Thread of Values

Sitting in a Poly Sci class at UVM eons ago, I heard a stat that's stuck with me: 75% of people get their political affiliation from their parents. Back then, that not only made sense, but was reassuring. But with today's circus it's alarming as hell and doesn't tell the story of the other 25% who are estranged from their family.

But what about values? Can we be diametrically opposed to our family’s political beliefs and still have shared values?

A friend of mine grew up with liberal parents and she, herself is liberal. But her extended family is on the end of the political spectrum.

My friend will tell you that this hasn't affected their feelings for one another. How could that be? It's because, she says, they connect around shared values of hard work, integrity, family first, welcoming the stranger, and many others.

Then there's Teresa who described her mother as controlling, distant and vain. When I asked if she learned anything from her mother, I was half-expecting her to tell me what she learned not to be. Instead, she talked about how her mother befriended two gay co-workers; how she modeled the power of being a woman in business; the importance of standing by your partner in tough times -- are all values that sh now lives by.

I've heard so many clients talk about how different they are from their parents only to say how similar they are where it matters most.

What values can you credit your parents for instilling in you?