I am in a life transition at the moment. I felt it would be wise to meditate on my values. I opened my diary from my Nicaragua trip in 2018, and I found a page where I listed 9 of my strongest values on flashcards with a word representing a value on one side, and the other side having a personal definition attached to it. I would like to share mine here.
Nostalgia Heights (2025, Watercolor and Ink on Mixed Media): This painting is symbolic of my inner world right now.
1) Personal Development
Definition: The voluntary act of bettering yourself.
I don’t like to claim that I’m perfect or that I know everything, but I like to keep my worldview open. I try my best every day to make myself slightly better than I was yesterday.
2) Learning
Definition: The process of improving from your mistakes and ignorances.
This hold hands with personal development for me. I like to stretch my brain every day with new books, new music, and new perspectives.
3) Intellect
Definition: Being well-read and questioning your world.
It’s impossible to know all the answers in the world, but lord knows I could try to figure it out.
4) Closeness
Definition: The concept of two people having mutual respect and care for another
If you’ve ever been a support in my circle, know that I love you and I’m glad you’re reading this!
5) Ambition
Definition: The desire to seek an opportunity and go for it everyday
I’m back to the blog because my ambitions lie in trying to find “me” again and figure out everything I want to be in my career. Right now I just know I want writing and art to be an integral part of my life. My long-term goals include publishing my own illustrated book of sorts. I posted some of my artwork and photography to a local library’s art contest for next year.
6) Wonder
Definition: The process of letting yourself think and question without distraction
I feel like curiosity is an underrated quality in people. This is my nod to curiosity.
7) Honesty
Definition: Being open and expressing your personal truth without lies or illusion.
Life is too short to pretend to be someone you’re not. Life is also too short to put yourself through situations that make you suffer. Be honest with yourself about what you need in life, even if it’s not the normal path.
8) Drive
Definition: The act of doing what your heart desires despite the challenges involved.
Life is too short!
9) Accomplishment
Definition: The reward for dedicating yourself to a task.
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the speaker that I heard this from when I studied abroad, but a staff member from the study abroad organization said “The secret to happiness is to do what you say you’re going to do.” I have found this piece of wisdom to be true, and I will catalogue it here.
In sum…
These values kept me tethered during a time I felt wanderlust. They also kept me tethered when I felt lost. Revisiting them now, during this transition, I’m reminded that I don’t need to have all the answers about my future. I just need to stay honest with myself, keep learning, keep wondering, keep showing up for the people I care about, and trust that drive and accomplishment will follow when I’m true to what matters. For now, that looks like trying to create space to recover, to make art, to write, and to remember that the “me” I’m trying to find again was never actually lost—these values have been here the whole time.
My question to you, reader, is: What are your core values? What do they mean to you?
Syd Weldon 
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