HAYLEE MATECKO

Julie Andrews, in her novel The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, said, “Have you noticed how nobody ever looks up? Nobody looks at…the trees against the sky… Everybody just looks down at the pavement or their shoes. The whole world could pass them by and most people wouldn't notice”. Upon reading this sentence, I knew that this was an idea I wanted to live by. 

 

“Okay, so…  How are we supposed to pick just five?”

 

“Man, this is going to be hard!”

 

“These are all important to me in some way, so how am I supposed to get rid of any?”

 

The clamor of the classroom was deafening. After receiving the values cards, my classmates were exclaiming their worries and concerns about what to do next.

 

All the while I just sat there, staring at the cards. What would everyone think of me if I didn’t put faith in my top 5 values? Is it bad to choose 5 cards that aren’t adventure and change? These thoughts were swarming my mind, along with the worries of my classmates adding to my own.

 

I knew I was different than all of them, because my first reaction wasn’t to verbalize my worries. I was already afraid of what they would think about my values, and I especially didn’t want them to know that I was worried about that! So I quietly sat at my desk, looking at the cards. What did I know right off the bat was not me?

 

Adventure, change, excitement, challenge, fast pace – not me at all.

 

So what was me?

 

I decided to put my values to the test. I figured my best option was to live my life as I always do, and then figure out exactly what fit with my typical actions.

 

“But listen to that bird!” I exclaimed, after being criticized for walking slowly. “It’s so beautiful. It’s perching on a tree that’s dead, but it doesn’t care. Listen to how wonderfully it sings!” I slowed my own life down, even if just for a moment, to appreciate the bird in the tree. Nobody else was slowing down – we had places to go, people to see – but I wanted to stop. I wanted to appreciate the beauty in that bird in that moment.

 

“Happy Birthday!” I exclaimed to my older sister, Holly, on the phone. I called her early on the morning of her 20th birthday, just to be sure her day started out right. I wanted her to know that she was loved and that I loved her. I wanted her to feel special, wanted her to know that I was there for her any time she needed me, and I appreciated her. I had compassion for her.

 

“Haylee, would you like to go to North Carolina with us?” Dr. Gene Nelson asked, inviting me to a National Conference for Financial Planners. I was incredibly excited, but the idea of flying on a plane alone was frightening. But I put that behind me. Having an open mind about all the opportunities life has to offer was definitely a better mindset. Being open would allow me to take this chance to see what I could gain from an amazing experience with professionals in my field of interest.

 

“I’m really sorry I can’t, my family is having a barbecue night tonight. But maybe next time,” I explained, declining a friend’s offer in order to stay with my family. After not seeing my friends and family for all the time I had been at college, at the end of the day all I wanted to do was be with my family. My parents and sisters loved me and I loved them, and home is one of the most amazing things I have. The idea of going home isn’t spending time in the house I grew up in; home is where my heart is. And my heart lies in the relationships I have with my family.

 

“Of course I have time!” I exclaimed, accepting an offer to proofread a friend’s paper. I had a whole list of things I needed to do, but I knew that she needed help and I had a knack for editing papers. I took the time to go through the paper with her, generously giving my time and talents to her and putting my own assignments on hold for the time it took me to help her out.

 

After a few days, it was easy for me to see what my values were. Beauty is something that many people miss, but I am able to see. Compassion creates a sense of meaning for someone’s life, just as I did for my older sister. Openness creates a world of endless possibilities, such as a trip across the country. Family is a source of unconditional love that you can always go back to. Generosity allows one to offer up their talents to help others.

 

When I first received the values cards, the ability to be honest with myself was tough. But today, I know I can say these are my top values. Overall, I appreciate life. The beauty in my family, my ability to generously share my talents and show compassion towards others, and to be open to everything life has.