Coffee, Continuity, and Core Values: A Mid-Week Reflection

By Hojo Roo Jun 25, 2026

I was just in the mood to write, ya know?!

Hey everyone, welcome back to the corner of the internet where the coffee is strong, the dogs are shedding, and the opinions are entirely my own.

It’s been a minute since we did a proper movie review around here, mostly because my screen time lately has been utterly hijacked by series binging. I’ve been deep in the trenches of The Expanse, getting hyped for Daredevil: Born Again, and rolling through The Pitt, Vox Machina, and House of Guinness. 

So, if you came looking for a cinematic breakdown, you’ll have to settle for a peek inside my brain instead.

Lately, I’ve been sticking to a Monday-through-Friday routine of therapeutic journaling.

 It’s a quiet habit, usually sandwiched between walking the corgis and brewing the morning fuel. 

A few days ago, a prompt popped up that actually made me pause: What are your core values?

Honestly? 

My first thought was, Do I even have those? 

I mean, like really?

I mean, we all like to think we do, but actually putting words to them is a whole different beast. 

But as I sat there, the pen started moving, and this weird, grounding evolution happened. It turns out I do have them. And seeing them laid out black on white made me feel pretty damn good about myself.

Okay, it was on my reMarkable eInk tablet, so, like, THERE.

So, I felt compelled to share them here. Now, look—since these are my core values, I’m entirely immune to anyone else's opinions on them. By this age, I frankly don't care what anyone thinks. They are important to me, and me alone. That said, my ears are always open; I will always listen.

Dedication & Service to Others

“Some students drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle .”

—E.C. McKenzie

I am staring down 34 years in the teaching profession. And let’s be real for a second—some days, I absolutely hate it. It’s exhausting, it’s frustrating, and the system loves to test your sanity. 

Yet, after more than three decades, I haven’t turned away. 

Why? 

I think it boils down to the fact that some of us are just built to be anchors for others. There’s a quiet purpose in being the person who shows up, day after day, to make sure a kid is seen and heard, even when the job itself feels thankless. Lord knows, the kids aren’t fans…and the staff aren’t. But I noticed, I stepped away for one semester–and suddenly people said they missed me, needed me back, and, yeah. 

That same stubborn dedication carries over to my personal life. I’ve been married for 28 years. If that isn't a testament to endurance, I don't know what is. Relationships aren't built on fairy dust; they’re built on showing up. Plus, let's be honest—who else would put up with my shit for nearly three decades? It takes a special kind of dedication to ride shotgun with a big gay bear like me.

Lifelong Creativity & Expression 

"The chief enemy of creativity is good sense." 

–Pablo Picasso

I’ve realized that I don't just consume art; I actively need to create it. I’m not content just sitting on the sidelines. Whether I am painstakingly drafting a full-length horror novel, sitting behind the screen running tabletop role-playing games as the Game Master, or articulating my thoughts right here on this blog, creative expression is a non-negotiable for me. 

Storytelling and imagination are fundamentally how I process the world, connect with people, and keep my sanity intact. 

It’s why I love stories in all forms, good ones and bad ones.

And why we do ‘create dates’ with each other to sit-he paints and I author. 

Commitment & Partnership 

"Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are." 

–WIll Ferrell

Twenty-eight years of marriage is a milestone, but for me, it goes deeper than a timeline. Legally adopting my hyphenated married name a few years back was a deliberate, joyful choice to honor that bond. It reflects a core value rooted deeply in loyalty, shared growth, and honoring long-term relationships and family.

Beyond the walls of my own home, this value is why I spent years working with community centers and volunteering for the right to marry. 

Fighting for marriage equality wasn't just about a legal status or a piece of paper; it was about ensuring that the kind of deep dedication and partnership I hold so dear could be recognized, celebrated, and protected for everyone in our community.

Intentionality & Precision 

"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." 

--Lily Tomlin

I find immense joy in the nuance and craft of the everyday. 

You can see it in how I attack my fitness routines at the gym, or in the specific, almost ritualistic ways I brew my morning coffee—depending on the day's vibe, it's either the clean precision of the siphon or the rich texture of the French press. 

For me, it’s about paying attention to the details and finding fulfillment in the actual process, rather than rushing to the end result.

I’ve leaned heavily into the principles of Atomic Habits to support this, especially the concept of habit stacking. By tethering new, healthy choices onto the routines I already have firmly established, taking care of myself feels like a natural evolution of my day-to-day life rather than a chore. It’s about building a life by design, one small, intentional step at a time.

Writing these down didn't change who I am, but it certainly gave me a map of where I’ve been and why I do the things I do. It’s a good feeling.

Now, the sun is setting, the Jeep is parked, the corgis are demanding their dinner, and my husband is probably wondering when I'm going to close the laptop. Time to log off, pour something good (most likely a diet Dr. Pepper, cause that stuff is like crack), and cue up the next episode.

Peace.

Peace, love, and hair grease.

#MidWeekReflection

#CoreValues

#IntentionalLiving

#AtomicHabits

#JournalDaily

#WritersLife

#CreativeExpression

#Bloggerlife

#Teacherlife

#Corgidad

#gaybear