the most important things in life essay

• Social Justice
• Environment
• Health & Happiness
• Get YES! Emails
• Teacher Resources

• Give A Gift Subscription
• Teaching Sustainability
• Teaching Social Justice
• Teaching Respect & Empathy
• Student Writing Lessons
• Visual Learning Lessons
• Tough Topics Discussion Guides
• About the YES! for Teachers Program
• Student Writing Contest

Follow YES! For Teachers

Eight brilliant student essays on what matters most in life.

Read winning essays from our spring 2019 student writing contest.

For the spring 2019 student writing contest, we invited students to read the YES! article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill. Like the author, students interviewed someone significantly older than them about the three things that matter most in life. Students then wrote about what they learned, and about how their interviewees’ answers compare to their own top priorities.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye. Plus, we share an essay from teacher Charles Sanderson, who also responded to the writing prompt.

Middle School Winner: Rory Leyva

High School Winner:  Praethong Klomsum

University Winner:  Emily Greenbaum

Powerful Voice Winner: Amanda Schwaben

Powerful Voice Winner: Antonia Mills

Powerful Voice Winner:  Isaac Ziemba

Powerful Voice Winner: Lily Hersch

“Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner: Jonas Buckner

From the Author: Response to Student Winners

Literary Gems

From A Teacher: Charles Sanderson

From the Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Middle School Winner

Village Home Education Resource Center, Portland, Ore.

The Lessons Of Mortality 

“As I’ve aged, things that are more personal to me have become somewhat less important. Perhaps I’ve become less self-centered with the awareness of mortality, how short one person’s life is.” This is how my 72-year-old grandma believes her values have changed over the course of her life. Even though I am only 12 years old, I know my life won’t last forever, and someday I, too, will reflect on my past decisions. We were all born to exist and eventually die, so we have evolved to value things in the context of mortality.

One of the ways I feel most alive is when I play roller derby. I started playing for the Rose City Rollers Juniors two years ago, and this year, I made the Rosebud All-Stars travel team. Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport. The physicality and intense training make me feel in control of and present in my body.

My roller derby team is like a second family to me. Adolescence is complicated. We understand each other in ways no one else can. I love my friends more than I love almost anything else. My family would have been higher on my list a few years ago, but as I’ve aged it has been important to make my own social connections.

Music led me to roller derby.  I started out jam skating at the roller rink. Jam skating is all about feeling the music. It integrates gymnastics, breakdancing, figure skating, and modern dance with R & B and hip hop music. When I was younger, I once lay down in the DJ booth at the roller rink and was lulled to sleep by the drawl of wheels rolling in rhythm and people talking about the things they came there to escape. Sometimes, I go up on the roof of my house at night to listen to music and feel the wind rustle my hair. These unique sensations make me feel safe like nothing else ever has.

My grandma tells me, “Being close with family and friends is the most important thing because I haven’t

always had that.” When my grandma was two years old, her father died. Her mother became depressed and moved around a lot, which made it hard for my grandma to make friends. Once my grandma went to college, she made lots of friends. She met my grandfather, Joaquin Leyva when she was working as a park ranger and he was a surfer. They bought two acres of land on the edge of a redwood forest and had a son and a daughter. My grandma created a stable family that was missing throughout her early life.

My grandma is motivated to maintain good health so she can be there for her family. I can relate because I have to be fit and strong for my team. Since she lost my grandfather to cancer, she realizes how lucky she is to have a functional body and no life-threatening illnesses. My grandma tries to eat well and exercise, but she still struggles with depression. Over time, she has learned that reaching out to others is essential to her emotional wellbeing.  

Caring for the earth is also a priority for my grandma I’ve been lucky to learn from my grandma. She’s taught me how to hunt for fossils in the desert and find shells on the beach. Although my grandma grew up with no access to the wilderness, she admired the green open areas of urban cemeteries. In college, she studied geology and hiked in the High Sierras. For years, she’s been an advocate for conserving wildlife habitat and open spaces.

Our priorities may seem different, but it all comes down to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and need to be loved. Like Nancy Hill says in the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” it can be hard to decipher what is important in life. I believe that the constant search for satisfaction and meaning is the only thing everyone has in common. We all want to know what matters, and we walk around this confusing world trying to find it. The lessons I’ve learned from my grandma about forging connections, caring for my body, and getting out in the world inspire me to live my life my way before it’s gone.

Rory Leyva is a seventh-grader from Portland, Oregon. Rory skates for the Rosebuds All-Stars roller derby team. She loves listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

High School Winner

Praethong Klomsum

  Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

Time Only Moves Forward

Sandra Hernandez gazed at the tiny house while her mother’s gentle hands caressed her shoulders. It wasn’t much, especially for a family of five. This was 1960, she was 17, and her family had just moved to Culver City.

Flash forward to 2019. Sandra sits in a rocking chair, knitting a blanket for her latest grandchild, in the same living room. Sandra remembers working hard to feed her eight children. She took many different jobs before settling behind the cash register at a Japanese restaurant called Magos. “It was a struggle, and my husband Augustine, was planning to join the military at that time, too.”

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author Nancy Hill states that one of the most important things is “…connecting with others in general, but in particular with those who have lived long lives.” Sandra feels similarly. It’s been hard for Sandra to keep in contact with her family, which leaves her downhearted some days. “It’s important to maintain that connection you have with your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

Despite her age, Sandra is a daring woman. Taking risks is important to her, and she’ll try anything—from skydiving to hiking. Sandra has some regrets from the past, but nowadays, she doesn’t wonder about the “would have, could have, should haves.” She just goes for it with a smile.

Sandra thought harder about her last important thing, the blue and green blanket now finished and covering

her lap. “I’ve definitely lived a longer life than most, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I hope I can see the day my great-grandchildren are born.” She’s laughing, but her eyes look beyond what’s in front of her. Maybe she is reminiscing about the day she held her son for the first time or thinking of her grandchildren becoming parents. I thank her for her time and she waves it off, offering me a styrofoam cup of lemonade before I head for the bus station.

The bus is sparsely filled. A voice in my head reminds me to finish my 10-page history research paper before spring break. I take a window seat and pull out my phone and earbuds. My playlist is already on shuffle, and I push away thoughts of that dreaded paper. Music has been a constant in my life—from singing my lungs out in kindergarten to Barbie’s “I Need To Know,” to jamming out to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” in sixth grade, to BTS’s “Intro: Never Mind” comforting me when I’m at my lowest. Music is my magic shop, a place where I can trade away my fears for calm.

I’ve always been afraid of doing something wrong—not finishing my homework or getting a C when I can do better. When I was 8, I wanted to be like the big kids. As I got older, I realized that I had exchanged my childhood longing for the 48 pack of crayons for bigger problems, balancing grades, a social life, and mental stability—all at once. I’m going to get older whether I like it or not, so there’s no point forcing myself to grow up faster.  I’m learning to live in the moment.

The bus is approaching my apartment, where I know my comfy bed and a home-cooked meal from my mom are waiting. My mom is hard-working, confident, and very stubborn. I admire her strength of character. She always keeps me in line, even through my rebellious phases.

My best friend sends me a text—an update on how broken her laptop is. She is annoying. She says the stupidest things and loves to state the obvious. Despite this, she never fails to make me laugh until my cheeks feel numb. The rest of my friends are like that too—loud, talkative, and always brightening my day. Even friends I stopped talking to have a place in my heart. Recently, I’ve tried to reconnect with some of them. This interview was possible because a close friend from sixth grade offered to introduce me to Sandra, her grandmother.  

I’m decades younger than Sandra, so my view of what’s important isn’t as broad as hers, but we share similar values, with friends and family at the top. I have a feeling that when Sandra was my age, she used to love music, too. Maybe in a few decades, when I’m sitting in my rocking chair, drawing in my sketchbook, I’ll remember this article and think back fondly to the days when life was simple.

Praethong Klomsum is a tenth-grader at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.  Praethong has a strange affinity for rhyme games and is involved in her school’s dance team. She enjoys drawing and writing, hoping to impact people willing to listen to her thoughts and ideas.

University Winner

Emily Greenbaum

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 

The Life-Long War

Every morning we open our eyes, ready for a new day. Some immediately turn to their phones and social media. Others work out or do yoga. For a certain person, a deep breath and the morning sun ground him. He hears the clink-clank of his wife cooking low sodium meat for breakfast—doctor’s orders! He sees that the other side of the bed is already made, the dogs are no longer in the room, and his clothes are set out nicely on the loveseat.

Today, though, this man wakes up to something different: faded cream walls and jello. This person, my hero, is Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James.

I pulled up my chair close to Roger’s vinyl recliner so I could hear him above the noise of the beeping dialysis machine. I noticed Roger would occasionally glance at his wife Susan with sparkly eyes when he would recall memories of the war or their grandkids. He looked at Susan like she walked on water.

Roger James served his country for thirty years. Now, he has enlisted in another type of war. He suffers from a rare blood cancer—the result of the wars he fought in. Roger has good and bad days. He says, “The good outweighs the bad, so I have to be grateful for what I have on those good days.”

When Roger retired, he never thought the effects of the war would reach him. The once shallow wrinkles upon his face become deeper, as he tells me, “It’s just cancer. Others are suffering from far worse. I know I’ll make it.”

Like Nancy Hill did in her article “Three Things that Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I asked Roger, “What are the three most important things to you?” James answered, “My wife Susan, my grandkids, and church.”

Roger and Susan served together in the Vietnam war. She was a nurse who treated his cuts and scrapes one day. I asked Roger why he chose Susan. He said, “Susan told me to look at her while she cleaned me up. ‘This may sting, but don’t be a baby.’ When I looked into her eyes, I felt like she was looking into my soul, and I didn’t want her to leave. She gave me this sense of home. Every day I wake up, she makes me feel the same way, and I fall in love with her all over again.”

Roger and Susan have two kids and four grandkids, with great-grandchildren on the way. He claims that his grandkids give him the youth that he feels slowly escaping from his body. This adoring grandfather is energized by coaching t-ball and playing evening card games with the grandkids.

The last thing on his list was church. His oldest daughter married a pastor. Together they founded a church. Roger said that the connection between his faith and family is important to him because it gave him a reason to want to live again. I learned from Roger that when you’re across the ocean, you tend to lose sight of why you are fighting. When Roger returned, he didn’t have the will to live. Most days were a struggle, adapting back into a society that lacked empathy for the injuries, pain, and psychological trauma carried by returning soldiers. Church changed that for Roger and gave him a sense of purpose.

When I began this project, my attitude was to just get the assignment done. I never thought I could view Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James as more than a role model, but he definitely changed my mind. It’s as if Roger magically lit a fire inside of me and showed me where one’s true passions should lie. I see our similarities and embrace our differences. We both value family and our own connections to home—his home being church and mine being where I can breathe the easiest.

Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me and that every once in a while, I should step back and stop to smell the roses. As we concluded the interview, amidst squeaky clogs and the stale smell of bleach and bedpans, I looked to Roger, his kind, tired eyes, and weathered skin, with a deeper sense of admiration, knowing that his values still run true, no matter what he faces.

Emily Greenbaum is a senior at Kent State University, graduating with a major in Conflict Management and minor in Geography. Emily hopes to use her major to facilitate better conversations, while she works in the Washington, D.C. area.  

Powerful Voice Winner

Amanda Schwaben

Wise Words From Winnie the Pooh

As I read through Nancy Hill’s article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I was comforted by the similar responses given by both children and older adults. The emphasis participants placed on family, social connections, and love was not only heartwarming but hopeful. While the messages in the article filled me with warmth, I felt a twinge of guilt building within me. As a twenty-one-year-old college student weeks from graduation, I honestly don’t think much about the most important things in life. But if I was asked, I would most likely say family, friendship, and love. As much as I hate to admit it, I often find myself obsessing over achieving a successful career and finding a way to “save the world.”

A few weeks ago, I was at my family home watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie Christopher Robin with my mom and younger sister. Well, I wasn’t really watching. I had my laptop in front of me, and I was aggressively typing up an assignment. Halfway through the movie, I realized I left my laptop charger in my car. I walked outside into the brisk March air. Instinctively, I looked up. The sky was perfectly clear, revealing a beautiful array of stars. When my twin sister and I were in high school, we would always take a moment to look up at the sparkling night sky before we came into the house after soccer practice.

I think that was the last time I stood in my driveway and gazed at the stars. I did not get the laptop charger from

my car; instead, I turned around and went back inside. I shut my laptop and watched the rest of the movie. My twin sister loves Winnie the Pooh. So much so that my parents got her a stuffed animal version of him for Christmas. While I thought he was adorable and a token of my childhood, I did not really understand her obsession. However, it was clear to me after watching the movie. Winnie the Pooh certainly had it figured out. He believed that the simple things in life were the most important: love, friendship, and having fun.

I thought about asking my mom right then what the three most important things were to her, but I decided not to. I just wanted to be in the moment. I didn’t want to be doing homework. It was a beautiful thing to just sit there and be present with my mom and sister.

I did ask her, though, a couple of weeks later. Her response was simple.  All she said was family, health, and happiness. When she told me this, I imagined Winnie the Pooh smiling. I think he would be proud of that answer.

I was not surprised by my mom’s reply. It suited her perfectly. I wonder if we relearn what is most important when we grow older—that the pressure to be successful subsides. Could it be that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world?

Amanda Schwaben is a graduating senior from Kent State University with a major in Applied Conflict Management. Amanda also has minors in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication. She hopes to further her education and focus on how museums not only preserve history but also promote peace.

Antonia Mills

Rachel Carson High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Decoding The Butterfly

For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must first digest itself. The caterpillar, overwhelmed by accumulating tissue, splits its skin open to form its protective shell, the chrysalis, and later becomes the pretty butterfly we all know and love. There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies, and just as every species is different, so is the life of every butterfly. No matter how long and hard a caterpillar has strived to become the colorful and vibrant butterfly that we marvel at on a warm spring day, it does not live a long life. A butterfly can live for a year, six months, two weeks, and even as little as twenty-four hours.

I have often wondered if butterflies live long enough to be blissful of blue skies. Do they take time to feast upon the sweet nectar they crave, midst their hustling life of pollinating pretty flowers? Do they ever take a lull in their itineraries, or are they always rushing towards completing their four-stage metamorphosis? Has anyone asked the butterfly, “Who are you?” instead of “What are you”? Or, How did you get here, on my windowsill?  How did you become ‘you’?

Humans are similar to butterflies. As a caterpillar

Suzanna Ruby/Getty Images

becomes a butterfly, a baby becomes an elder. As a butterfly soars through summer skies, an elder watches summer skies turn into cold winter nights and back toward summer skies yet again.  And as a butterfly flits slowly by the porch light, a passerby makes assumptions about the wrinkled, slow-moving elder, who is sturdier than he appears. These creatures are not seen for who they are—who they were—because people have “better things to do” or they are too busy to ask, “How are you”?

Our world can be a lonely place. Pressured by expectations, haunted by dreams, overpowered by weakness, and drowned out by lofty goals, we tend to forget ourselves—and others. Rather than hang onto the strands of our diminishing sanity, we might benefit from listening to our elders. Many elders have experienced setbacks in their young lives. Overcoming hardship and surviving to old age is wisdom that they carry.  We can learn from them—and can even make their day by taking the time to hear their stories.  

Nancy Hill, who wrote the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” was right: “We live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” I know a lot about my grandmother’s life, and it isn’t as serene as my own. My grandmother, Liza, who cooks every day, bakes bread on holidays for our neighbors, brings gifts to her doctor out of the kindness of her heart, and makes conversation with neighbors even though she is isn’t fluent in English—Russian is her first language—has struggled all her life. Her mother, Anna, a single parent, had tuberculosis, and even though she had an inviolable spirit, she was too frail to care for four children. She passed away when my grandmother was sixteen, so my grandmother and her siblings spent most of their childhood in an orphanage. My grandmother got married at nineteen to my grandfather, Pinhas. He was a man who loved her more than he loved himself and was a godsend to every person he met. Liza was—and still is—always quick to do what was best for others, even if that person treated her poorly. My grandmother has lived with physical pain all her life, yet she pushed herself to climb heights that she wasn’t ready for. Against all odds, she has lived to tell her story to people who are willing to listen. And I always am.

I asked my grandmother, “What are three things most important to you?” Her answer was one that I already expected: One, for everyone to live long healthy lives. Two, for you to graduate from college. Three, for you to always remember that I love you.

What may be basic to you means the world to my grandmother. She just wants what she never had the chance to experience: a healthy life, an education, and the chance to express love to the people she values. The three things that matter most to her may be so simple and ordinary to outsiders, but to her, it is so much more. And who could take that away?

Antonia Mills was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and attends Rachel Carson High School.  Antonia enjoys creative activities, including writing, painting, reading, and baking. She hopes to pursue culinary arts professionally in the future. One of her favorite quotes is, “When you start seeing your worth, you’ll find it harder to stay around people who don’t.” -Emily S.P.  

  Powerful Voice Winner

   Isaac Ziemba

Odyssey Multiage Program, Bainbridge Island, Wash. 

This Former State Trooper Has His Priorities Straight: Family, Climate Change, and Integrity

I have a personal connection to people who served in the military and first responders. My uncle is a first responder on the island I live on, and my dad retired from the Navy. That was what made a man named Glen Tyrell, a state trooper for 25 years, 2 months and 9 days, my first choice to interview about what three things matter in life. In the YES! Magazine article “The Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I learned that old and young people have a great deal in common. I know that’s true because Glen and I care about a lot of the same things.

For Glen, family is at the top of his list of important things. “My wife was, and is, always there for me. My daughters mean the world to me, too, but Penny is my partner,” Glen said. I can understand why Glen’s wife is so important to him. She’s family. Family will always be there for you.

Glen loves his family, and so do I with all my heart. My dad especially means the world to me. He is my top supporter and tells me that if I need help, just “say the word.” When we are fishing or crabbing, sometimes I

think, what if these times were erased from my memory? I wouldn’t be able to describe the horrible feeling that would rush through my mind, and I’m sure that Glen would feel the same about his wife.

My uncle once told me that the world is always going to change over time. It’s what the world has turned out to be that worries me. Both Glen and I are extremely concerned about climate change and the effect that rising temperatures have on animals and their habitats. We’re driving them to extinction. Some people might say, “So what? Animals don’t pay taxes or do any of the things we do.” What we are doing to them is like the Black Death times 100.

Glen is also frustrated by how much plastic we use and where it ends up. He would be shocked that an explorer recently dived to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean—seven miles!— and discovered a plastic bag and candy wrappers. Glen told me that, unfortunately, his generation did the damage and my generation is here to fix it. We need to take better care of Earth because if we don’t, we, as a species, will have failed.

Both Glen and I care deeply for our families and the earth, but for our third important value, I chose education and Glen chose integrity. My education is super important to me because without it, I would be a blank slate. I wouldn’t know how to figure out problems. I wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong. I wouldn’t understand the Bill of Rights. I would be stuck. Everyone should be able to go to school, no matter where they’re from or who they are.  It makes me angry and sad to think that some people, especially girls, get shot because they are trying to go to school. I understand how lucky I am.

Integrity is sacred to Glen—I could tell by the serious tone of Glen’s voice when he told me that integrity was the code he lived by as a former state trooper. He knew that he had the power to change a person’s life, and he was committed to not abusing that power.  When Glen put someone under arrest—and my uncle says the same—his judgment and integrity were paramount. “Either you’re right or you’re wrong.” You can’t judge a person by what you think, you can only judge a person from what you know.”

I learned many things about Glen and what’s important in life, but there is one thing that stands out—something Glen always does and does well. Glen helps people. He did it as a state trooper, and he does it in our school, where he works on construction projects. Glen told me that he believes that our most powerful tools are writing and listening to others. I think those tools are important, too, but I also believe there are other tools to help solve many of our problems and create a better future: to be compassionate, to create caring relationships, and to help others. Just like Glen Tyrell does each and every day.

Isaac Ziemba is in seventh grade at the Odyssey Multiage Program on a small island called Bainbridge near Seattle, Washington. Isaac’s favorite subject in school is history because he has always been interested in how the past affects the future. In his spare time, you can find Isaac hunting for crab with his Dad, looking for artifacts around his house with his metal detector, and having fun with his younger cousin, Conner.     

Lily Hersch

 The Crest Academy, Salida, Colo.

The Phone Call

Dear Grandpa,

In my short span of life—12 years so far—you’ve taught me a lot of important life lessons that I’ll always have with me. Some of the values I talk about in this writing I’ve learned from you.

Dedicated to my Gramps.

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author and photographer Nancy Hill asked people to name the three things that mattered most to them. After reading the essay prompt for the article, I immediately knew who I wanted to interview: my grandpa Gil.      

My grandpa was born on January 25, 1942. He lived in a minuscule tenement in The Bronx with his mother,

father, and brother. His father wasn’t around much, and, when he was, he was reticent and would snap occasionally, revealing his constrained mental pain. My grandpa says this happened because my great grandfather did not have a father figure in his life. His mother was a classy, sharp lady who was the head secretary at a local police district station. My grandpa and his brother Larry did not care for each other. Gramps said he was very close to his mother, and Larry wasn’t. Perhaps Larry was envious for what he didn’t have.

Decades after little to no communication with his brother, my grandpa decided to spontaneously visit him in Florida, where he resided with his wife. Larry was taken aback at the sudden reappearance of his brother and told him to leave. Since then, the two brothers have not been in contact. My grandpa doesn’t even know if Larry is alive.         

My grandpa is now a retired lawyer, married to my wonderful grandma, and living in a pretty house with an ugly dog named BoBo.

So, what’s important to you, Gramps?

He paused a second, then replied, “Family, kindness, and empathy.”

“Family, because it’s my family. It’s important to stay connected with your family. My brother, father, and I never connected in the way I wished, and sometimes I contemplated what could’ve happened.  But you can’t change the past. So, that’s why family’s important to me.”

Family will always be on my “Top Three Most Important Things” list, too. I can’t imagine not having my older brother, Zeke, or my grandma in my life. I wonder how other kids feel about their families? How do kids trapped and separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border feel?  What about orphans? Too many questions, too few answers.

“Kindness, because growing up and not seeing a lot of kindness made me realize how important it is to have that in the world. Kindness makes the world go round.”

What is kindness? Helping my brother, Eli, who has Down syndrome, get ready in the morning? Telling people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear? Maybe, for now, I’ll put wisdom, not kindness, on my list.

“Empathy, because of all the killings and shootings [in this country.] We also need to care for people—people who are not living in as good circumstances as I have. Donald Trump and other people I’ve met have no empathy. Empathy is very important.”

Empathy is something I’ve felt my whole life. It’ll always be important to me like it is important to my grandpa. My grandpa shows his empathy when he works with disabled children. Once he took a disabled child to a Christina Aguilera concert because that child was too young to go by himself. The moments I feel the most empathy are when Eli gets those looks from people. Seeing Eli wonder why people stare at him like he’s a freak makes me sad, and annoyed that they have the audacity to stare.

After this 2 minute and 36-second phone call, my grandpa has helped me define what’s most important to me at this time in my life: family, wisdom, and empathy. Although these things are important now, I realize they can change and most likely will.

When I’m an old woman, I envision myself scrambling through a stack of storage boxes and finding this paper. Perhaps after reading words from my 12-year-old self, I’ll ask myself “What’s important to me?”

Lily Hersch is a sixth-grader at Crest Academy in Salida, Colorado. Lily is an avid indoorsman, finding joy in competitive spelling, art, and of course, writing. She does not like Swiss cheese.

  “Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner

Jonas Buckner

KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory, Gaston, N.C.

Lessons My Nana Taught Me

I walked into the house. In the other room, I heard my cousin screaming at his game. There were a lot of Pioneer Woman dishes everywhere. The room had the television on max volume. The fan in the other room was on. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to learn something powerful.

I was in my Nana’s house, and when I walked in, she said, “Hey Monkey Butt.”

I said, “Hey Nana.”

Before the interview, I was talking to her about what I was gonna interview her on. Also, I had asked her why I might have wanted to interview her, and she responded with, “Because you love me, and I love you too.”

Now, it was time to start the interview. The first

question I asked was the main and most important question ever: “What three things matter most to you and you only?”

She thought of it very thoughtfully and responded with, “My grandchildren, my children, and my health.”

Then, I said, “OK, can you please tell me more about your health?”

She responded with, “My health is bad right now. I have heart problems, blood sugar, and that’s about it.” When she said it, she looked at me and smiled because she loved me and was happy I chose her to interview.

I replied with, “K um, why is it important to you?”

She smiled and said, “Why is it…Why is my health important? Well, because I want to live a long time and see my grandchildren grow up.”

I was scared when she said that, but she still smiled. I was so happy, and then I said, “Has your health always been important to you.”

She responded with “Nah.”

Then, I asked, “Do you happen to have a story to help me understand your reasoning?”

She said, “No, not really.”

Now we were getting into the next set of questions. I said, “Remember how you said that your grandchildren matter to you? Can you please tell me why they matter to you?”

Then, she responded with, “So I can spend time with them, play with them, and everything.”

Next, I asked the same question I did before: “Have you always loved your grandchildren?” 

She responded with, “Yes, they have always been important to me.”

Then, the next two questions I asked she had no response to at all. She was very happy until I asked, “Why do your children matter most to you?”

She had a frown on and responded, “My daughter Tammy died a long time ago.”

Then, at this point, the other questions were answered the same as the other ones. When I left to go home I was thinking about how her answers were similar to mine. She said health, and I care about my health a lot, and I didn’t say, but I wanted to. She also didn’t have answers for the last two questions on each thing, and I was like that too.

The lesson I learned was that no matter what, always keep pushing because even though my aunt or my Nana’s daughter died, she kept on pushing and loving everyone. I also learned that everything should matter to us. Once again, I chose to interview my Nana because she matters to me, and I know when she was younger she had a lot of things happen to her, so I wanted to know what she would say. The point I’m trying to make is that be grateful for what you have and what you have done in life.

Jonas Buckner is a sixth-grader at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory in Gaston, North Carolina. Jonas’ favorite activities are drawing, writing, math, piano, and playing AltSpace VR. He found his passion for writing in fourth grade when he wrote a quick autobiography. Jonas hopes to become a horror writer someday.

From The Author: Responses to Student Winners

Dear Emily, Isaac, Antonia, Rory, Praethong, Amanda, Lily, and Jonas,

Your thought-provoking essays sent my head spinning. The more I read, the more impressed I was with the depth of thought, beauty of expression, and originality. It left me wondering just how to capture all of my reactions in a single letter. After multiple false starts, I’ve landed on this: I will stick to the theme of three most important things.

The three things I found most inspirational about your essays:

You listened.

You connected.

We live in troubled times. Tensions mount between countries, cultures, genders, religious beliefs, and generations. If we fail to find a way to understand each other, to see similarities between us, the future will be fraught with increased hostility.

You all took critical steps toward connecting with someone who might not value the same things you do by asking a person who is generations older than you what matters to them. Then, you listened to their answers. You saw connections between what is important to them and what is important to you. Many of you noted similarities, others wondered if your own list of the three most important things would change as you go through life. You all saw the validity of the responses you received and looked for reasons why your interviewees have come to value what they have.

It is through these things—asking, listening, and connecting—that we can begin to bridge the differences in experiences and beliefs that are currently dividing us.

Individual observations

Each one of you made observations that all of us, regardless of age or experience, would do well to keep in mind. I chose one quote from each person and trust those reading your essays will discover more valuable insights.

“Our priorities may seem different, but they come back to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and work to make a positive impact.” 

“You can’t judge a person by what you think , you can only judge a person by what you know .”

Emily (referencing your interviewee, who is battling cancer):

“Master Chief Petty Officer James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me.”

Lily (quoting your grandfather):

“Kindness makes the world go round.”

“Everything should matter to us.”

Praethong (quoting your interviewee, Sandra, on the importance of family):

“It’s important to always maintain that connection you have with each other, your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

“I wonder if maybe we relearn what is most important when we grow older. That the pressure to be successful subsides and that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world.”

“Listen to what others have to say. Listen to the people who have already experienced hardship. You will learn from them and you can even make their day by giving them a chance to voice their thoughts.”

I end this letter to you with the hope that you never stop asking others what is most important to them and that you to continue to take time to reflect on what matters most to you…and why. May you never stop asking, listening, and connecting with others, especially those who may seem to be unlike you. Keep writing, and keep sharing your thoughts and observations with others, for your ideas are awe-inspiring.

I also want to thank the more than 1,000 students who submitted essays. Together, by sharing what’s important to us with others, especially those who may believe or act differently, we can fill the world with joy, peace, beauty, and love.

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

Whether it is a painting on a milky canvas with watercolors or pasting photos onto a scrapbook with her granddaughters, it is always a piece of artwork to her. She values the things in life that keep her in the moment, while still exploring things she may not have initially thought would bring her joy.

—Ondine Grant-Krasno, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif.

“Ganas”… It means “desire” in Spanish. My ganas is fueled by my family’s belief in me. I cannot and will not fail them. 

—Adan Rios, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I hope when I grow up I can have the love for my kids like my grandma has for her kids. She makes being a mother even more of a beautiful thing than it already is.

—Ashley Shaw, Columbus City Prep School for Girls, Grove City, Ohio

You become a collage of little pieces of your friends and family. They also encourage you to be the best you can be. They lift you up onto the seat of your bike, they give you the first push, and they don’t hesitate to remind you that everything will be alright when you fall off and scrape your knee.

— Cecilia Stanton, Bellafonte Area Middle School, Bellafonte, Pa.

Without good friends, I wouldn’t know what I would do to endure the brutal machine of public education.

—Kenneth Jenkins, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.

My dog, as ridiculous as it may seem, is a beautiful example of what we all should aspire to be. We should live in the moment, not stress, and make it our goal to lift someone’s spirits, even just a little.

—Kate Garland, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif. 

I strongly hope that every child can spare more time to accompany their elderly parents when they are struggling, and moving forward, and give them more care and patience. so as to truly achieve the goal of “you accompany me to grow up, and I will accompany you to grow old.”

—Taiyi Li, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I have three cats, and they are my brothers and sisters. We share a special bond that I think would not be possible if they were human. Since they do not speak English, we have to find other ways to connect, and I think that those other ways can be more powerful than language.

—Maya Dombroskie, Delta Program Middle School, Boulsburg, Pa.

We are made to love and be loved. To have joy and be relational. As a member of the loneliest generation in possibly all of history, I feel keenly aware of the need for relationships and authentic connection. That is why I decided to talk to my grandmother.

—Luke Steinkamp, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

After interviewing my grandma and writing my paper, I realized that as we grow older, the things that are important to us don’t change, what changes is why those things are important to us.

—Emily Giffer, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

The media works to marginalize elders, often isolating them and their stories, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with their additional years of lived experiences. It also undermines the depth of children’s curiosity and capacity to learn and understand. When the worlds of elders and children collide, a classroom opens.

—Cristina Reitano, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.

My values, although similar to my dad, only looked the same in the sense that a shadow is similar to the object it was cast on.

—Timofey Lisenskiy, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

I can release my anger through writing without having to take it out on someone. I can escape and be a different person; it feels good not to be myself for a while. I can make up my own characters, so I can be someone different every day, and I think that’s pretty cool.

—Jasua Carillo, Wellness, Business, and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

Notice how all the important things in his life are people: the people who he loves and who love him back. This is because “people are more important than things like money or possessions, and families are treasures,” says grandpa Pat. And I couldn’t agree more.

—Brody Hartley, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.  

Curiosity for other people’s stories could be what is needed to save the world.

—Noah Smith, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Peace to me is a calm lake without a ripple in sight. It’s a starry night with a gentle breeze that pillows upon your face. It’s the absence of arguments, fighting, or war. It’s when egos stop working against each other and finally begin working with each other. Peace is free from fear, anxiety, and depression. To me, peace is an important ingredient in the recipe of life.

—JP Bogan, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

From A Teacher

Charles Sanderson

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

The Birthday Gift

I’ve known Jodelle for years, watching her grow from a quiet and timid twelve-year-old to a young woman who just returned from India, where she played Kabaddi, a kind of rugby meets Red Rover.

One of my core beliefs as an educator is to show up for the things that matter to kids, so I go to their games, watch their plays, and eat the strawberry jam they make for the county fair. On this occasion, I met Jodelle at a robotics competition to watch her little sister Abby compete. Think Nerd Paradise: more hats made from traffic cones than Golden State Warrior ball caps, more unicorn capes than Nike swooshes, more fanny packs with Legos than clutches with eyeliner.

We started chatting as the crowd chanted and waved six-foot flags for teams like Mystic Biscuits, Shrek, and everyone’s nemesis The Mean Machine. Apparently, when it’s time for lunch at a robotics competition, they don’t mess around. The once-packed gym was left to Jodelle and me, and we kept talking and talking. I eventually asked her about the three things that matter to her most.

She told me about her mom, her sister, and her addiction—to horses. I’ve read enough of her writing to know that horses were her drug of choice and her mom and sister were her support network.

I learned about her desire to become a teacher and how hours at the barn with her horse, Heart, recharge her when she’s exhausted. At one point, our rambling conversation turned to a topic I’ve known far too well—her father.

Later that evening, I received an email from Jodelle, and she had a lot to say. One line really struck me: “In so many movies, I have seen a dad wanting to protect his daughter from the world, but I’ve only understood the scene cognitively. Yesterday, I felt it.”

Long ago, I decided that I would never be a dad. I had seen movies with fathers and daughters, and for me, those movies might as well have been Star Wars, ET, or Alien—worlds filled with creatures I’d never know. However, over the years, I’ve attended Jodelle’s parent-teacher conferences, gone to her graduation, and driven hours to watch her ride Heart at horse shows. Simply, I showed up. I listened. I supported.

Jodelle shared a series of dad poems, as well. I had read the first two poems in their original form when Jodelle was my student. The revised versions revealed new graphic details of her past. The third poem, however, was something entirely different.

She called the poems my early birthday present. When I read the lines “You are my father figure/Who I look up to/Without being looked down on,” I froze for an instant and had to reread the lines. After fifty years of consciously deciding not to be a dad, I was seen as one—and it felt incredible. Jodelle’s poem and recognition were two of the best presents I’ve ever received.

I  know that I was the language arts teacher that Jodelle needed at the time, but her poem revealed things I never knew I taught her: “My father figure/ Who taught me/ That listening is for observing the world/ That listening is for learning/Not obeying/Writing is for connecting/Healing with others.”

Teaching is often a thankless job, one that frequently brings more stress and anxiety than joy and hope. Stress erodes my patience. Anxiety curtails my ability to enter each interaction with every student with the grace they deserve. However, my time with Jodelle reminds me of the importance of leaning in and listening.

In the article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill, she illuminates how we “live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” For the last twenty years, I’ve had the privilege to work with countless of these “remarkable people,” and I’ve done my best to listen, and, in so doing, I hope my students will realize what I’ve known for a long time; their voices matter and deserve to be heard, but the voices of their tias and abuelitos and babushkas are equally important. When we take the time to listen, I believe we do more than affirm the humanity of others; we affirm our own as well.

Charles Sanderson has grounded his nineteen-year teaching career in a philosophy he describes as “Mirror, Window, Bridge.” Charles seeks to ensure all students see themselves, see others, and begin to learn the skills to build bridges of empathy, affinity, and understanding between communities and cultures that may seem vastly different. He proudly teaches at the Wellness, Business and Sports School in Woodburn, Oregon, a school and community that brings him joy and hope on a daily basis.

From   The Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Dear Charles Sanderson,

Thank you for submitting an essay of your own in addition to encouraging your students to participate in YES! Magazine’s essay contest.

Your essay focused not on what is important to you, but rather on what is important to one of your students. You took what mattered to her to heart, acting upon it by going beyond the school day and creating a connection that has helped fill a huge gap in her life. Your efforts will affect her far beyond her years in school. It is clear that your involvement with this student is far from the only time you have gone beyond the classroom, and while you are not seeking personal acknowledgment, I cannot help but applaud you.

In an ideal world, every teacher, every adult, would show the same interest in our children and adolescents that you do. By taking the time to listen to what is important to our youth, we can help them grow into compassionate, caring adults, capable of making our world a better place.

Your concerted efforts to guide our youth to success not only as students but also as human beings is commendable. May others be inspired by your insights, concerns, and actions. You define excellence in teaching.

Get Stories of Solutions to Share with Your Classroom

Teachers save 50% on YES! Magazine.

Inspiration in Your Inbox

Get the free daily newsletter from YES! Magazine: Stories of people creating a better world to inspire you and your students.

The 10 most important things in life (for fulfilment and happiness)

So much of our time here on Earth is wasted chasing away temporary happiness .

We spend an entire month’s pay on cellphones we’ll forget next year. We miss important birthdays because of a job that doesn’t pay well enough. And we say yes to too many projects and no to personal projects that would make us happy and fulfilled.

Too many of us feel unhappy with the choices we make because we realize they aren’t worth it in the end. We drop everything just to get our hands on these new and shiny things, forgetting that real invaluable possessions can’t be bought with money.

If you live in an amazing house with no happy family to live with, can you really tell yourself you live in a home?

Stop wasting your time pursuing things that won’t reward you with long-term happiness.

Money can buy happiness but that happiness fades away as easily as the cash you spend.

These 10 things are beyond money and can only achieved through mindful living.

The best part?

They’re free of charge and reward you ten times over:

Healthy Relationships

Successful people thrive in the presence of successful people. Don’t let gritty businessmen tell you that the road to success can be achieved by stepping on people.

There are many ways to achieve great things and using people at their own expense is not the best way to get there.

In fact, it has long been scientifically established that strong personal connections lead to happiness. Not only do they add value to our lives—they make us healthier.

One famous 79-year study from Harvard University found that our relationships and the happiness we derive from them have a powerful influence on our health.

According to clinical psychologist Sue Johnson:

“Good relationships aren’t just happier and nicer. When we know how to heal [relationships] and keep them strong, they make us resilient. “All these clichés about how love makes us stronger aren’t just clichés; it’s physiology. Connection with people who love and value us is our only safety net in life.”

But this means nothing if you lack empathy and emotional responsiveness.

Johnson explains :

“The secret to loving relationships and to keeping them strong and vibrant over the years, to falling in love again and again, is emotional responsiveness. “The $99 million question in love is, ‘Are you there for me?’ It’s not just, ‘Are you my friend and will you help me with the chores?’ It’s about emotional synchronicity and being tuned in.”

For starters, no matter how nonchalant you might seem, this is eventually going to weigh down on your spirit. There’s just something about being cruel and relentless that wears down the human soul.

Instead of treating life as a race, use social opportunities to create genuine relationships with people. Go for relationships that stimulate your brain and challenge you to become a better version of yourself. We’ve been trained to think that the only way up is by bringing other people down. It’s about time to change that and start developing real connections with the people around you. Everyone has their own story – you’d be surprised how similar you are with other people.

If you want to attract the right partner and experience inner peace in your relationships, check out our free masterclass with the shaman Rudá Iandê .

While it’s true that family can be a major source of stress for a lot of people, it can also be a major source of strength.

Some families have love/hate relationships and if you are like most families, you probably have some element of this in your life.

But that’s no reason to shut those people out of your life. In fact, that’s all the more reason to rally around them and celebrate who you are together, which is stronger together than apart. Family is one of the most important things you can focus on to help enrich your life and your love.

Keep this in mind:

Family doesn’t have to be defined as someone who is a blood relative to you. You do actually get to choose who you call family, despite popular belief.

Having a strong connection and support from family is good for our overall health or well-being.

According to psychologist John Northman:

“This idea of feeling connected becomes very reinforcing, to all of us, and it contributes to happiness, it contributes to mental health and it does contribute also to physical health.” “It’s well known that when people feel better connected, that they feel better physically, they’re certainly less likely to feel depressed — or if they do, they’re in a better position to get out of being depressed. “Overall, it leads to a feeling of a greater degree of support and connection psychologically.”

If we do have a mission in life, I think it has less to do about changing the world and more about honoring the life we have.

The first step to do that is by taking responsibility for your own life — your happiness and unhappiness, your fortune and misfortune, and for everything that happens to you.

In other words, you have to own your own life. And the only way to truly do this is to practice self-love.

One of the most common pieces of advice I come across is that you have to love yourself first before someone else can love you.

It’s an easy thing to say. But the reality is that it’s very difficult to put into practice.

The reason why self-love is so difficult is simple:

Society conditions us to try and find ourselves in our relationships with others.

If you want to learn how to love yourself for who you really are, check out our new masterclass by Rude landa.

Rudá Iandê is a world-renowned shaman. He has supported thousands of people for over 25 years to break through social programming so they can rebuild the relationships they have with themselves.

I recorded a free masterclass on love and intimacy so that Rudá Iandê could share his wisdom with the Ideapod community.

In the masterclass , Rudá Iandê explains that the most important relationship you can develop is the one you have with yourself:

“If you do not respect your whole, you cannot expect to be respected as well. Don’t let your partner love a lie, an expectation. Trust yourself. Bet on yourself. If you do this, you will be opening yourself to be really loved. It’s the only way to find real, solid love in your life.”

There’s a very good reason why it’s so important to love yourself:

“Remember that the kind of relationships you will materialize in your life is exactly the externalization of the relationship you have with yourself. Your loving relationships are reflections of your inner relationship. Learn to be loving, supportive, respectful to yourself, and you will materialize the same quality in your relationships.”

Here’s a link to the free masterclass again .

Your friends

With your family in check, it’s time to turn your attention to another important part of your life that requires a lot of consideration: your friends.

Whether you have one life-long friend or you have ten party friends who you share every weekend with, surrounding yourself with people who mean a lot to you is important.

Friends are more than just companions in our lives, they are confidants, cheerleaders, shoulders to cry on, and they provide couches to sleep on.

In fact, they provide so much value in our life, that they’re just as important, or even more so than our families.

Because they’re basically the family you choose.

At least according to new research published in the journal Personal Relationships. William Chopik, the study’s lead author says :

“The really surprising thing was that, in a lot of ways, relationships with friends had a similar effect as those with family—and in others, they surpassed them.” “You have kept those people around because they have made you happy, or at least contributed to your well-being in some way. “Across our lives, we let the more superficial friendships fade, and we’re left with the really influential ones.”

If you have even one good friend, consider yourself lucky. If you’ve not found someone you can call a friend yet, keep looking. It’s worth the wait.

Love in all shapes and sizes

Fill your life with a love that comes in all shapes and sizes. You don’t have to be romantically tied to anyone and you never need to fall in love.

You can find love from a variety of sources and be your own source of love. Love yourself before you go out into the world looking for someone else to love you.

Related Stories from Ideapod

If you want to become a more confident person, start doing these 8 things every morning, 8 body language tricks that instantly make you look more attractive, 9 things you don’t owe your parents an explanation for, according to psychology.

As spiritual healer Shannon Peck says :

“Love gives deeper meaning to everything. When we feel loved we feel most alive. When we love others it’s as though we’ve come home.”

But don’t mistake love for being just romantic. Before you can love anyone, you need to love yourself first.

Be comfortable loving yourself before you ask someone else to love you. What so many people do is put a lot of pressure on another person to provide them with the love they need.

It’s not necessary.

You can fulfill that role for yourself and enjoy the company of others and love them for who they are, not what they can give you.

Our free masterclass on love and intimacy with Rudá Iandê is really powerful. We mentioned it above. We also have another masterclass with Rudá on turning your frustrations in life into personal power . Rudá shares his life story in aligning his spiritual, family, work and love lives with his inner nature. Check it out.

Nelson Mandela famously said:

“There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

Life is made more special by our passions, our desires, our dreams, and our hopes. Without passion, we feel fruitless and unfulfilled.

Leadership coach and author John Maxwell calls passion the “fuel of persistence” for its capacity to make “the impossible possible.”

He explains :

“People are wired so that when their souls ignite, they no longer shrink before the barriers in front of them. That’s what makes a passionate leader particularly effective.”

Passion looks different for everyone. The wonderful thing about pursuing your passion, whether it’s your life’s work or your volunteer time on the weekend, you get to experience all aspects of being alive.

Studies show that passion has a big impact on maintaining “sustainable psychological well-being.” It gives us purpose and keeps us sane.

When your soul comes alive, you come alive. Passion helps our souls come alive. Don’t skimp on finding things that make you happy and bring you joy on the inside.

It’s not frivolous or silly: it’s the stuff good lives are made from.

Time and productivity

We have 24 hours a day to do the things we want. But sometimes we feel that this isn’t enough time to develop our character and become who we are. In reality, it’s not that time just moves too fast. Too often, we spend time on things that make us go slow.

We tend to prioritize things that cost too much energy and have little pay-offs. Most thought experts agree that multitasking only bears low productivity and even fewer results. The key to life, then, isn’t to do more but to do what you can with the time you have.

According to CEO David Allen, author of the famous book Getting Things Done:

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.”

And being productive is the simple solution to all your stress and anxiety about your goals in life.

“Perspective and control are the two ingredients to time management.”

When you see time as a finite resource, you stop taking it for granted and begin spending every second wisely.

Good health

When we’re enjoying the peak of our careers, it’s easy to forget that we’re humans too. We forget to eat, sleep, work out, and have fun. We forget that we’re more than just money-making machines churning dollar after dollar.

Too many great people fall into sickness because they didn’t bother taking care of themselves. When you spend all of your life working and chasing after successes, chances are you’re forgetting to nurture your body. Investing energy in proper health care ensures that you will be here long enough to watch your successes go in full bloom.

Here’s a staggering truth. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services:

“Unhealthy eating habits have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United States: about one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.”

That’s not the only reason for obesity. A lot of people also forget to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.

But good health isn’t just measured by longevity . The quality of life you live can also be considered good health. The less time you spend being sick and depressed gives you more time to enjoy what you have, without necessarily extending your lifetime. The key is to find enjoyment in the things you do, one minute at a time.

Without a healthy body to carry you through this life, it will be difficult to surround yourself with the things you need.

If you focus on creating a healthful lifestyle for yourself, you’ll find more passion for your hobbies, more love for the people in your life, more friends to accept you for who you are, and more family to feel connected to. Wellness doesn’t mean being thin or even pretty: it means being mindful of how you treat yourself and your body.

Dr. Ryan Corte, who specializes in health and wellness, it’s more than just being fit. It’s a choice to feel better.

“Wellness is something that you choose to pursue. It’s a choice you make in life that requires constant effort to achieve. “While associated with a healthy lifestyle, wellness goes beyond the confines of general health. It encompasses a positive outlook on your mind, body, and soul and is something we often have more control over than health.”

When you care for your body the way you would care for another human being, you send signals into the universe that you are worthy and that worthiness attracts good things into your life.

Reason to live

Your reasons to live are your goals but not all of your goals can be considered your reason to live . Your purpose is a larger-than-life phenomenon you have that drives your actions and your principles. It’s the reason why you get out of bed every day and why you keep bouncing back up regardless of the setbacks you face.

A person’s purpose takes on many forms. You may want to become a best-selling writer. Maybe you want to be a diplomat. Maybe you want to be an academic and change the way people understand education. These things are bigger than the mundanities of day-to-day life. Find what your purpose is and you will have unlimited fuel, sharper focus, and a more passionate outlook on life.

Personal development guru Celestine Chua that having a purpose in life is the “first step to live your most conscious life.”

“When you know your purpose, it helps you differentiate between the important and unimportant. Most people today are so caught up in so many things that ultimately do not make a difference in their lives. “When you have a purpose, you can immediately see which goals are important and which aren’t vs. your long-term life path. You can cut through the BS and get right to the things that matter.”

Find balance in all of these areas of your life and you’ll be one of the lucky ones. Work to create balance in all of these areas of your life and you’ll live a life that most only dream about. At the center of the perfect life is you. Don’t ever forget it.

How this one revelation changed my life

I used to believe I needed to be successful before I deserved to find someone who could love me.

I used to believe there was a “perfect person” out there and I just had to find them.

I used to believe I would finally be happy once I found “the one”.

What I now know is that these limiting beliefs were stopping me from building deep and intimate relationships with the people I was meeting. I was chasing an illusion that was leading me to loneliness.

If you want to change anything in your life, one of the most effective ways is to change your beliefs.

Unfortunately, it’s not an easy thing to do.

I’m lucky to have worked directly with the shaman Rudá Iandê in changing my beliefs about love. Doing so has changed my life forever.

Now, Rudá’s teachings can change your life, too.

As the founder of Ideapod, I’m in a unique position to be able to bring Rudá’s teachings to our global community.

We do this through our free masterclasses.

One of the most powerful masterclasses we have is on love and intimacy. In this class, Rudá breaks down his key lessons on cultivating healthy and nurturing relationships in your life.

Check it out here . It’s already been attended by thousands of people, many of whom have contacted me directly to let me know the masterclass has changed their lives.

The masterclass is 100% free and there are no strings attached.

Here’s a link to the masterclass again .

Did you like my article? Like me on Facebook to see more articles like this in your feed.

Enhance your experience of Ideapod and join Tribe, our community of free thinkers and seekers.

Related articles

• Isabella Chase

8 things highly successful people make it a point to do everyday

• Ethan Sterling

8 subtle signs you’re a deep thinker, according to psychology

• Lucas Graham

8 signs you have a good quality heart, according to psychology

Most read articles.

9 subtle but definitive green flags in a relationship, according to psychologists

• Natasha Combrink

People who succeed in eating healthily often exhibit these 7 behaviors

If you’re aiming for a healthier lifestyle, incorporate these 8 superfoods

Get our articles.

Ideapod news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox every month.

ABOUT IDEAPOD

Social media.

What Are the Most Important Things in Life? The 9 Things That Really Matter

In our fast-paced world, it is easy to lose sight of what the important thing that truly matters. We often find ourselves entangled in the web of materialism and superficial achievements, forgetting the intrinsic values that give life its true essence. It is my hope that this exploration will serve as a gentle reminder to reconnect with the core of our being, enabling us to walk the path of harmony and enlightenment.

May this post be a source of inspiration, allowing you to embrace these principles and incorporate them into your daily life, for the benefit of all sentient beings. As we cultivate these qualities, we are not only nurturing our own well-being but also contributing to the greater good of our world.

1. Love and Compassion

As we delve into the realm of human values and what truly matters in life, it becomes increasingly clear that love and compassion play a central role. These forces not only shape our relationships with others but also profoundly impact our own well-being.

The importance of love and compassion for oneself and others

Love and compassion are essential components of a meaningful and fulfilling life. By fostering these qualities, we can create an environment where empathy and understanding flourish, transcending the illusion of separateness that often defines our human experience. The cultivation of love and compassion enables us to form deeper connections with ourselves and others, leading to a greater sense of belonging and a more profound appreciation for the beauty of life.

Practical ways to cultivate love and compassion

Cultivating love and compassion requires both intention and practice. Here are some practical ways to nurture these qualities within ourselves:

Mindfulness : Becoming more aware of our thoughts and emotions allows us to recognize when we are acting out of fear or anger, providing us with the opportunity to consciously choose love and compassion instead.

Loving-kindness meditation (Metta) : This form of meditation involves focusing on cultivating feelings of love and compassion for oneself, loved ones, acquaintances, and even individuals we may find challenging.

https://declutterthemind.com/wp-content/uploads/loving-kindness-10-mins.mp3

Active listening : Engaging in deep, empathetic listening allows us to better understand the experiences and emotions of others, fostering a greater sense of compassion.

Acts of kindness : Engaging in small, regular acts of kindness towards ourselves and others can help to strengthen our capacity for love and compassion.

Reflect on shared humanity : Reminding ourselves of our shared humanity and the interconnectedness of all beings can help us to feel more compassionate and loving towards others.

The role of love and compassion in happiness and inner peace

Ultimately, love and compassion are integral to our overall well-being and happiness. Research has shown that individuals who exhibit higher levels of love and compassion tend to experience greater life satisfaction, better mental and physical health, and stronger social connections. By cultivating these qualities, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious world. It is through this deep understanding of interconnectedness and the practice of love and compassion that we can find inner peace and genuine happiness.

2. Gratitude

As we continue to explore the fundamental aspects of a meaningful life , the practice of gratitude emerges as a powerful tool in our pursuit of happiness and contentment. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude , we can develop a more profound appreciation for the beauty and richness of our lives, and improve our mental health overall. Gratitude is both one of the most important things in life but also allows us to better understand what are the most important things in life.

The power of gratitude in daily life

Gratitude, at its core, involves the conscious recognition and appreciation of the positive aspects of our lives. By focusing on the things we are grateful for, we shift our perspective from one of lack or discontent to one of abundance and satisfaction. This simple act can have a transformative effect on our mental and emotional well-being, leading to increased happiness, good health, reduced stress, and a greater sense of fulfillment.

How to practice gratitude regularly

Incorporating gratitude into our daily lives can be achieved through a variety of practices. Here are some suggestions to help cultivate an attitude of gratitude:

Keep a gratitude journal : Dedicate a few minutes each day to write down the things you are grateful for, focusing on specific events, friends or experiences.

Practice mindfulness : Bring your attention to the present moment and appreciate the beauty and richness of your current experience, regardless of its nature.

Express gratitude to others : Take the time to thank and acknowledge the people in your life for their kindness, support, and love.

Use gratitude prompts : Utilize prompts, such as photographs or objects, to remind you of the things you are grateful for and the people who have positively impacted your life.

Reflect on challenges : Recognize the growth and learning that has emerged from difficult experiences, and appreciate the resilience and strength you have developed as a result.

https://declutterthemind.com/wp-content/uploads/gratitude.mp3

The benefits of gratitude for mental and emotional well-being

Of the benefits of gratitude , the practice of gratitude has been consistently linked to improved mental and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that individuals who regularly practice gratitude experience greater happiness, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, improved sleep quality, and increased resilience in the face of adversity. By embracing an attitude of gratitude, we can not only enhance our own lives but also foster a more positive and compassionate world for all.

3. Living in the Present Moment

In our exploration of the most important aspects of a meaningful life, the concept of living in the present moment emerges as a key component. By embracing the here and now, we can develop a deeper understanding of our experiences and cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment.

The importance of living in the present moment

Our minds have a tendency to wander between past and future, often causing us to miss the richness of our present experience. By focusing on the present moment, we can gain a more accurate perspective on our lives and develop a greater appreciation for the beauty and complexity of our experiences. Living in the present also allows us to respond more effectively to the challenges we face, as we are better able to recognize and address our thoughts and emotions as they arise.

Meditation as a tool to achieve mindfulness and presence

Meditation is a powerful practice that can help us cultivate mindfulness and presence in our daily lives. By engaging in regular meditation, we can train our minds to become more focused and aware, allowing us to better navigate the fluctuations of our thoughts and emotions. As we develop our ability to remain present, we begin to experience a greater sense of inner peace, clarity, and well-being.

Tips for incorporating meditation into daily life

Incorporating meditation into our daily routines can be a highly effective way to develop mindfulness and presence. Here are some suggestions for integrating meditation into your life:

Set aside dedicated time : Establish a regular meditation practice by setting aside a specific time each day to engage in mindfulness exercises.

Start with short sessions : Begin with short meditation sessions, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable with the practice.

Experiment with different techniques : Explore various meditation techniques, such as focused attention, body scanning, or loving-kindness meditation, to find the approach that resonates best with you.

Utilize guided meditations : Make use of guided meditation recordings or apps such as Declutter The Mind to support your practice, particularly during the initial stages of your meditation journey.

https://declutterthemind.com/wp-content/uploads/short-daily-mindfulness-session-15-min.mp3

Be patient and consistent : Cultivating mindfulness and presence takes time and consistent effort. Be patient with yourself and maintain a regular practice to experience the full benefits of meditation .

By embracing the present moment and engaging in mindfulness practices such as meditation, we can foster a greater sense of inner peace, happiness, and well-being, allowing us to lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

4. Inner Peace and Balance

As we delve further into the essential elements of a meaningful life, the cultivation of inner peace and balance becomes increasingly significant. By developing a sense of equanimity and harmony within ourselves, we can more effectively navigate the complexities of our lives and foster a deeper connection with our true nature.

The connection between inner peace and external harmony

Our internal state often reflects and influences our external circumstances. By cultivating inner peace and balance, we create an environment in which we can respond more effectively to life’s challenges and maintain healthier relationships with those around us. As we achieve this inner equilibrium, we also become more capable of contributing positively to the world, promoting a greater sense of harmony and interconnectedness.

Ways to cultivate inner peace and balance

Achieving inner peace and balance requires intentional effort and practice. Here are some strategies to help foster this sense of equanimity:

Develop self-awareness : Engage in regular self-reflection and mindfulness practices to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

Establish boundaries : Set healthy boundaries in your personal and professional relationships to maintain a sense of balance and well-being.

Practice self-compassion : Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, acknowledging that you, like everyone else, are imperfect and deserving of compassion. There are plenty of self-compassion exercises to try.

Cultivate resilience : Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, recognizing that adversity can often lead to personal development and increased resilience.

Seek balance in daily life : Strive to maintain a balanced lifestyle, incorporating physical exercise, adequate rest, and activities that bring joy and relaxation.

https://declutterthemind.com/wp-content/uploads/inner-peace-10.mp3

The benefits of a balanced life

Cultivating inner peace and balance can have a profound impact on our overall well-being and quality of life. As we achieve a greater sense of equilibrium, we often experience reduced stress, improved mental and emotional health, increased clarity, and enhanced decision-making abilities. By fostering inner peace and balance, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more harmonious and interconnected world.

5. Forgiveness

As we continue to explore what are the most important things in life, the power of forgiveness emerges as an essential component. By embracing the practice of forgiveness, we can release ourselves from the burden of resentment and anger, paving the way for personal growth and healing.

The importance of forgiveness for healing and growth

Forgiveness involves letting go of negative emotions and judgments associated with past experiences, allowing us to move forward with a greater sense of freedom and inner peace. This process not only benefits our emotional well-being but also promotes personal growth, as we gain valuable insights and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

Steps to practice forgiveness towards oneself and others

Practicing forgiveness can be challenging, but it is possible with intention, focus and effort. Here are some steps to help you embark on the journey of forgiveness and learn how to forgive when you’ve been hurt :

Acknowledge the hurt : Recognize and validate the pain and emotions associated with the experience, giving yourself permission to feel and process them.

Develop empathy : Try to understand the perspective of the person who caused the hurt, considering their circumstances and motivations.

Accept responsibility : If applicable, take responsibility for your own actions and acknowledge any role you may have played in the situation.

Let go of expectations : Release any expectations of apology or restitution from the other party, as these expectations can prolong feelings of resentment.

Practice self-compassion : Remember that forgiveness is a process, and it may take time to fully release the burden of negative emotions. Be patient with yourself and maintain a compassionate and positive attitude throughout.

The role of forgiveness in personal transformation

Forgiveness can be a catalyst for personal transformation, as it allows us to let go of the past and create space for growth and healing. By embracing forgiveness, we develop a greater capacity for empathy, compassion, and understanding, ultimately leading to more fulfilling and meaningful relationships with ourselves and others. In cultivating forgiveness, we contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world, where healing and growth are possible for all.

6. The Pursuit of Truth and Wisdom

As we delve deeper into the most important things in life, the pursuit of truth and wisdom emerges as a vital component. Engaging in the quest for knowledge and understanding allows us to better navigate the complexities of our world and fosters personal growth and self-awareness.

The value of seeking truth and wisdom

In our pursuit of truth and wisdom, we cultivate a greater understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. This process helps us to develop critical thinking skills, challenge our assumptions, and embrace a more nuanced and informed perspective. By engaging in the search for truth, we become more open-minded, adaptable, and capable of making well-informed decisions.

Strategies for fostering truth and wisdom in our lives

To nurture the pursuit of truth and wisdom, we can engage in various practices and activities. Here are some suggestions to help you foster this quest in your life:

Embrace curiosity : Approach life with an open and inquisitive mind, seeking to learn from every experience and encounter.

Engage in continuous learning : Dedicate time and effort to ongoing education, whether through formal studies, self-directed learning, or engaging with new ideas and perspectives.

Cultivate intellectual humility : Recognize the limits of your own knowledge and be open to changing your beliefs when presented with new information.

Engage in thoughtful conversations : Seek out opportunities to engage in deep, meaningful discussions with others, exploring diverse viewpoints and challenging your own beliefs.

Reflect on your experiences : Take time to regularly contemplate your experiences and the life lessons they offer, fostering a greater sense of self-awareness and understanding.

The role of truth and wisdom in personal growth and fulfillment

By embracing the pursuit of truth and wisdom, we pave the way for personal growth, fulfillment, and a deeper understanding of our place in the world. This quest enables us to develop a more meaningful and purposeful existence, as we continually expand our awareness and engage with the world in a more thoughtful and compassionate manner. In seeking truth and wisdom, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to the collective understanding and progress of humanity.

7. Cultivating Purpose and Meaning

As we continue our exploration of what are the most important things in life, the importance of cultivating purpose and meaning becomes increasingly apparent. By finding and embracing our unique purpose, we can experience a more fulfilling and satisfying life, driven by a sense of direction and intention.

The significance of purpose and meaning in our lives

Purpose and meaning give our lives a sense of direction and motivation, enabling us to navigate the inevitable challenges and setbacks we face. By aligning our actions with our purpose, we can find a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our daily lives, fostering a greater sense of well-being and happiness.

Strategies for discovering and embracing your unique purpose

Finding and embracing our unique purpose can be a challenging and ongoing process. Here are some suggestions to help you embark on this journey:

Reflect on your values and passions : Consider what truly matters to you and what activities or causes evoke a sense of passion and motivation.

Explore your strengths and talents : Identify your natural abilities and skills, and consider how you can use them to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.

Set meaningful goals : Develop and pursue goals that align with your values and passions, giving your life a sense of direction and intention.

Engage in self-discovery : Engage in introspection and self-reflection to better understand your desires, motivations, and aspirations.

Seek support and guidance : Connect with mentors, role models, and good friends or like-minded individuals who can offer insight and encouragement as you explore your purpose.

The impact of purpose and meaning on overall well-being

Cultivating purpose and meaning has been shown to have a positive impact on our overall well-being and happiness. Individuals who experience a strong sense of purpose tend to have greater life satisfaction, improved mental and emotional health, and increased resilience in the face of adversity. By embracing our unique purpose and striving to live a life aligned with our values and passions, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more purposeful and meaningful world.

8. Developing Emotional Intelligence

In our ongoing exploration of the fundamental elements of a fulfilled life, developing emotional intelligence emerges as a critical component. Emotional intelligence refers to our ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Cultivating this skillset can lead to more fulfilling relationships, increased self-awareness, and overall well-being.

The role of emotional intelligence in personal growth and well-being

Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in our personal growth and well-being, as it allows us to navigate our emotional landscape more effectively and develop healthier relationships. By fostering emotional intelligence, we can experience increased empathy, improved communication skills, and a greater sense of self-awareness, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

Strategies for cultivating emotional intelligence

Developing emotional intelligence requires ongoing practice and self-reflection. Here are some suggestions to help you nurture this skillset in your life:

Practice mindfulness : Engage in mindfulness exercises to become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, allowing you to respond more effectively to emotional experiences.

Develop self-awareness : Regularly reflect on your emotions, thoughts, and reactions to better understand your emotional triggers and patterns.

Cultivate empathy : Strive to understand and share the feelings of others, fostering a greater sense of connection and compassion.

Improve communication skills : Enhance your ability to express your emotions and needs clearly and effectively, while also actively listening to the emotions and needs of others.

Manage stress and regulate emotions : Develop healthy coping strategies to manage stress and regulate your emotions, such as deep breathing exercises, journaling, or engaging in physical activity.

The benefits of emotional intelligence for personal and interpersonal relationships

By cultivating emotional intelligence, we can experience a range of benefits that enhance our personal and interpersonal relationships. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence tend to have more satisfying relationships, improved mental health, and greater success in both personal and professional domains. By investing in the development of emotional intelligence, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world.

9. Nurturing Connection and Compassion

As we reach the final element of a meaningful life, the importance of nurturing connection and compassion becomes clear. Our relationships with others and our ability to feel and express compassion are at the heart of our well-being and overall life satisfaction. Fostering connection and compassion can lead to a more fulfilling existence and contribute to a more harmonious world.

The significance of connection and compassion in our lives

Our connections with others and our capacity for compassion are essential for our emotional and psychological well-being. Meaningful relationships and the ability to empathize with others can enrich our lives, enhance our sense of belonging, and help us navigate the challenges we face.

Strategies for cultivating connection and compassion

Developing connection and compassion involves intentional effort and practice. Here are some suggestions to help you foster these qualities in your life:

Practice active listening : Engage in conversations with others by truly listening to their perspectives and feelings, making an effort to understand their experiences.

Cultivate empathy : Strive to put yourself in others’ shoes, imagining their experiences and emotions to foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding.

Engage in acts of kindness : Perform acts of kindness, both large and small, to strengthen your connections with others and promote a sense of compassion.

Be present and authentic : Be fully present and genuine in your interactions with others, creating a space for meaningful connections to flourish.

Seek opportunities for shared experiences : Engage in activities and experiences that bring people together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and connection.

The impact of connection and compassion on overall well-being

Nurturing connection and compassion has been shown to have a profound impact on our overall well-being and happiness. People who prioritize relationships and compassion tend to experience greater life satisfaction, improved mental and emotional health, and increased resilience in the face of adversity. By cultivating connection and compassion, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more connected and compassionate world.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of a Meaningful Life

As we reflect upon what are the most important things in life, it becomes clear that the journey towards personal growth and fulfillment is an ongoing and dynamic process. By embracing the pursuit of truth and wisdom, fostering inner peace and balance, cultivating emotional intelligence, nurturing connection and compassion, and developing a sense of purpose and meaning to enjoy life, we can create a more enriching and satisfying existence.

While the path towards a meaningful and happy life, may be filled with challenges and setbacks, the rewards of personal growth and self-discovery are profound. Each of the components discussed in this article offers unique insights and opportunities for growth, ultimately contributing to our overall well-being and happiness.

By engaging in this journey with intention and dedication, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more compassionate, interconnected, and purpose-driven world. It is through our collective efforts to cultivate these essential elements that we can truly create a meaningful and fulfilling life for ourselves and those around us.

More great articles

I Give Up: 10 Things To Do When You Feel Like Giving Up

You’ve been working so hard, trying to do everything you can to the best of your ability, but somehow here…

“Why Is Everyone So Mean to Me?” Why Some People Are Rude and Why It’s Not About You

Being mistreated by someone is one of those experiences that almost nobody can escape. The reasons for someone going at…

How to Make the Most of Life in 2023 and Beyond

You’re only given one life to make the most of. You’ve got one shot to go after your dreams, achieve…

Stop living on auto-pilot

Essay on My Values in Life

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

My values in life.

Personal values are qualities that one considers to be worthwhile and, as such, act as the driving force in their life. They take precedence over other qualities and therefore dictate the manner in which an individual may behave in particular instances. When it comes to my values in life, I have a few that I hold dear.

These values are a result of my upbringing, development, my principles, as well as my socialization and the culture around me. In this “my values in life” essay, I shall identify the core beliefs that I hold and how they influence my everyday choices, actions, and plans that I make.

One of the educational values that are fundamental to me is achievement. This is a result of my belief that what defines me most as a person is my determination to succeed and my desire to make a positive contribution to society through my career. Achievement is, therefore, one of the values that are most important to me since, in today’s world, achievement and success are mostly tied together with educational success. As a result of this, I hold my educational exploits in high esteem since education is one of the avenues where one’s determination leads to quantifiable success.

I greatly value close relationships with my friends and constantly seek to cement the same. This is because good friends can assist one in achieving his/her goals in life and can sometimes even be closer than family. For this reason, I invest a lot of time and effort in my close friends. I make it a priority to be a part of the significant moments in my friends’ lives, such as their birthdays, wedding days, and even baby christening ceremonies. In addition to this, I always ensure that I inquire as to their well beings periodically.

Growth and personal development for me is a very fundamental value, and its importance in my life cannot be understated. It is my belief that my life is not worth much if I do not strive to constantly improve on my achievements as well as in becoming a better person. This value of personal growth and development greatly impacts my daily living, especially when establishing new relations. It is generally my rule that if a new relationship does not add any value to my life, then I should not waste my time exploring it.

One of the constant realities in human life is that we will always be surrounded by needy people. As such, on a social level, I always strive to give my services to the less fortunate. In my opinion, a life well lived is one that is lived in such a way that it makes a difference to someone else’s life. This is the philosophy with which I have led my life up to this point, and at all times, I try to make a difference in the lives of the people that surround me. Helping other people is, therefore, a value that I value not only in myself but also in other people.

While modern-day living has somewhat led to a degradation of the value of family from what it used to be in gone years, I still hold the value of family to be very important in my life. To me, one’s family members are the ones who will stand by you no matter the situation and encourage you through life’s troubles.

While I reckon that family may not always be supportive or as ideal as I envision it, in my experience, my family is closely knit and always stands up for me. I, therefore, always have my family in mind when making my decisions and consider how my actions will affect them. In addition, I try to seek guidance from members of the family who are more experienced than I am before making monumental decisions in my life.

It has been argued that honest men and women are a dying breed. This statement holds true in our capitalistic society, where profits and personal gains are the primary objectives. The means by which one achieves success is often overlooked, and as such, the ends justify the means.

Even in the midst of such an environment, I still hold honesty as one of my core values. This is mostly a result of my upbringing, whereby honesty was applauded and dishonesty shunned. Also, I have come to realize that when one achieves success through honesty, the level of satisfaction that comes with it is truly unrivaled by any other feeling.

Owing to my upbringing, I have a huge regard for religion. As such, one of my spiritual values is engaging myself in some religious organizations. While it is true that most of my religious values are a result of my upbringing, I have, over time, come to embrace them as my own and therefore make it my personal duty to be actively involved in my religious organization.

To me, this brings about a sense of balance and helps me be more reflective and appreciative in my life. My religious values impact my decision-making since I try not to make choices that are contrary to my religious beliefs.

In this paper, I have identified some of the values that I hold dear to me. I have also identified how these values impact the choices that I make as well as the actions that I take. From this deep exploration of my values, I have come to the realization that my values greatly dictate how I treat the people around me as well as how I prioritize matters. I believe that as a result of my values, I strive harder to achieve the things that I want in life, and as such, I am a better person as a result of them.

• Parenting, Divorce, Dating in the Dear Abby Letter
• Maintaining a Balance of Upbringing
• Anne Bradstreet’s Poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband”
• Most Influential People - My Uncle Jack
• The Ethical Dilemma - How to Make the Right Decision
• Concepts of Lessons from My Life as a Bully
• This Capstone Class: Practice of Ethical and Social Responsibility
• Why Gay Marriage Should Not Be Legal
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, July 15). Essay on My Values in Life. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-values-in-life/

"Essay on My Values in Life." IvyPanda , 15 July 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/my-values-in-life/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Essay on My Values in Life'. 15 July.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Essay on My Values in Life." July 15, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-values-in-life/.

1. IvyPanda . "Essay on My Values in Life." July 15, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-values-in-life/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Essay on My Values in Life." July 15, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-values-in-life/.

Personal Essay Example:  The Most Influential and Impactful People in My Life

Typically, high school students have a best friend that is relatively the same age as them. Well, my best friend is a middle-aged man. My best friend is my dad. When I think of someone who has impacted my life, my mind immediately goes to him. I think about all the things I have told him that can only come from a certain amount of trust. When you share a decent amount of trust with someone, a bond seems to form, one unlike any other. A bond that makes a person your best friend. My dad is and always will be my best friend. 

For as long as I can remember, basketball has been one of my dad’s favorite things. He would always talk about his teams, who they were going to play, and how well the competition would be. My dad has coached girls basketball for eleven years, ranging from coaching seventh grade to ninth grade. I have always admired how connected my dad was with his teams. When I would go to his games, I could see how much trust he had in his players and how much trust they had in him. While playing a school sport, it is guaranteed that there will be some amount of drama. Players would try to tear the team apart by fomenting drama or parents will be insatiable with their child’s playing time. I heard about all of this at home. I would hear about how frustrated my dad was getting because he heard a parent complaining to another parent about his coaching skills. It has always been hard seeing him get frustrated with these sorts of things because he doesn’t normally let the words of parents get under his skin. He rarely brings up what they say and he barely ever shows that he is paying attention to what they are saying. 

My dad has always been the kind of guy to push me to be my absolute best. He’s not the kind of guy to let me get away with putting half of my effort into anything. At work, my dad is a manager. Well, the manager of his department. He comes home all the time talking about how his coworkers will make him so mad because they seem like they don’t even want to be there. My dad has always told me, “If you’re going to do anything, always leave it all out there.” My dad and I both get very frustrated with ourselves when something is not going the way we want it to. My dad has managed to find something he calls the Reset Button. When he presses the Reset Button, he moves on from whatever is bothering and upsetting him. This magical button has never helped me. Brief exchanges of looks between me and my dad have always seemed to be my Reset Button. When I am frustrated and I make eye contact with my dad, it is almost like an entire conversation happens in thirty seconds. I don’t know if my dad means for that to happen, but it does. The words he says by saying nothing always seemed conducive to me. Like I know that no matter what happens, he is always going to be proud of me. 

I have always been a gullible person. You say something to me and I will believe it. I have a hard time with confrontation; therefore, I always believe the best in people and put all my trust in them. My dad; however, people have to earn his trust. When we have conversations about my gullibility, the conversation almost always ends with me in tears. My dad always tells me that if I continue to believe the best in people, they will always run me over. I have never really comprehended what he meant. I would hear what he said, and I’ve heard it multiple times, but I continue to put all my trust and believe the best in everyone. My dad has never told me why he continuously asks me to stop being so gullible. Maybe it was because he got hurt in the past believing people too much and he doesn’t want me to go through that same pain; however, I have never been able to ask him why. 

Collecting sports cards has become an obsession of my dads. Taking up an entire room in our house to be exact. To spend time with my dad, I went to a card show with him. As we rode in the car, I realized I had no idea what to expect going into the building; however, the excitement on my dad’s face made the uneasiness disappear. As we walked up to the exposition center and through the halls, I could see the excitement flowing from him. If you were to compare my dad and a kid in a candy shop at that exact moment, I truly believe you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference. When we finally got to the part of the building that was holding the card show, the countless tables full of objects ranging from cards to signed shoes astounded me. My father; however, was tremendously comfortable with the crowded environment. He made his way through the tables speaking the card addict lingo and by the time we were walking out the door, he was leaving with exactly what he had gone in looking for.

Car rides are always my favorite when I am with my dad. The things we talk about are all over the place. When you get in the car, you never really know what is going to happen. We could talk about sports, college, drama, or even the things that go on at home. My dad has always been the parent I feel more comfortable going up and talking to. When in the car with my dad, I feel safe. I feel like I can say anything and know that he is going to listen. Most of the time, when I am stressed about school, I always find myself talking to him about it in the car. At times, it feels like I am just talking to myself, but when that happens, I know my dad is listening to every word I say. I would say my dad is a very observant person. He always wants you to say everything and have your full stance before he chimes in with another component. 

While my dad can be straightforward, he is also one of the most humorous people I know. My dad will always try to make us laugh and it always brings a smile to the whole family. When my dad busts out his dance moves from back in the day, the amount of laughter that fills the room is astronomical. Or when he unleashes his vocals, that’s a household favorite. If one of us kids has a bad day at school, my dad will tell us a funny story from work. I wouldn’t say my dad is a people pleaser, but I think that when he truly wants to make someone’s day, he will find a way to make them smile. The amount of joy that my dad has in him seems to surprise some people. Some people will say that my dad is scary. When really, once you get to know him, he is a pretty exceptional guy. 

My dad has always told me and my siblings that no matter what we decide to do in life, he will support us no matter what. The belief in knowing that my dad has my back has always been so reassuring to me. When I decided to no longer take part in a sport that I had been participating in for what seems like forever, I truly thought my dad was going to be frustrated with me. I didn’t want him to believe I was just giving up. When he wasn’t upset, it took me by surprise. It had made me feel like the love my dad had for me had overridden his love for the sport and that he just wanted me to be happy. My whole life, having my dad’s approval on everything has been so important to me. One of my biggest goals ever since I was little has been to make my dad proud. My dad has been understanding of every decision I have made. When I decided on my career path, I could see how proud I was making him. The approval of my parents when choosing where I want to go to college and what I want to do after has always been important to me. I know no matter what I choose to do, my dad will be there and be my biggest supporter and scream my name the loudest at either my accomplishments or at my failure. I know he will be proud I tried and he will always be there to pick me up if I fall. 

Dad, you have been one of the most influential and impactful people in my life. You have made me see things from a different perspective. You have helped me get through things that I wouldn’t have been able to get through on my own. You have had conversations with me about things that are incredibly important to consider regarding my future. You are someone I feel like I can always go to, no matter the reason. You have made me laugh harder and more uncontrollably than anyone else. You have made me feel safe, and you have made me feel loved. Dad, I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. You are my forever best friend.

Related Samples

• Agent Jay is Hero (Men In Black Movie Review)
• Personal Essay Example: Sports is the Key to Friendship
• Essay Sample on Student Rights
• Personal Narrative Essay: Panic Attacks
• Does Technology Help People’s Lives To Be Easier And Better?
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Having Household Robots Essay Example
• The Importance of Laughter Essay Sample
• Reflective Essay Sample about Hero
• The Career of a Marketing Manager Essay Sample
• Virtue and Happiness Essay Example

Didn't find the perfect sample?

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

3 lessons about what really matters in life, learned in the pandemic

Share this idea.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

The last year has been like no other.

Since March 2020, every person on the planet has had their life shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way. In the midst of the hardship and challenges, there’s been the sense among many people that this period has helped us evaluate our lives and focus on what’s truly important.

And maybe, just maybe, we’ve learned something from this moment.

In response to the pandemic, StoryCorps — a nonprofit dedicated to recording the largest collection of human stories and winner of the 2015 TED Prize — created StoryCorps Connect , a new tool to bring together loved ones via video conferencing and record the audio of their conversations.

Below are excerpts from a handful of the thousands of interviews recorded in recent months through StoryCorps Connect.

Lesson #1: The pandemic has helped us find deeper meaning in our work

Two mail carriers see the value in every delivery they make

Before getting a job as a mail carrier in Palm Beach, Florida, Evette Jourdain was going through a hard time — she’d lost her father, her brother and then her home. Finding reliable work helped tremendously, but then came COVID-19.

As Jourdain talked to her coworker , fellow postal worker Craig Boddie, she shared how she was feeling. “My anxiety levels are always on 10,” she says. “I pray on my way to work, I pray on my lunch break, I pray when I’m at the box. What keeps me going is just the fact that I need to keep going.”

Boddie agreed. His wife has autoimmune disease, and as he puts it, “Every day I wake up and wonder, ‘Is this the day that COVID-19 is gonna come home with me?’”

But he also knows that his work is more important than ever, and he thinks about how each package he carries contains something to keep people afloat in some way. “We’re like a lifeline — getting these people their medicines, their supplies.”

A health care provider gains inspiration from a classic novel 

Josh Belser and Sam Dow are good friends who grew up in Tampa, Florida, and who now both work in healthcare 400 miles apart — Belser as a nurse in Syracuse, New York, and Dow as a health technician in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

And with COVID-19, they’ve both found themselves on the frontlines. “My floor was one of the first that was converted to strictly dealing with COVID patients. Our jobs changed like overnight,” says Dow in their StoryCorps conversation. “There was no dress rehearsal — the numbers started to go up and it was show time.”

So how did they get through? Dow tells his friend he found some inspiration in Albert Camus’s classic novel The Plague . “It’s about an epidemic, and the main character was a doctor,” he explains. “And he says the way to get through something like this is to be a decent person. Somebody asks him, ‘What makes a decent person?’ He says, ‘I don’t know but, for me, it’s just doing my job the best way I can.’”

Dow says he’s tried to do exactly that. “Hopefully I made a difference in people’s lives.”

Lesson #2: Family rhythms have shifted, but our ties are as important as ever

A grandmother takes strength from her ancestors

Like so many other people, COVID-19 took Jackie Stockton by surprise. One day, she was at her church in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, celebrating her 90th birthday — and the next thing she knew, she was in the hospital. What’s more, she was part of a community cluster, and five members of the church eventually died from the virus, including Stockton’s best friend as well as her son-in-law.

Stockton spoke to her daughter , Alice Stockton-Rossini, about these losses. She says, “I remember 9/11 as though it just happened, but then it was over. This will never, ever be over.”

As a way to cope, she finds herself thinking of her great-grandmother. “She lost half of her children. She lived through the worst kind of hell,” she recalls. “She was an amazing woman, and so was her husband. They just did the things they needed to do. And they survived.”

The pandemic brings together a mother and daughter

In 2005, attorney Chalana McFarland of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of mortgage fraud and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The judge hoped this harsh sentence would deter others from similar crimes, but it had severe consequences for McFarland’s 4-year-old daughter, Nia Cosby.

In 2020, with the onset of COVID-19, McFarland was transferred to home confinement. Upon being released, the first person she saw was her now college-age daughter. In a candid conversation during their first weekend together in 15 years, Nia describes their reunion as “one of the best moments of my life.”

McFarland agrees. “When I left, you were driving a Barbie car, and now you’re flexin’ in the Honda Accord,” she says. “We’ve had a relationship over the years, but it’s like pieces of a puzzle that we’re just now putting together. I can’t wait for you to discover how much alike we really are, because you haven’t really gotten to know who I am. But I see so much of me in you. Out of all the things that I’ve done in my life, you are the absolute one thing that I got right.”

A canceled reunion highlights the power of family stories

The Quander family has a long history in the US. Its matriarch, Nancy Carter, was one of 123 enslaved people owned by George Washington, and she was freed in his will. She later married Charles Quander, and in 1926, their descendents held the first Quander family reunion.

It took place every year since 1926 — until now.

“This one would have been the 95th reunion,” Rohulamin Quander, 76, tells his 18-year-old cousin , Alicia Argrett.

In lieu of gathering in person, Argrett asks him: “What would you like to pass on to me?” His reply: “That you are the keeper of the stories.”

Argrett appreciates his call to take this responsibility seriously. “As we’ve seen this year, you never know when your last [family reunion] could be,” she says. “I think it’s important to capture those opportunities while you still have them in your grasp. And I’m going to do what I can on my end to keep the spirit of the family alive.”

Lesson #3: Small gestures have a huge impact on our well-being

This pandemic led to the best date of her life — a staircase apart

As the director of microbiology at a hospital in Rochester, New York, Roberto Vargas’s job is to diagnose infectious disease. With his lab running constant COVID-19 tests, he needed to isolate himself from his wife, Susan Vargas, and their four children.

Initially, he stayed in a hotel but found it too lonely. So he moved into the family’s basement, stipulating that no one else was to go beyond the top of the stairs. One night, as the Vargases recall in their conversation, a coworker brought them all a home-cooked meal. “You sat at the bottom of the stairs in a rocking chair, and I was at the top. It was the first time we had been able to connect in so long,” says Susan.

This simple moment, she says, helped get her through the months of the pandemic, and it will forever be what she remembers most from this time: “As crazy as it sounds, it’s the best date I’ve ever had with you in my life.”

Mother and son reflect on a special, shared memory

In 2015, nine-year-old William Chambers went to work with his mother. Not to an office, but to a senior center near Boston, Massachusetts, where Ceceley Chambers works as an interfaith chaplain providing spiritual counsel to those with memory loss. Ceceley knew the seniors would enjoy spending time with a young person.

What she didn’t expect was for William to sit down at a table with a woman cradling a baby doll she thought was real, and talk to her as easily as if she were his friend. “You just jumped into her world,” she recalls.

As Ceceley continues her work during the pandemic, both she and William have been thinking about that moment a lot. Although the structure of her days hasn’t changed, she’s seeing much more fear in those she’s counseling. William says he has been working hard to cultivate empathy for whatever mood she comes home with. Thinking of that woman with the doll and the other patients helps him.

He adds, “They made me think you should enjoy life as much as you can, ‘cause it doesn’t happen forever.”

Want to record an interview with a loved one — nearby or far away — about their experiences during the pandemic? Here’s how to get started . You can also explore more StoryCorps stories here .

Watch StoryCorps founder Dave Isay’s TED Prize Talk here:

About the author

Kate Torgovnick May is a journalist and writer based in Los Angeles. A former storyteller at TED, she has worked with the ambitious thinkers of the TED Prize and Audacious Project, helping them share their stories in video and text. She's also the author of the narrative nonfiction book, CHEER!: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders, and has written for the television series NCIS and Hellcats. Read more about her work at KateTorgovnickMay.com.

• society and culture

TED Talk of the Day

How to make radical climate action the new normal

6 ways to give that aren't about money

A smart way to handle anxiety -- courtesy of soccer great Lionel Messi

How do top athletes get into the zone? By getting uncomfortable

6 things people do around the world to slow down

Creating a contract -- yes, a contract! -- could help you get what you want from your relationship

Could your life story use an update? Here’s how to do it 

6 tips to help you be a better human now

How to have better conversations on social media (really!)

3 strategies for effective leadership, from a former astronaut

The art of storytelling, according to the founders of StoryCorps and Humans of New York

10 questions to ask your family around the table

10 real-life love stories that'll grab you by the heart, from Storycorps

How to unlock your family history

Home / Essay Samples / Life / About Myself / The Three Most Important Things in Life

The Three Most Important Things in Life

• Category: Life
• Topic: About Myself

Pages: 1 (577 words)

• Downloads: -->

Relationships and Connection

Personal growth and fulfillment, contribution and impact.

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Laughter Essays

Compassion Essays

Pride Essays

Loneliness Essays

Humanity Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service  and  Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->