Values Paper

By: Anthony Davis
Class: Intercultural Communication
2/1/2013

Charles Darwin says, “A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life”. I chose this quote not because I agree with the theories of Darwin or anything of that sort. I bring it up because it best probably describes the attitude of my father. I was raised with this instilled in me that any idle moment was a moment wasted. I learned in school, that being late would earn me tardies, and that if I got enough of those then I would get detention. When I entered the workplace it was quickly found out that being late, no matter how good I was at my job, would get me unemployed. From a young age I understood that there was an importance in time and it’s control. This is one of the value orientations that I am in conflict with.
Even though I was brought up with an understanding of time management, I suffer from ADD and always had a hard time organizing my schedule depending on that days possible emotions or the habitual forgetfulness. I have attempted to keep organizers, online calendars, sticky pads, and other options. I have gotten better at it but that is because I have a very few important set priorities that I track such as work, school, and bills. These I have learned are the least forgiving in my experience, and I try my best to keep these foremost. I have found myself frantically emailing a professor or two asking for a day extension though. The rest I impress little importance on and have found it is where I am happy and functional. These would include plans with friends, haircuts, lawn mowing, appointments, and pretty much anything that doesn’t provide a possible backlash of consequence. Not saying I do not get these things done it is just at a slower, easier pace then what seems to be a society norm.

I have had conflict in scheduling plans with friends and family and they are often frustrated when I do not want to make plans in advance and want to wait and see how I feel that day. It also makes me come across to others as impulsive. I will not plan things out but then all the sudden I will make a plan or a life decision without much if any forewarning. My values when it comes to time and it’s control isn’t raised into me by my parents and peers but instead is an adaptation to my disability.
The next value orientation where I find myself in conflict is personal control over the environment. I think that it has been shown that we do not have the capacity as a people to have complete control over an environment, especially the environment of others. I understand it on lesser levels such as a teacher controlling a classroom. Even in a classroom though you want to allow a freedom of expression, it would not be helpful to hinder creative though or individual achievement.
What I find myself in conflict with the most is the environment as a whole, they now grow human organs inside of living animals, there is rumors and expert testimonies that now believe the technology is here for weather control, and other attempts to control free markets for personal and corporate gain. The problem with wanting complete control of an environment is that the tendency as I have seen it is to use the control for personal gain, or perceived good of the “whole”.
This causes conflict because I believe in a more laid back lifestyle. Why try and rush things, good things come in time. Others are more pressed on controlling time, money, commitments, and goals to move forward. They understand control of their environment. I also come in conflict with people that do not truly understand how large scale that this desire for control can go. I myself would rather let nature, earth, and ither not understood principles to their own means and strive more for working in harmony not domination over our environment.
One value that I could easily reflect on and see my own values is that of self-help. I lived a hard