Values

                  We all have personal values we carry with us throughout life, impacting who we transform into and some of our decisions along the way. I had never actually sat down and thought about what was most important to me in my life, so when we discussed this in class on Tuesday and were asked to write our top five values, I struggled a bit. To some, these values could be meaningless, but to me they are what make my life significant. Here is a list of my top five values:

1.        1.  Health

2.        2.  Family

3.        3.  Respect

4.        4. Honesty

5.        5.  Consciousness

                  As I read The Sacred Tree, I really got a sense of what Native Americans value in their lives. Although there are other ideals and morals that they may follow, I got my own impression of what they would write down for their top five values. Below are these five values, along with a short explanation of why I believe this is a top priority of theirs.

1.         1. Interconnectedness—their connection with the earth and one another, along with a balance among all living things.

2.         2. Health—use of medicinal herbs and rituals.

3.         3. The present—the consciousness of being present in the here and now; living in the present.

4.         4. Human development—journeys and events transforms us into who we are.

5.         5. Memory—the power of the mind to remember and learn.

                  I believe that we share a lot of similar values, if not directly, then definitely in some form. The one that stuck out to me the most is the importance of consciousness/the present in both lifestyles. Being aware of our state of mind at all times and awareness of the here and now is definitely a top priority we share. Although these values do not pertain to every Native American, I believe that they are a somewhat accurate portrayal of what The Sacred Tree wishes to convey to the reader.