August 1, 2010

Day 201 - Take the MENSA Mental Workout

Date: July 26th, 2010

I've started thinking about things I didn't do before in various terms over the course of the last two-hundred days.  In one category are the things I never thought I'd get a chance to do (swim in a waterfall, fly a plane, etc...).  In another are the things I never got around to (making jewelry, doing my own taxes).  Finally, in the last category, are the things I've actively chosen not to do out of some combination of fear and determination.  Most well known, in this category (among my friends at least) is watching Star Wars.  Haven't done it.  Don't want to.  The force can be with you for all I care, cause it ain't with me.

Also in the things I've chosen not to do category is joining MENSA.  MENSA, of course, being the society of super-duper-smartiepantses who joined cause they're smart and are in cause they're smart and talk about how smart they are.  That is, at least, my working impression of the group.  I assume it is correct because, well, according to MENSA, I'm smart enough to be in MENSA... so I know how these things work.

You see, I did a little research and it turns out MENSA accepts people based either on one of their IQ tests or based on getting a score of a certain level on any number of accepted standardized tests.  If you can pop a 95th percentile or higher on the LSAT, for example, you can be in MENSA.  They give you the privilege of sending them $40 first though, of course.

As for me, I snagged myself a 172 on the LSAT (99th percentile) and being that it is the academic accomplishment I'm most proud of in my life so far, I suspend my general no bragging rule sometimes to talk about it.  Like now.  Just, for example.  In any case, given that MENSA's website was totally stroking my ego, I decided I'd see just how smart the smartiepantses were and take their online workout.

So honestly, let's cut to the chase here.  This day was boring.  It was boring to me.  Its got to be boring for you to read about.  I've come to a point, in the last week, where the greatest realization I've had, on some of the smaller days like this, is that even doing something new doesn't necessarily mean doing something exciting.  I think I've reached the point in this project where the challenge is not just to find new things, but to feel the thrill of them like I did before.

I'm sure there will be more days like this one, that are lackluster... but I'm also sure there will be life changing days like plane flying and waterfall swimming again.  Also, the MENSA online workout was super easy.  There were a couple toughies, but it was the standard online IQ test fare.  I know.  Disappointing, right?  That's what I thought too.

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