Value City

“To be mature you have to realize what you value most. It is extraordinary to discover that comparatively few people reach this level of maturity. They seem never to have paused to consider what has value for them. They spend great effort and sometimes make great sacrifices for values that, fundamentally, meet no real needs of their own. Perhaps they have imbibed the values of their particular profession or job, of their community or their neighbors, of their parents or family. Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one’s own values is a tragic waste. You have missed the whole point of what life is for.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

I receive Gretchen Rubin’s daily Moment of Happiness email in my inbox each morning. Yesterday’s message was the above quote by Eleanor Roosevelt.  I spent the whole day thinking back on it and trying to consider whether I’m prioritizing the things I value most.  The idea also reminded me of something I heard before about personal finances, and how your spending habits serve as a reflection of what you’re prioritizing in your life, consciously or otherwise.