My assignment, as I’ve chosen to accept it:
List six things you value, list six things you do not value, and tag six people.
Precursor: It’s understood that family and friends are valued, so use values that would follow those.
Well, OK, then.
Six things I value:
My relationship with my Father in Heaven. I was too afraid of Him to have one for many, many years - not because of any other person or institution, but because, well, I just was. Learning that He actually does like me has made me something I never thought I could be: Happy.
The gospel. All of it, but especially the “Love thy neighbor” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” parts.
Health/physical fitness. I don’t ever want to be unable to do what I want to do - especially everyday activities - and I try to be conscientious about the potential long-term effects of the choices I make each day, especially with eating and exercise habits.
Expressions of affection. They’re what make the world go ’round. Spontaneous, verbal, and/or written (including e-mailed) expressions are particularly valuable, as are comments left on weblogs…
Consideration of/for others. Especially as expressed through punctuality, quiet activities when others are sleeping, and parking in only one space (people who park inconsiderately here in Cambridge are guaranteed a special place in hell).
Sleep. I need nine solid hours per night - more sometimes. ‘Tis embarrassing in a culture wherein respect is inversely proportional to amount of sleep required, but if I don’t get at least eight hours I really can’t function.
Education. Specifically, the ability to count.
Six things I do not value:
Flattery. Genuine compliments, yes. Flattery, no.
Bitterness. Obama won. The world didn’t end and America isn’t going to cease to exist. Get over it and stop posting politically charged Facebook statuses.
Stubbornness. (Yes, I can smell the hypocrisy…) It doesn’t occur to some people that they could be wrong, which is kind of unfathomable to me because my initial reaction when faced with evidence of any nature is always a flash (not infrequently a full-on hurricane) of self-doubt.
Self-pitying obliviousness. If you notice that you don’t get along with everyone else, maybe the problem isn’t with everyone else.
Extreme optimism or even mild pessimism. Mild optimism at least makes the world a little happier; extreme optimism is unrealistic and the “happiness” thus engendered is tenuous at best. Pessimism is equally unrealistic and just creates a needlessly negative atmosphere.
Complacency. Not everyone has to save the world, but I think continuous self- and community-improvement efforts are important.
Six people:
Do I even have six regular readers who also have weblogs? Um, J_H, KMW, DM, KLPH, NLG, JNP. (If you think those might be your initials, they probably are.)
