Values Revolve Strongly Around Friends

¶ … values revolve strongly around friends and family, and emotional connections. My most important values today are (with the most important value always listed first): family, friends, having fun, love, and money.

Before the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, my values were: having fun, family, friends, money, and love. Immediately after the attacks, my values were: family, friends, love, peace, and having fun.

My values clearly change with circumstances. The list shows an interesting shift towards long-lasting and non-material connections after 9/11. Immediately after the attacks, money was no longer on my list, and peace appeared for the first time. Other values changed position, with family becoming the most important thing on the list after the attacks (replacing having fun as the most important). However, now, years after the attacks, my values have shifted again, more towards more material and temporary things. For example, money appears on the list again, peace is no longer on the list, and having fun has moved up to third.

Today, I try to act in ways that reflect my values. This includes trying to make time for my most important priority: family. However, I often act in ways that contradict these values. Often, I will make time to make money instead of spending time with my family. Similarly, I often spend time with friends, rather than time with my family.

My goals do not necessarily coincide with what matters to me. When I think of my goals, I generally think of owning things such as a car or house, going to school, and earning a specific amount of money. If my goals were perfectly in line with my stated values, they would likely focus more on building and maintaining important family relationships.

However, I believe it is possible to achieve my goals and keep my values at the same time. This can be easily achieved if I manage my time carefully in order to always allow time for my relationships with my family and friends.