ContrarianGuy Loc: NorthWest Wisconsin

I have developed a practice of posing questions to myself and taking these questions into Contemplation.

Contemplation is not Meditation where one strives to Still or Quiet the mind and wait to perceive some Insight or Unexpected
Realization ...

Contemplation is the practice of sitting quietly for up to 20 minutes while posing a question to yourself ... When I contemplate,
I first compose a question of interest ... find a comfortable position on a chair or bed or taking a walk ... Pose the Question ...
and then putting attention on my highest self and entering into a conversation with the Source of All ... The results may be
dramatic ... or they may require several such contemplative sessions to arrive at a strong conclusion ... In fact, I have also
learned even if I get an immediate answer ... it makes sense to repeat this process several times to see if the answer is generally the same ... or did I perceive a totally different answer in the end ... A better understanding of the insights this process produces ...

The Question I have posed to myself most recently is one I would like to pose to you ...

--- WHAT IS IT THAT YOU MOST VALUE ? ---

I encourage you to Pose this question to yourself and respond with your personal conclusions ...

I will be doing the same ...

May the Blessings Be !!!

Looking forward to responses ... No judgement ... just sincere sharing and exchanging of insights and ideas ...

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Oh Boy! Are you going to get some interesting answers on this site! Anyway, I'll try and answer in the spirit of the question, unlike the 50 that come next.

Starting with the word 'value', I feel a definition is necessary. It's amazing to me how words can be used in everyday language and have meanings we never use. So:

As a noun:

1/ the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something:
"your support is of great value"
synonyms: worth · usefulness · advantage · benefit · gain · profit ·
(values)

2/ a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life:
"they internalize their parents' rules and values"
synonyms: principles · ethics · moral code · morals · standards ·

3/ the numerical amount denoted by an algebraic term; a magnitude, quantity, or number:
"the mean value of x" ·

4/ music
the relative duration of the sound signified by a note.

As a verb:

1/ estimate the monetary worth of (something):
"his estate was valued at $45,000"
synonyms: evaluate · assess · estimate · appraise · price ·

2/ consider (someone or something) to be important or beneficial; have a high opinion of:
"she had come to value her privacy and independence"
synonyms: think highly of · have a high opinion of ·

Scanning up and down these definitions, I think we can eliminate several at first pass:

As a noun, numbers 3 & 4 can be safely discarded, since the question is worded in such a way as to ask for a subjective answer and not a factual, numerical value. Similarly, as a verb, number 1 is excluded.

As a noun, number 2 would seem to mirror the question posed in the sense that principles and standards are deemed to be actual 'values'. But then we run into the quandary of whether some values are valued higher than others and there would have to be one supreme value above all others. I see personal values as more a system than a group of discrete phenomena, so this is discounted also.

What I have left to work with is the noun, the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something; and the verb, to consider (someone or something) to be important or beneficial; have a high opinion of.

These two definitions have usefulness and importance with reference to 'regard' (or 'high opinion of') in common. So what I am looking for is something that is useful and at the same time held in high regard.

Usefulness is a practical attribute whilst 'regard' is a subjective judgement. I would describe my pocket knife as probably the most useful item I possess, and I do hold it in high regard as it is a good quality material and was assembled to be very rugged. Yep, I think I'll stick with that.

Pocket knife. Final answer.

As an aside, Albert Einstein did what he called 'thought experiments' when investigating ideas or theories that were too expensive or complex to run as practical lab routines. This is how he came to define his principles of relativity.

Funny old world, innit?

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

What I most value are all the kids we have met and have been blessed to know and help rise above the abuse that was part of their childhoods. And the wonderful woman who has been with me in this experience.

ContrarianGuy Loc: NorthWest Wisconsin

Larry in Flordia Panhandle ...

Appreciate your exposition of the word "Value" ...

Yes ... there can be many interpretations to this question and I sense you Value "correct usage of words" ...

Thank you for your comments ... enjoyed it very much ...

ContrarianGuy Loc: NorthWest Wisconsin

No Propaganda --

Looks like you very much Value Family ... and as a corollary ... you also value LOVE in your life ...

By the way ... from my perspective ... Life is Perpetual ... the Physical Bodies are not ... but the Soul who occupies and maintains these bodies is the essence of Life ... the Bodies are simply a vehicle for gaining experience and learning how to face challenges ...
like trying to master challenges that your character faces in today's video games ...

Something else to ponder ...

Thank you for your posting ... May the Blessings Be ... Conrtrarian Guy ...

goch1

After a short period of "Contemplation" my "Source of All" (whom I address as "Heavenly Father") provided this "Unexpected Realization." I value most the Creation of all things. We humans are created magnificently well, with abilities and sometimes disablilities. I don't have to even think about "breathing." That is an automatic part of my Created being. Hunger moves me to find things to ingest and the digestion happens without my input automatically. I guess what I value most is this short physical life and a promise that when it is over there is something even better.

goch1

Kind of surprised there aren't more responses to your original post. I suppose it has to do with the effort to come up with something that is "MOST" valued when there is so much to choose from.