The thought of having and understanding values is interesting to me. There has been a lot said recently about values. I think so much so that there is ample evidence that we don't even understand what it means to have values. First, let me just state that everyone has values. These can be big ideas like integrity or simple ideas like having enough work space at the office. Values are only the things that have worth to us. So most of us confuse values with virtues. Second, it is important to understand out values. Knowing what is valuable can help with our actions. Again, I wouldn't necessarily couple this with ideas of right and wrong. More importantly, values help us with time and when we spend time on important things, that generally helps us with happiness, self-worth and gives us a sense of well being.

So, anyway, I've been investing time in understanding my values for about the last decade. I took a college course at that time that forced me to develop a values statement. I could do this for a business, department or for myself. It seemed easiest to develop this for my own use based on my own values. It really made me think. It took a good bit of my time. I've been using this list, adding to it, revising it, ever since.

Today I was thinking about giving thanks and being thankful. Not so much of a stretch given that a holiday prominently featuring thanks has so recently passed. What does it mean to be thankful? How do we show thanks? I've often looked back on some of my youthful antics and wonder why my parents let me live. I'm thankful they did. I'm also thankful they didn't know everything I did. I was a typical kid.

I wonder what the difference is between being thankful and showing gratitude. In past years I've gone to the Salvation Army and served dinner to the homeless. Not just during the holiday seasons, but many times and in different seasons. It made me thankful for my blessings. But more importantly I feel like I backed up my thankfulness with actions. To me, my actions were an open display of thankfulness. There may be no difference between being thankful and being grateful. But to me, the one is passive and the other active. I am grateful for my life. I'm also willing to back it up with actions and to show my gratitude with giving, both of money and time, to help others who don't have as much...........
10:56:38 PM    comment []