Peace. Trust. Courage.

I wrote an essay today in my Finnish practise final exam about an interesting topic. According to a study, the five most important values for 15-30-year-olds here in Finland are sense of duty, sticking to the agreed, independence, getting along on your own and your own welfare. Well, I made quite a few arguments for and against each of them, so I started to think: what do I value the most?  

I value peace. Okay yeah, it might sound weird coming from a kickboxer, but that is not my point. I hate fighting verbally or non-verbally. Even my personality is built on that, since I can't stay angry at someone for a long time. A few hours is a maximum, at least with my experience so far. Just as much I suffer when I hear or see other people fighting. For me peace also means a state of mind without stress or worries. If I can help someone get there, I am really glad.

I value trust. I guess I trust people easily, maybe sometimes even too easily, because I want to believe the best of everyone. I couldn't live without having people who I can trust, and I want to be trustworthy. I feel honoured when a friend or whoever shares something personal with me 'cause it indicates that they rely on me. If people trust you, you have a good foundation to do anything. The reverse side, however, is that it can be lost in a blink. That is why I consider it so valuable: you have to work for it, maintain it and you get it only if you're worth it.

I value courage. With this I don't mean that I only appreciate people jumping off planes etc, the courage I have in mind is different. Taking risks in life, using your opportunities, being genuinely yourself and not being afraid to stand up for yourself are qualities that are priceless in my eyes. Courage is saying your opinion aloud. It is allowing yourself to feel what you feel, to cry when you're sad and to help people who need help. Of these three, courage is by far the hardest and the most complicated, and I don't claim I have it. I am hoping that someday I will.  

These are just a few examples of what I consider important. I think it's good to stop to think about this at least sometime, because this isn't an easy question. But when you know what you believe in, it is easier to make decisions that are right for yourself and you are one step closer to knowing who you are.

This song isn't so related to the theme, but I just like it so much that I want you to listen to it :)