(no subject)
Erick R. Legue
Values Assignment
Values Assignment
- God- I firmly believe in Jesus Christ, and my beliefs make me realize that in many ways, the things I perceive to be real in this world are in fact not.
- Family- being away from family for long periods of time has always taught me this lesson. When at college or in the Navy, I always felt a tug on my heart from my family so far away. Having come back to be closer and take care of my family, I feel so much closer to my center than I did when I was away.
- Friends and Love- Friends make the list of things that are real in this world, and I know that people--kindred souls--are the only reason this world exists for me. This world wasn't created for me to buy and drive an escalade or hide in a mansion somewhere.
- Communication- I crave communication, both written and verbal, almost to a fault. I feel poorly when there is a lack of communication or I perceive that I am being shut out by someone. I enjoy writing, and I like to share fiction stories and rants on my website, and I enjoy the thought that someone might read what I write and connect with it in some way.
- Word- Keeping your word is important, as we know God from the word, so are we known from our word.
- Balance- I don't like extremes; I enjoy having balance and living a 'centered' life. I don't want too much, but I enjoy a balance between comforting tradition and exciting change.
- Freedom- I found from being in submarines that I'm not claustrophobic when it comes to being in small, confining spaces, but I am claustrophobic when it comes to feeling trapped or stuck. I hated my job and I sometimes felt I showed up to work just to avoid punishment, but there was nothing I could do about it; I had no way of seeking better employment or more interesting, gratifying work, I had a contract that held me to continue to do things I hate.
- Self-determination- No matter what I'm doing, whether it's living out of a car being a dishwasher or playing golf at Hawaii's Barber's Point, I want to know that I have the reigns of my life, and that my future is not in the hands of someone else who may or may not have my best interest in mind.
- Contentment- It's not about having what you want, it's about wanting what you've got. Live simply that others may simply live. The things you own end up owning you. I avoid being overly committed to property and this in part leads to a measure of reduced ambition; I was not born with a dream of becoming a CEO, I tend to take things pretty easy.
- Justice- I feel for people who are being abused or unfairly treated, and I speak up when I think my voice may influence positively. This craving for justice provides an impetus for my interest in politics (below).
- Positivity- I can take constructive criticism, but mean-spirited negativity is a big demotivator for me. I hate the idea that I am influenced by the clouds in the sky, but I have come to understand that I am affected by these outside factors. I'm not an island capable of generating my own mood spontaneously.
- Politics- I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about and discussing politics. I am no longer a member of either party, and I often explore both sides of many issues across the board. I am interested in politics from a macro level, how sweeping policies and government models affect the average person.
- Food- I enjoy eating, and I enjoy new tastes and flavors of exotic foods. It's probably gluttonous to put food on a list of values, but I would be lying to myself to not include it when I am willing to travel to try interesting restaurants.
- Weather- bad weather is depressing. Good weather is uplifting. I enjoyed visiting, but I could never live in Seattle or London without jumping off a building. I could live homeless and happy in Hawaii.
- Mobility- I like to have the option of packing up and moving with minimal fuss, not to avoid things, but more to explore new things. I got this idea from reading Walden, where Thoreau talks about not keeping to many things to tie you down if you must leave.
- Procrastination- part of my contentment-lack-of-ambition, I work best during a time crunch.
- Sleep- I love sleep, and will pass up on exciting things to get my eight hours.
- Literature and Philosophy.
- Cycling- I enjoy mountain biking.
- Camping- I live in places where I can camp and enjoy nature.