DAY 9.VALUES

Identify your values -- those you grew up with, those you accumulated during your life, those you have today.

Write a few paragraphs of anecdotes and memories of values that have influenced your life.

Include how you reacted to events that conflicted with your values and how you reacted to events that coincided with your values.

 

Examples

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Being Catholic and following all the rules of the Church was ingrained in me from as far back as I can remember. My parents sent us to Catholic elementary and high school. Beyond that, they lived the Catholic life. Only when I went to college did I learn everybody didn’t.

           

Sundays were, first and foremost, Mass days. My parents would take my brothers and me to Mass each week when we were kids. Fridays were meatless. Lent was a time of denial--give up something you love, don’t eat between meals, go to daily Mass. Confession was a requirement before receiving Communion, and you needed to go at least once a month. If not the spirit, we definitely had to follow the letter of the law. And this went beyond my immediate family. My relatives--aunts, uncles, cousins-- and my friends--from Catholic schools--all followed the same Catholic requirements.

           

Only when I went to college was I really exposed to non-Catholics who didn’t do all these things. Going to church on Sunday was unheard of among them. Friday was just another day and another meal of whatever their taste buds craved. When Lent started, they knew Spring Break and a trip South was close.

           

For me, Catholic indoctrination for twelve years didn’t let me loosen up. I continued to go to Mass and follow the religious requirements. At times I resented it. I would much rather sleep in on Sunday after a Saturday night of partying and staying out late. Luckily, a noontime Mass was available. But overall, I’m glad I stuck with it. Several times in my life I have needed God, and I felt it was okay to ask him for help. Though I may not follow the laws to the letter, I make an effort. In some way all those rituals spiritualized me.

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My family was heavily into sports and athletics. In fact, if I had to associate one word with my family, sports would be it. From my father’s achievements in soccer, basketball, and

semi-pro baseball to my brother’s following in his footsteps in those sports in school to my own participation in high school, college, and recreational ball, we are sports-oriented. I also married an athletic guy who expanded my sports interests to golf and auto racing. So when I had two sons, of course, I exposed them to athletics. Of course, I expected them to embrace and enjoy playing. Of course we all make our own choices.

           

My first son took to baseball and soccer at a young age, and my husband coached him in recreation ball as he grew. He played on his high school soccer team and became an accomplished swimmer in school, too. Today he continues to love to play sports, especially golf, and is an avid NFL and NASCAR fan.

           

My second son, however, showed no interest in the traditional sports or competitions I had grown up watching and playing. He became a Scout and excelled in activities relating to camping and the outdoors. As he grew older, he became interested in Krav Maga and, later, Parkour. Today, in addition to these two, he runs and works out regularly for fitness and exercise.

           

I never lost my interest in sports, though age forced me to give up playing. Now I fill that empty spot by watching college basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and professional softball on television. I continue to play golf, power-walk, and do yoga. And I attribute my health and my ability to still physically do these things at the age of sixty-three to my lifetime involvement in sports.

           

So, while it took me a while to accept or adapt to my second son’s different athletic interests, I appreciate that he is regularly involved in physical activity. For both my sons, I believe valuing moving will add to their enjoyment of life.

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