in one way or another. My sister (who I'm not actually related to, and who I met 3 years ago) is a constant source of inspiration, and it helps to be around her and in communication with her, that makes me want to try more things and do more things and explore more places and ideas and media. My brother (who I'm actually related to) also is a source of inspiration on the less cerebral side of things, and when I'm around him, it helps me explore new ways of feeling and experiencing life.

I'm such a social person, all of this is about other people. I really do center my life around my relationships with other people, and the larger and more diverse my circle of friends (and mentors and teachers and students and lovers and whatever), the more I feel I'm able to experience and learn! (If it weren't for a number of people, I would not have applied to Mills college, which is where I am transferring, and where I'm very excited to go! yay!)

In my experience, people only change if they want to. People only change their political ideals when things happen in the world or their life. The only activism I do is in my own life, and that's really all about becoming more aware. And not just aware, because you can be aware of something happening and not care, but also more compassionate. Internalizing and intellectualizing an issue (or whatever) and then bringing it BACK to emotion. If you leave it in the place of emotion and don't bring it into your brain, you may be well-intentioned, but take the wrong action, and end up making things worse. So it's really important to inject logic into those emotions. THEN, once you've thought about it, tried to figure out the right course of action (if there is any), put the emotion back in, become passionate about it once more.

I feel like I pull away from activism because so many people blindly follow a movement or action without thinking about other consequences, and without thinking "is this REALLY the best way? Or are we just making more trouble for ourselves?" It's hard to figure that out when you are in the midst of it, in the midst of a passionate debate or demonstration. And so I avoid it, not wanting to become part of that group. Plus, any group I've ever been in that was in the midst of that unthinking-only-feeling place has resisted greatly whenever I said "this isn't right, we shouldn't do this," and has questioned either my intelligence or my "dedication to the cause."

So I try to be the change I want to see in the world, and only try to talk to people about that on an individual basis, compassionately and respectfully. Because it really seems to me like the only way to do it.

Food! Good cheese! Wine! Pate!

Also books. Used ones, preferably, because you get more bang for your buck.

I also like spending money on presents for people, not like the presents I buy have to be expensive, just that I like getting people things or making them things, and if I see something that I think a person I love will like then I will buy it for them!!

In terms of monetary success, it would be to make enough money to help support all my family and friends. Friends especially, because they are all artists, and so they all need lots of help wherever they can get it!

But really, success is such a subjective thing, I can't really give a definition of it. Even for myself, because it will change from day to day. I don't ever think of success I guess. It's one of those concepts that just doesn't really...hold much sway for me. I mean, I acknowledge that some sort of contentment would be really nice in the long run, but it's not something that is on my mind a whole lot. My goals only go about 4 years into the future: finish school in the first 2 years, and in the next, do Teaching for America. And then maybe go to paris. I guess if I do those things, that will be success. But maybe my goals will change! :D

I'd do everything I could. All the fun things, all the bitter angry things, read all the books, eat all the food, visit all the different places, ride lots of horses, play lots of music, learn a million different instruments, kiss a thousand different people, build houses for people, hold banquets, wild parties, intellectual discussions... all sorts of things.
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!