The One Looking Back At You

So I have a few thoughts for this blog today. "Sometimes friends begin as enemies and enemies begin as friends." That couldn't be more true with the many roommates I've had. Of course that isn't always true, many times friends will remain friends. This semester I moved into my new apartment. At first my roommates seemed wonderful but by and by they showed their true colors. Things turned intense in the apartment a few months later and eventually I found myself having horrible thoughts about myself. The one person I pushed away became the one person I needed to get through all of this. I learned a lot by allowing the right people back in my life. More importantly I learned a lot by loving the person that I am and the person I am trying to be. Truth is it doesn't matter who stays in your life and who goes as long as you love who you are. Your greatest asset in life should always be the person you find in the mirror. Life is incredibly short and not a minute of it should be wasted hating the person looking back at you. Find the right people in your life and be willing to let someone go who won't be there for you. Most importantly find the one looking back at you, the one you have to face in the mirror. I'm talking about you, find yourself.

Become Better

Here are my top 10 tips to becoming a better member of the church:

1. Stop treating those who come to our meetings as problems. Believe it or not even nonmembers, those who have made mistakes, or anyone else who comes through those doors are real people. People do not have to live the same lives or be similar to you for you to act like a decent human being or for you to actually live your faith. Love them as Christ would.

2. Stop bearing hypocritical testimonies. I understand that we are not perfect but unless you really have been trying stop saying stuff you'll forget the next day. Sometimes it is better to remain quiet than to look like a fool.

3. This whole "member missionary" phrase needs to change. Why don't we just say live your faith instead. A good reputation can go a long way. We don't need to constantly push our faith on others.

4. Don't judge those who didn't go on missions or came home early for whatever reason. You have no idea what they are going through or what the Lord has in store for them.

5. Cut out creating drama or clicks. Look I understand that you will get along better with certain people but you are not behaving like Christ when you exclude people. You are not acting like Christ when you judge others either. You are not acting like Christ when you gossip, mock, or belittle another human being.

6. Stop being so prideful about serving a mission. I understand that your mission meant a lot to you and I'm sure the Lord is grateful for your service.

7. Don't act self-righteous because you have a specific calling. We are all serving the Lord in our various ways. The Lord allows the sun to set on EVERYONE.

8. You are ultimately responsible for your kids. It is your job to make sure that they are behaving and it is your responsibility to make sure others are able to have a nice sacrament meeting.

 9. Try not to fall asleep during someone's talk. I understand that it's Sunday but those speakers have spent a lot of time and effort into their talk. Make them feel appreciated for their efforts by trying to not fall asleep and keeping your mouth shut during the entire sacrament meeting.

10. Sunday is about serving others, coming closer to Christ, inspiring others, learning more about how to be better examples of Christ, and about renewing covenants. It's meant to be a sacred day, different from the rest. Start following your faith and watch miracles happen in your life and the lives of others.

When the rain finally stops everything is still wet from the previous storm. It takes a while but eventually things dry. Rain is a part of nature's cycle, it's needed. I think that it's the same with us. Sometimes we need to cry and sometimes we go through sad times. Storms aren't always fun and many times it does damage. Hard times aren't fun either and can do damage as well. Thing is after every storm there is a rainbow and so after every hard time there is happiness. Never forget that!

Music Within

"Without music, life would be a mistake." -Friedrich Nietzsche
The greatest songs come from within. Every heart has a beat just like every song. We move to the beat of our heart. It's hard sometimes to explain how a song makes us feel. Words do not fully understand what a song does. "Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can't." -Johnny Depp

Here are some random songs I enjoy:
"Extra Ordinary" Lucy Hale
"Pompeii" Bastille
"Counting Stars" One Republic
"Timber" Kesha
"Feel This Moment" Christina Aguilera
"Life Keeps Moving On" Ben Rector
"Advice" Christina Grimmie
"Brave" Josh Groban
"How Bad We Need Each Other" Marc Scibilia
"Invisible" Hunter Hayes
"Wake Me Up" Avicii (Madilyn Bailey version)
"Don't Want to Be Waiting" Grace Valerie
"Pyromania" Cascada
"Miss Movin' On" Fifth Harmony
"It's a Beautiful Day" Michael Buble

True to the Heart

Moving to a brand new town can be either a scary experience or a pleasant one, it just depends on the attitude you bring. I mean thinking about it one has to start over again. New friends, new job, new place to live, and in a lot of cases a new environment. Personally I think it can be harder to do what feels right instead of what is thought to be right. Eventually things work out but until then it's not always fun. Steve Jobs once said, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." Sometimes following your heart means saying the word "no." Someone's feelings could get hurt; that is hard knowing someone can get hurt by your decision but who are you more loyal to, yourself or another? I mean think about it who are you most loyal to? Sometimes that is not the same as who you want to be most loyal to. I think people can't really be loyal to others until they are first loyal to themselves. Really I think one of the greatest tragedies in life is forgetting who you are, acting like someone else, and being loyal to the wrong people. At the end of the day you have to live with your decisions and look at yourself in the mirror, not them. Remember who you are and be true to yourself. 

New Heights

At some point in our lives we must climb new heights and seek new perspectives.  If we consistently think the same things we will in essence continue to stand where we are currently standing.  Climbing a mountain requires moving or changing location consistently in order to reach the top.  Life is a constant climb to reach the top.  

Today I was reminded of that.  I wanted to get to the top of my mountain while standing still.  Sitting on a park bench in the middle of a hike comes with many dangers.  Choosing to not move comes with a price. Sometimes the rain comes down and soaks the valley, why sit in that?  Maybe the rain brings lightening, why risk a life?  And every evening it grows dark, what dangers could arise by sitting in the same place?  And seasons change.  Winter comes around every year and in some places that means snow, was it worth loosing a toe?  And for what?  What prize does one get sitting and waiting for something?  The only prize that is gained is not gaining anything at all.  Sunrises are prettier at the top than at the bottom or somewhere in between.  It is easier to see the whole picture at the top than at the bottom or somewhere in between.  

There is so much to become, to see, to taste, to feel, to do than remaining the same.  How many of us really want to keep our teenager thoughts?  Or do we want to develop our minds into something better?  

Sometimes along the journey our backpacks are too heavy and we must let go of some burdens.  What burdens are you willing to let go of to make the journey to the top?  Are holding rocks in a backpack necessary?  Life will throw all kinds challenges along the way, are we ready for when they come?  Are we trying to become ready?

I'm grateful for the Savior and for His guidance in all things.  I realize that His plans are better than mine.  I think He knows that I want to reach the top but that I need to be the one to make the trip.  

Through finals week remember...

Walt Disney once said, "Keep moving forward."  There are times that you may want to just give up and not worry about things anymore.  The problem with this sort of thinking is sacrificing passion.  It can be good to be passionate about things in fact when one isn't passionate there almost seems to be less of that person.  For example, when a musician is playing a song do you want want to listen to someone who is just playing the music or someone who is passionate about their music?  It's so interesting how sometimes we'd rather hear about passion than have passion in our lives.  How many people who are reading this go into their classes or their job just to get through the day?  How many of you guys really enjoy that?  What if you went into school or your work place with the mindset that you were going to take as much knowledge or help as many people as you possibly can?  Don't you think that that would make the difference?  Wouldn't you feel more alive if you did that?
Sometimes we have more motivation to be passionate.  Growing up my life forced me to want things more than most people I came across.  In elementary school a kid hit me in the head with a sharp rock because I wouldn't give up my seat.  In middle school the same group of girls picked on me for whatever reason they could find.  In high school some guy thought it was funny to throw ice at my back.  I can even give you stories about guys who were creeps and jerks to the point where my safety became at risk.  I've been told I was worthless by guys and girls for many years.  There were many days when I had to tell myself to just make it through one more day.  Through all of this I developed deep love and respect for others.  Yes, I'll admit I wasn't perfect at it.  Anyways, I worked really hard to create a life for myself where I wouldn't have to be around this anymore.  I could have just believed what others thought of me but I didn't.  At times I did break down and wasn't that fun to be around but I always picked myself up because I knew there was a better life out there, I just had to find it.  Years later I now attend a wonderful university, interned with Disney, and anticipate graduating in a few years.  
My point is to never give up.  Become passionate about making your life great!  Life will knock you down at times but you are only as down as you allow yourself to be.  There are great things waiting for you but you have to let them come and by doubting or having a pity party they can't.  Trust me, I know, I've been there.  I still hear people telling me I can't do this or I'll never amount up to that.  It's hard but I know that by working hard I can make something positive out of something negative.  Keep trying, keep improving, keep becoming better no matter who does or doesn't believe in you, no matter what happens to you.  Never give up.  "Keep moving forward."