It was my birthday, and I decided to make the most of the opportunity to connect with my values. Would just be a short one, a day trip, but I decided to add in the ‘challenge’ to live it most aligned to my core values.  How many of them could I align to, how many could I ‘tick off’…

The day started with a family catch up online, so straight away community/connection was ticked off and I was feeling the warm fuzzies that that brings me…

Service is my number one core value, and I did have some things that I wanted to complete before I left, and that felt good so that they were no longer on my mind.  Service also happened by running an errand for a friend and later on when I found a book in an op shop that another friend is often talking about, so got him another copy to pass on to someone.

Femininity is another value of mine, and for me, that is about coming from that heart space, that place of love, grace, and feeling comfortable and good in what I am wearing and how I am showing up.  It was a pink day that day!

Community/connection was met again when I caught up with a couple of people for a bite to eat before I headed on to the road, and that worked well.  There was no time pressure for it, it was just if it worked out.  I sent a message saying I am heading here now, and they said that worked well with them…

Not having time pressures, places to be, other commitments ended up being a big part of the day and helped me align with my values of space and simplicity.

And then I was on the road, my plan was to head around the coast.  Being a Monday I knew there wouldn’t be many places open, but I was aware of a couple and so set off.  On the way to one particular cafe, I remembered a place I had been wanting to get to called Wilkies Pools.  A quick look at the map told me it was about equidistant either way round the mountain, so carried on my route around the coast.  Music was playing, the windows were down, that sense of freedom was in the air!

I had been pondering as to how I was going to connect with may value of wisdom that day.  I was thinking maybe I would listen to a podcast or similar but wasn’t really feeling it…  Heading in to an op shop in Opunake, I always tend to head for the books, having a bit of a browse, and there on a pile just in front of me was a book called ‘The Wisdom Seeker’.  I laughed and gave thanks to The Universe, tucked my books under my arm (after I had paid for them) and headed for the cafe, a favourite pastime and self-care activity of mine to drink tea in a cafe either with a book.

Carrying on and with Wilkies Pools in Google Maps, I arrived at totally the wrong place!  I had a good look round and when I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t see any trails to Wilkies Pools I revisited the info to find I had gone past the turning about half an hour before.  It was just after 4 pm by now, and despite the place I had ended up being very beautiful and being able to be so close and feel the energy of the mountain, I decided to head back the way I had come and get to Wilkies Pools.

So time was getting on a bit now, but I knew the evenings were lighter, and so I had faith that this plan of mine would all come together!  Due to health issues that have been going on recently, it was not an easy climb, but I did it, and so super chuffed when I got to the top, to Wilkies Pools.  Being a Monday I met no one else on the walk at all.  Going somewhere new always meets my value of curiosity.  Exploring, and especially when I am somewhere quiet, I can feel like I am the first to ever discover the place.  Sure someone would have had to put the steps, and the rails and the signs in and whatever else, but my imagination is happy!  

As I headed around the loop, over stepping stones and streams, clambering over fallen trees and roots, I stopped for a moment near one waterfall and just stood and absorbed the immense feeling of joy I had, a feeling of such aliveness, my tanks weren’t just topped up they were overflowing!

As I walked back down, the bush felt enchanted and aligning with my value of creativity I made some videos for my youngest niece showing her where I was and explaining how I was walking very quietly in case I could see the goblins and fairies that were said to live in the woods.  I spotted a plant that had heart-shaped leaves, a tree stump that looked like a horse and loved sharing these with her.

I was pretty shattered by the time I got back to the car, but my heart and soul were so so full!  A gentle cruise back and a bite to eat and that was me! I did not want the day to end!  I felt so connected, so aligned and so fulfilled!

I think of other road trips and how they have brought me joy and are so good for my soul, but I think focusing on my core values consciously and seeing what I could bring in purposefully took this one to another level!

Knowing our core values can help us understand more about ourselves. 
It can help increase confidence, help us speak our truth, find more meaning and purpose in our lives, feel happier, more grounded, more fulfilled.

If you would like to connect with this part of your true self, take a look at my online course. It talks you through finding yours and how to bring them in to your life.  It helps to ensure they are not just saved for rainy days and Sundays but are happening in your every day too!