Things that matter most...

 In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf ("Of Things That Matter Most" October 2010)

I have seen this concept exercised this weekend. What we thought was going to be a very peaceful and calm weekend (and week), has blown up in our faces as a family. Haha! My Grandma had to go to the hospital on Sunday (everything is fine now) for a Tachycardia. That is where the Heart is on overdrive. She had been up all night Saturday, and Sunday morning tracking her pulse, getting ready to go to a Carenow. Mom took her to the Hospital first thing Sunday morning. Dad is there right now, after trading spots with Mom yesterday.

They have missed out on a lot of sleep (those Hospital pull-out beds only get so comfortable), but they would rather miss out on sleep than leave my Grandma alone.

So, when I saw Mom yesterday her plan was that after dinner she was just going to bed, due to the fact that she just started a really early morning shift at her part-time job. I left after dinner for my Home Evening Group, thinking that everything was going to be A-OK.

While I was at Home Evening, I was able to talk with a leader about relationships. I feel really good with what he told me and I realized even more so the Statement made by President Uchtdorf (click here for a bio) is very true.

I didn't get home until about 11PM (We were watching the NCAA Champion game, for all you UK fans out there congrats!), and I realized that the light in my mom's room was on. I knocked on the door asking if everything was ok, and both her and my little sister asked that I not come in.

Turns out my mom had been up all night with my sister working on a problem that she has. (Again, everything is fine :0) Just a small bump in the road). And my Mom was up until 2AM with my sister. That is love. Giving up everything that you have to help another that you "love".

I think this is partly why I am the way I am. I have seen my parents give selflessly of their time for one another, and for us as their children. I am so grateful of the examples that they have set forth for us. I think it's just been second nature to me that when I develop a friendship or a relationship, I want to spend time with that person as much as I can.

Now, on the flip side, I do know that there is a healthy separation between friends, and relationships. I saw a freaky commercial for a movie about a crazy roommate that did everything she could to be around her roommate. I DON'T want to sound like that. I know that it takes time and effort to build wonderful relationships, but I think it needs to be mutual on both sides in order for it to truly bloom.

So. Moral of the story, if you love somebody, or have strong feelings for them: let them know. Thomas S. Monson (click here for a bio) said, "Often we assume that they must know how much we love them, but we should never assume. We should let them know." (Video below).

I am grateful for the love which I have felt in my life from my dear ones. Both in family relationships and in friendships, and in relationships. Do not forget to cherish those that are near to you. 

Time

I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. - Golda Meir

Let me set the stage for the video you're about to see. In a 1950s (ish) setting there is a Mechanic named Walter (Tim Robbins). One day a car pulls in to be serviced driven by a couple that is engaged to be married. But Walter falls in love with Catherine, the engaged (played by Meg Ryan). She forgets her watch at the mechanic shop, and he (having taken her address to call a cab) takes it to her home. Only to find that Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau) is her uncle. The following ensues while he waits:

Happiness comes from mastering what we can do with our time. Not just how we endure it, nor is it about escaping the time we are provided with. Pardon the advertisement after the video. But it was too good to pass up. I think this expresses something really important. It is a personal belief of mine that time is way too important to mess things up, or not spend it wisely. While we are here on this Earth, growing and learning should be are constant and daily goal. We should enjoy all the things that happen to us, yes even the bad things, and look for the best in everything. 

I was reading a talk recently about this specific subject:

"Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same number of minutes and hours to use, and we soon learn, as the familiar hymn so carefully teaches, “Time flies on wings of lightning; we cannot call it back” (“Improve the Shining Moments,” Hymns, no. 226). What time we have we must use wisely. President Brigham Young said, “We are all indebted to God for the ability to use time to advantage, and he will require of us a strict account of [its] disposition” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 286)." -- Elder Ian S. Ardern "A Time to Prepare" (October 2011 General Conference)

It is so important that we think about how we spend our time. 

Joshua 24:15 defines (in a broad sense) how we should spend our days: 

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

This to me defines part of why I came to earth almost 23 years ago. I came to this Earth to gain 1. A Body and 2. Experiences to help me grow Faith in the Lord and the Plan of Happiness that He and Our Father created before we came here. Life is more than just existing. It is growing, and because we are only natural, getting up after we fall down. 

To quote the hymn, just like Elder Ardern, "Time flies on wings of lightning; we cannot call it back" (“Improve the Shining Moments,” Hymns, no. 226). 

Good People

"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life." ~ Ronald Reagan

This is a great quote, I think as humans we are really hard on others, but mainly ourselves.

Sure life can be tough, and we make mistakes. I think there isn't one day that I haven't made at least one mistake. But that is why I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As I learn how to live life, and how to follow Him and Our Father, I am so grateful that even when I make mistakes there is a way for me to repent and be clean of all the past mistakes I have made.

My life has never really been hard. Honestly. Things have always fallen in place for me, even when I think they are going completely wrong. Lately I have had a huge change in how I look at life, and others. I have seen the quote above. I have seen how all people, are good people. And that "what is right will always eventually triumph".

Yesterday I was driving home from church when something amazing happened. I was listening to an old familiar song from a Seminary CD (something they give us when we are teenagers). I looked up at the sky and it was turning from bluish colors, to cream, to orange, and finally to red. It was probably the best feeling of peace that I have had in a long time. It was almost like He was saying, "You're doing the right thing. You're getting to where I need you to be at this moment."

I turned off the music and drove in silence to my house. I wanted more than anything to keep that feeling. There aren't many other words that can describe that feeling.

I invite you to drive without music one day. By yourself. Just go down the street, and travel from Point A to Point B thinking about things. Look at the beautiful that is life. Love everyone that you come in contact with. 

Not One to Boast.

So.

I'm taking a College Algebra course. Which is incredibly difficult because I haven't really even thought about any type of "algebra" for the last three years. Well, today a quiz was due, I started studying, and have taken a couple of breaks.

I just got done with my quiz. The system allows us to take it three times before the grade is submitted. The first time I got a 98%. I had ONE WHOLE HOUR to take it another two times. I'm not going to lie, I almost said to myself, "Self, a 98% is a really good grade. Go to bed." But I didn't, and I'll tell you why.

Yesterday I was able to go to a devotional for the Young Single Adults (YSA) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my region. There was a fairly old gentleman that spoke to us. He talked about how we can develop Gifts of the Spirit (or the Holy Ghost). Along with many other wonderful topics, he mentioned that the people that are known worldwide for their physical gifts (Mozart, Michael Jordan, etc.) had to have spent at least 10,000 hours doing that one thing they were famous for.

When he mentioned that, I could not shake that from my mind. 10,000 HOURS?! I've been alive for about 8,206 days. So. If from birth I started playing the piano at least one hour a day, I would have been a pro.... in another 1,794 days.

Long reason why I kept on going taking my math quiz. I have learned I need to be more diligent with doing the right thing. And that was just one of many decisions I will make to be more diligent about being the best in what I do.

Anyway. I took my math quiz another time. Second time 'round, I got a 88%..... I was not happy, to say the least. I really was about to go to bed, saying to myself, "Self. You might not be able to beat that 98%. Go to bed." BUT! Did I? NO!

I had another thirty minutes to take the final quiz. I knew in the back of my mind the system would take the highest of the three scores, but that 100% was so close! So I took it again. And I got a 100%. I was quite satisfied at that moment, and wish I could have jumped for joy... But the rest of the house was asleep, and seeing how most really need the sleep... I might have just done a couple of fist pumps (Okay, okay, maybe 5 or 6, with some pointing at the screen involved, and exaggerated whispering.)

There is a really funny movie called "Galaxy Quest" (Tim Allen is the star in it). If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Mainly for the humor. We meet Tim Allen as a retired actor of the popular Sci-Fi TV Sitcom "Galaxy Quest". He's abducted by aliens that believe the show is 100% true. The aliens cannot defend themselves from their enemies, and plead for Tim Allen (and the other actors of the sitcom) to help them. And they are quick to the famous line of Tim Allen's, "Never give up! Never surrender!" (No matter how much they are getting whooped).

So! To my fellow travelers in whatever "Galaxy Quest" (Hopefully that's not a copyright infringement) you might be in, "Never Give up! Never Surrender!" Whatever your goals are, you can reach them. It might take a couple of plateaus before you can get as high as you would like; As long as you are moving in the right direction, you will get there. Trust me. 

Virtue

"The true test of a mans character is what he does when no one is watching." - John Wooden

So true.

Isn't is James 3:4 "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth."

A lot of people refer to this scripture to help us think of the tongue. But I would like to think that a thought is even smaller than our tongue.

While I was on my mission, I was given a Manual called "Preach My Gospel". It's purpose is to help missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understand and build testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Within this wonderful Manual is a section about the Christlike Attributes, and how we can develop them. One of the attributes it goes into depth for is Virtue. The following is a paragraph that I think ties very closely with today's quote.

"Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bar, thought of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous."

I believe that when we are alone, that is really when we see who we are. And sometimes we have to be brutally honest about things that we believe and love. What we truly love. And the best part about it, we can choose what appears on the stage. We are not victims, tied to the theater chairs with our eyes forced open. Nope, we can close our eyes, and "boo" those bad thoughts and images off to stage left, and to never come back.

We also have Divine help in this endeavor. I know personally that Heavenly Father and His Son are always trying to inspire us, through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. If we can pay attention to Them, we will easily be able to cast those thoughts off of our stage. That is the greatest help that we can receive. All you have to do is ask for it, and follow the promptings you receive. Then will your stage be full of wonderful acts, inspiring you to be better. 

I love to laugh!

"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor" - Charles Dickens

So a while back I was feeling low (not too low) but kind of low. I was driving in the car by myself and I thought of the song, "I Love to Laugh" from the musical Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke and Ed Wynn do a great job of this scene, I cannot help but start laughing and singing along with them!

As I drove in the car, I started one of my own little sessions of Laughter Therapy. I didn't have anything to laugh at, but I was having a great time just busting a gut! It sounds a little silly, but you should try it sometime. Of course you will get some very interesting stares from people beside you, and they will be trying to figure out what radio station you're listening to. But wouldn't that be even more hilarious?

Life is too short to never laugh.

Here's a quote from an inspirational talk that I heard one day (and frequently go back to.)

"The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim?

"There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh.

"I remember loading up our children in a station wagon and driving to Los Angeles. There were at least nine of us in the car, and we would invariably get lost. Instead of getting angry, we laughed. Every time we made a wrong turn, we laughed harder.

"Getting lost was not an unusual occurrence for us. Once while heading south to Cedar City, Utah, we took a wrong turn and didn’t realize it until two hours later when we saw the “Welcome to Nevada” signs. We didn’t get angry. We laughed, and as a result, anger and resentment rarely resulted. Our laughter created cherished memories for us.......

"The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin ("Come What May and Love It", October 2008, http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng&query=come+may+love)

Enjoy these videos to start off your laughing session.

New name, new meaning.

So I was working at my desk today (which gives me a lot of time to think) and I figured out what I can do for the blog. Both something that I really enjoy, and something that helps me. I have this cool application on my phone that gives me a quote for each day. Granted some aren't as inspirational as others, so I have gone through the one-thousand something quotes and have selected some of my favorites. I am also finding many other quotes that I like through music, the spoken word, inspirational speakers, and some random thoughts that pop into my head as well.

So I've decided to name the blog "A Quote a Day Keeps Depression Away." Because I sure know that if I find the right quote, my mornings (and usually my entire day) is changed for the better, even at 7AM (amazing right?).

So I will start with today's quote:

"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." - Mohandas Gandhi


I Think this quote is AWESOME! It helps me realize that I can choose what comes into my mind. Our minds are much like a home. I don't know about your house, but in mine we have a pretty strict rule that we do NOT wear our shoes in the house. We've lived here for about eight years now, and the carpets are rather clean. 


But thinking about it a little further in the carpet analogy, we can always scrub really hard to get it clean, but somethings will not be forgotten (spinning/shaking salad dressing bottles to get the most out of them, so-and-so spilling their cup frequently, and other random concentrations of the gravitational forces.) 


The spot or stain itself will no longer be visible, but we can't really decide if we remember it or not. 


Moral of the story: YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT ENTERS YOUR MIND! There are so many good things in the world, and so many wonderful things you can fill your mind with. You can keep company with past, Kings, Queens, Presidents, and Religious Leaders IF you read the things they have written. Don't fill your mind with bad things. Keep good company.