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To live life to the fullest, you know you've got to make some moves— but so many things can get in a girl's way. Take this quiz to see if there are any roadblocks in your path to fun and fulfillment, and how to knock them down.

QUIZ: Ain't No Stoppin' You Now

  1. You and your girlfriends usually vacation in the Caribbean. When someone suggests Thailand for your next trip, you get

    a. excited. You've heard the beaches are gorgeous, and hotels there are so inexpensive.
    b. nervous. Isn't the food really suspect, and won't you need all kinds of shots, and talk about a loooong flight...
    c. annoyed. The "someone" who suggested it was you—and they all shot down your idea!

  2. You majored in business in college, and now you are

    a. an administrative assistant.
    b. getting your MBA at night.
    c. working in a totally unrelated field.

  3. You walk into a party a coworker is throwing and guess what? Not a brown face in the room! You

    a. wait for your jam to come on and ask someone to dance. Let's get this party started, right?!
    b. beeline for your work friends and chat with them until you can jump into a conversation with some new people.
    c. sip a cocktail while circling the room, then beat a hasty retreat.

  4. They now have a Brazilian Capoeira class at your gym. Intrigued, you

    a. watch a session to see what's it's like.
    b. grab a spot front and center, directly opposite the instructor.
    c. talk your gym buddy into trying it with you.

  5. On line at a hot new club, you hear that if you "flash" the bouncer you get instant access. You

    a. wish you had the nerve.
    b. flash the bouncer, They're just ta-tas, and you don't do waiting.
    c. thinks that's demeaning and would really rather go elsewhere.

  6. You're partnered with a man for an exercise during a business seminar. At the end of the seminar, he asks you out. He's smart and cool, but not really your type, so you say

    a. you're busy, but ask for his card. You might as well keep in touch, even if no sparks were flying.
    b. "no, thank you" on principle. It was inappropriate for him to try getting personal in a professional setting.
    c. sure, why not. He's buying, and in more laid-back surroundings he may start looking better to you.

  7. Your boss asks if you'd like to work on a project that is far afield of anything in your professional background. You tell her

    a. you've never done anything like it before, but would be willing to try with direction.
    b. sure thing, and wing it. Hey, you're a quick study.
    c. that it's really not your area.

  8. A new man suggests an Indian restaurant for your next date. You

    a. tell him you're much more a steak-and-salad girl (even though you've never tried Indian food).
    b. say, "Hmm, sounds interessting," but do some online research on this cuisine before you commit.
    c. explain that you've been-there-ate-that, but there's this new Ethiopian place you've been dying to try.

  9. You get an amazing job offer...in Chicago. You've never been to Chicago. You

    a. ask the company to fly you in for a few days so you can get a feel for the place.
    b. are so there. The blues! The beef! The Bulls!
    c. couldn't possibly accept. Your family, your friends—your whole life—are here.

  10. You're asked to sing in a charity talent show. You can blow like Beyonce, but you don't have her body—and the costume leaves little to the imagination. You

    a. suck in your gut, steel your nerves, and do your thang.
    b. decline—unless they agree to some modest costume changes
    c. go for it. If the world can't handle some supersize bootyliciousness, that's the world's problem.

THE SCORE

Give yourself points as follows:
  1. a=2, b=3, c=1

  2. a=3, b=2, c=1

  3. a=1, b=2, c=3

  4. a=3, b=1, c=2

  5. a=2, b=1, c=3

  6. a=2, b=3, c=1

  7. a=2, b=1, c=3

  8. a=3, b=2, c=1

  9. a=2, b=1, c=3

  10. a=2, b=3, c=1

HERE'S THE DEAL

Too Fast, Too Curious (10 to 16 points): Nope, ain't no stopping you—sometimes, not even good sense! You're a risk taker who knows no boundaries, and while in theory that's an admirable attitude, in practice it can get you in trouble. All I'm suggesting is a little looking before leaping. Yes, be proud of your proportions and wear the short skirt in the talent show. Yes, ask a stranger to dance. But before you pull up your shirt in public, you may want to consider who's around. A dangerous gossip? A possible future employer? And you might want to do a smidgen of research prior to pulling up stakes and moving to a new city. There's a difference between blind bravado and true bravery—between calculated risks that get you somewhere and the kind of abandon that could potentially bring you down. Get it?

All Systems Go (17 to 23 points): Nothing excites you like a challenge, but you believe in weighing the win-lose factors before you take it up. That's smart. You're aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, and you're honest with yourself and others about what you know you can do, think you can do, and would only attempt in a parallel universe. You bring this approach toward obvious risks, like the prospect of exotic travel, and, perhaps more important, to your career and relationships. When you find yourself at a crossroads, though, you tend to play it safe, and may want to tap into your inner adventuress a bit more. For instance, do you really need your girl at your side to take a new class at the gym? And why spoil the surprise of trying a new cuisine? If it turns out you're not crazy about it, take your date to your favorite dessert place after dinner and have an extra scoop on top.

Staid in Your Line (24 to 30 points): First and foremost, you are a lady—but don't let your conservative side keep you from fully experiencing life. And whose life is it anyway? Your parents'? Your pastor's? The neighbors'? No, it's yours. And the way you're living it, your Hollywood biopic would be called 2Safe, 2Sorry. I'm not saying compromise your values, but be real: You have declined when deep inside you were intriguedÑand may even feel a tinge of regret that your knee-jerk reaction was to just say no. You donÕt have to bungee-jump in a string bikini; try baby-step risks. Spread your wings and take a vacation somewhere you've never been. Have faith in your charm and wit, and strike up a conversation with a stranger at a party. Be willing to amp your skill set at work—there may just be a promotion in it. She who hesitates too much is lost!



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