I was originally planning for this post to be a YouTube video where I play a modified version of Arna Miller’s Game of Values, where I sift through all 55 values and see which one are my top 3. I spent about thirty minutes trying to record it before my cats suddenly pressed stopped several times at various points, some which I noticed right away and some which I didn’t realize until I had talked for several minutes. As such, we’re just going to skip to the last three.

It should be noted, this is not the first time I’ve done this particular activity. Value Sorts come in many shapes and sizes, although this one comes with pretty art work.

After sifting through this set, the top three values (in no particular order) ended up being:

In my other value sort, Competency was not only in my top 5 is was the one that felt paramount above all the rest (the rest being ethics/fairness and relationship/community). Competency was not one of the labeled 55 values, but I do find it appropriate that the three of these when kitbashed together become an approximate of competency.

Being good at something means wanting to know more about it. Being good at something means wanting to innovate and do something with that knowledge. Being good at something, at least in my mind, requires the ability to explain a thing.

Appropriately enough, I think these three C’s are also probably the major recurring motifs of my hybrid chapbook that I’m nearing completion on. So, a fitting interlude to end.

Next month, the final stretch of MOURNING|MANANANGGAL. And then? Probably a change of cadence and even more self-reflection because that’s really what the cold weather does to me in particular.