What values am I appreciating?

I saw some nasty comments on my blog in my previous post. If you're looking for them I deleted them haha! Well, I still think this blog shall remain PG. Well, the person posted as anonymous and doesn't it strike you how destructive criticism always come from an anonymous source? Then again, only friends will give constructive criticism because they care for you. The funny thing is that what the person commented has no relevance to what I shared in the previous post. Nonetheless, I appreciate his comment, and at least now I know i have an enemy who hates me so much that the person declares it openly.

By the way... Viewing one's blog is an option right? Did this blog come up as a pop-up or something? I don't recall setting such settings... If you don't like what you see, you don't see, doesn't it work that way? Whatever it is, hopefully this isn't your homepage for explorer or firefox! :S

This week, this thought came to me when I was choosing my lunch. I was contemplating the Macdonald's or the sandwich next door. Think about it, I think there more food for thought than just what my lunch had to offer. Excuse the pun please :)
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When we make decisions, we weigh the situations and their consequences before making a concrete decision. This actually happened to me last week:

1) It is 12.30pm at your office, and there is a MacDonalds just down the street. There is also a hawker center that is situated just above the MacDonalds... What are you going to eat? Hawker center is healthy, but because it is established, air conditioned, mee pork(w/o drink) can cost S$4.50. On the other hand, Macdonalds seem to be having a Year End Sale, with almost every meal costing $4.50! Then again, their food isn't healthy. Now what will you choose?
I think we need to learn to appreciate the thing that is ultimately essential to us. $4.50 meal may seem worth it, because it consists of a drink and obviously more tasty,but it will accumulate to the deterioration of your health! Many times, the true values of something is usually shadowed by the fact that we judge it according to their net worth.

2) How about Starbucks vs Ya Kun? Do you really need drinks from Starbucks that is ridiculously expensive? What if the drink is only made by the new trainee? Will it be worth the $7.40? Yet, we all know drinking your coffee at Starbucks mean that you get comfort, but on the other hand, we really don't need a $7.40 coffee, especially when it is only to-go? How do you have your cuppa?

Has mass media and what it portrays of a certain brand affect your judgment? Of course, if it is for a meeting, you need somewhere that will be comfortable, somewhere that will be appealing to your client or guest. However, there is no need for such expensive drink when you are going to have it 'to-go' don't you think? After all, I suspect 30% of the price is paid to the comfort that you are receiving when you drink in a cafe. The air conditioning, the furnishing, the Wi-Fi available... I admit mass media has perceived how i see brands. I love starbucks, but i will definitely not buy them if i'm having them on-the-go!

Now, what if how you appreciate the true value of something affect your life BIG TIME? For example:

There is a pretty gorgeous girl, but her personality is just downright awful. However, due to her beauty, you are still interested in her! On the other hand, there is this ordinary Jane that you know. You think she has good character and personality, but she is just not someone who will make heads turn. Who will you choose? Will you compromise true values like character and morals with one's beauty and outward appearance? hmmm... Think about it:)

I talked to a friend who was and still is into the night life! He would spend hundreds of dollars each night he goes partying. He would cut down on his eating throughout the week so that he has sufficient finances to supply his need to party and drink. Think how he has compromised the true value of having a healthy balanced diet daily for something that is harmful to his body in the long term anyway. I wouldn't judge him that what he is doing is wrong, what he is doing may not even seem wrong to him.

These scenarios will constantly reappear in our lives. It might be how you handle the business deals, how you treat your friendships/relationships... The values we appreciate in each situation may differ from each individual because of the different priorities in our lives. What do you appreciate the true values in each situation and how will it affect your judgments?