What does a values-driven life look like? And how do I possibly translate to a webpage? Fortunately, I’ve written on values, habits, and goals since publishing KaylieLongley.com in 2019. Before that, I’ve been scribbling, journaling, and art-making since preschool. Values-thinking is nothing new, but writing about them in a concise, evergreen(?) way is a new challenge.
And it all starts with making my website’s front and back-ends easy to understand! Accessibility is key: whether you’re curious and prefer searching by words, there’s a search function for that. If you like systems like me, the “blog” section in the menu is organized by category, such as spotlights of fellow creatives, thoughts on my word for the year, book chapters, and meditations on my goals. The rest of the website is devoted to past words a la portfolio, testimonials, and ways you can work with me.
If there are info gaps, please let me know how I can clean up shop and make the website easier to navigate!
So, with this accessibility of information and next steps in mind, onto my values! Past blog posts on values include reframing goals to focus on my whys, shifting environments to reflect beliefs through practice, and reframing habits when goals or values became muddy. I recommend using the search bar to see some posts. Hopefully you can make connections to your life.
Values are character traits I seek to live out each day. Personality is a very individual process, and I am still deciding if I believe people can change or not. However, I do know I can control my words and responses, so these values are how I try to act. If others act in this way, beautiful! I cannot control how others respond or reflect, and that is absolutely okay.
Honesty is a cardinal value.
Recognizing that I can’t lie while also controlling the narrative, it is up to me how I share my story. Boundaries in sharing include remembering libel while honoring my truth. Amplifying my truth takes time, so as a result, some works like private poems do not go on this website. Likewise, I seldom write about my professional work for others (namely, MSD, BBC, RC, and CAC) as these projects belong at work or in my private journal.
What honesty looks like here, on KaylieLongley.com? Sharing mistakes. Owning when goals don’t happen. Being truthful when my goals were dependent on myself or others. Purposefully, these goals are mostly based on factors inside my control, but I do write on Covid and polarizing topics like Roe v. Wade. I am not neutral, am a liberal, an ally, and a feminist. Sorry, not sorry.
Curiosity gives me direction(s).
Journalism was a career I considered in college. Asking questions leads to connections, and a pursuit of knowing. Exploring new ideas keeps me hungry, and my multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree was just the beginning of a desire to keep learning. I don’t accept things as they are and love to make systems to understand how and why things are done, whether I’m finding a new neighborhood in Denver or automating something at work.
Curiosity gives me freedom to roam, too. I schedule time for me to explore places by myself. Saturday mornings are my time to withhold judgments and instead be in awe of a new place/book/thought. That’s why I run, meditate, read, write, and thrift on Saturdays. There’s always a new way, I just have to start, pay attention. This is precious time by myself. An introvert to my core, Saturdays encourage me to keep going the rest of the week.
Zeal is seldom found in adults, but I am very enthusiastic.
Some may find my energy intimidating or exhausting. I don’t want to undermine myself, it’s part of who I am. But I am working on balancing my (usually positive) energy with listening and reflecting on others’ energy. “Sunshine” was a persona, thanks to being a helper type and working at camps. Even though I am still very much that person, sometimes, my energy is better served doing work, and then displaying enthusiasm when clear collaborations happen.
A self-proclaimed nerd and geek, my enthusiasm is fueled by many projects, passions, and deep relationships. When I disassociate, I sometimes forget about them. Grounding practices, such as meditating, reading what others have shared about me, and/or writing/reflecting bring me back to reality. I am passionate about resource management (such as homes, nutrition, and mental health). Stargazing gives me a deep sense of vastness and aloneness, often at the same time. Camping is the best place to practice a bunch of my values and loves, such as resourcefulness in the great outdoors. Reading gives me perspective and brings me so much joy. I need to remember my many passions and projects while also recognizing that my skills in writing and marketing can be the key to living such a passion-driven life.
Bravery is so vulnerable but so worth it.
Folks have called me “intrepid” for moving to Colorado (and only knowing 2 folks!), self-designing a major while I was in college, and for consistently going my own path. I never perceived myself as brave until I realized the barriers for entry were my own. Please, no tiny violin, no applause. If you’re listening or reading, that is all I need.
Now, bravery looks like running when it’s cold, knowing when to bundle up, and listening to my body when it’s time to head back. It looks like publishing this very page (honestly, terrifying in its truths). Bravery is showing up, day after day, to write, listen, work. Anxiety has prevented some works and words, and I am learning how to share. Amazingly, colleagues have shared they’re here to support me, my brother and I have weekly check-ins, and I’m giving myself time to write and publish, like these very words! In 2023, I bounced back after my heart bled (and I’m still figuring out this big life thing in 2024). Losing Grandma and Woody destroyed me. Breaking up with my partner took longer than 1 talk. Turning 30 came with mixed feelings, especially as my newfound home in CO provided more virtual well wishes than in-person. Everyone’s just learning how to cope. And that leads to my last value here:
Kindness is a free gift, and it’s one of my key values.
It costs nothing to be kind. That may be a cliché now, but it’s true. I’d rather be perceived as kind than nice. “Nice” just means the other person doesn’t know you very well. Being kind looks like giving and receiving grace, such as a friend offering a space to vent, trade a task, or just listening.
Kindness means understanding limits, too. I am learning how to share, recognizing that sometimes private journaling is enough. At work, I now ask if another needs a hug or if they’d prefer a cup of caffeine to “coffee talk.” Giving and receiving words is one of my love languages, and so I aim to be there for my people, at home and at work. Similarly, being there for this world means learning a plants-based lifestyle and volunteering my time and talents, and so I currently volunteer for Ripon College and PawsCo. Everyone has their own capacity for living their values.
What are your values? How do they direct your goals and habits? I’d love to see them in the comments!