I was tagged a couple of weeks ago to reveal 25 random things about myself. OK, today I finally got some time to share it here. So here you go…

#1. I am very happy, cheerful, and energetic 99% of the time. When you see me - day or night - Ladan is usually smiling and is excited about life. Some people are surprised to see it when they first get to know me. So you’ve been “warned”.

#2. I was very naughty and playful when I was a kid. I was the leader of kids in our apartment and school to do weird, playful adventures and get caught by parents or teachers.

#3. I learned Taekwondo - to get a stronger mindset and for self-defense if ever necessary.

#4. I won a gold medal in the International Painting Competition in 1995 in Japan. Several years later, I won another award in the International Digital Painting Competition done using computer graphic design programs.
So you could say I love painting and am pretty good at it.

#5. I love the rain. Unlike most people who run away when the rain starts, you’ll find me out in the rain - sometimes with an umbrella and sometimes even not. I feel it brings down lots of positive energy and life with it.

#6. I can speak English and Persian fluently, plus some French, German, Korean, Japaese, and Arabic.

#7. Here’s how I looked like when I was a kid….

#8. I love giving gifts - even more than receiving them. Just makes me happy to see that smile on the face of people I care about.

#9. There’s hardly anything you can find that I am afraid of…

• Height? Not at all. Actually makes me excited. Want to try skydiving soon.
• Extreme rides at amusement parks? Are you kidding? I always wish they were faster.
• Horror movies? Nah, I know they’re not real anyway.
• Death? No, it’s a part of life anyway, and I believe the next life will be as fun as this one.
• Aliens, devils, ghosts, etc? Nah, I think they are cool folks like us, our imagination just makes them un-cool sometimes.

Oh OK, maybe one thing… breaking someone’s heart. I am generally concerned about hurting anyone’s feelings. I feel it’s one of the cruelest things to do.

#10. I love people. I love watching people, being in crowded places, and making conversations with random strangers. I get energy just by being in crowded places and watching people - just like how plants get energy from being under the sun.

Some find is weird and hard to imagine, I know, but life is so much fun when you have a love for other human beings.

#11. I am a huge fan of personal development books. I’ve read 100+ of them in more areas than you can imagine.

#12. I learned C++ and some other advanced computer programming when I was 14 years old, and worked as a freelance programmer for a while back then.

#13. I am a very indepandent person. As much as I love being with friends and loved ones at times, I also enjoy being on my own and have adventures alone. An example is traveling to various countries alone since I was 19 years old.

#14. I have a very good memory - especially for details about people. Most are surprised how I remember something they shared casually last year or what they were wearing.

#15. I eat very little food but have lots of energy - more than people who eat 5 times more than me. Just ask my friends and they’ll tell you. They’re still scratching their heads wondering where I get all this energy from.

#16. My two all-time favorite books are Think and Grow Rich, and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Two masterpieces that have changed my life in a way.

#17. I have a small notebook that carry with me in my handbag everywhere and write notes in it. My friends always wonder what this “secret notebook” is and what I write in it… but none of them knows exactly.

#18. Even though I am originally from Iran, most people are surprised to see how open-minded I am and not religious at all.

I am a believer in following your heart and logic, and then we know the best way to live our life. No need for a book or religion to teach you what you already know deep inside.

#19. I’m a very positive person - the type who always find a brighter side for everything. It takes the entire world to go upside down until you hear Ladan complain. Just ask my close friends and they’ll tell you.

#20. I am the only daughter in my family and just have a younger brother, Amir, who I love as much as the whole world.

#21. Privacy and trust are very important to me. I always respect other people’s privacy and expect the same. You could say I am the type of person you can leave your laptop, credit card, and whole lot of other private thing with… and get it back untouched the next day.

And if someone sneaks into my private stuff I will clearly and frankly let them know of the “limits” and protect it.

#22. I keep a journal where I collect the important happenings and thoughts in my life every single day… for the past 3 years. Because your life is too precious to make it pass by unnoticed.

#23. If you visit my house, you’ll see it is NOT the most organized place in town. I value keeping things clean… but love to keep my home cozy and comfortable with some stuff “hanging around” on the floor. Isn’t it more fun this way?

#24. My favorite type of pets are dogs. They are so kind and loyal to you.

#25. The person who inspired me the most was Anthony Robbins. I started reading his books when I was a teenager and it changed my view on success and goal achievement.

Then I started setting goals that people around me found ridiculous, crazy, and impossible… But well, I’ve achieved more than half of them by now. So who said it was impossible?

OK, so there you have it.

P.S. Whether you like to reveal 25 things about you on your blog or Facebook or not, I highly recommend you make this list. You’ll be amazed how much it helps you actually discover more about yourself.