21

As I pass the threshold of another year I have become determined that every year must bring about a collection of wisdom that has accumulated over the course of the last 365 days. And so, naturally, I sat down to ponder what I had learned over the course of the last year and as I did so, I became completely distracted by the copious amount of changes that have happened in my life, direct and indirect:

Flashback... (in no particular order)

My parents moved to Hawaii

My sister got remarried

I read the entire Harry Potter series in three weeks (not easy, you try it sometime)

I certified as a phlebotomist and worked as one for three months

I lived in Hawaii for a summer

I've been on a plane 4 times

I've taken two trips to Logan

I've seen three shows (two plays, one movie) twice (each time within 24 hours or less)

I got a new phone

I've started standing firmer against stupidity (in a good way)

I've not be as bad as procrastinator as last year

I finally made a right choice

I found a whole list of things I want to do

I reconnected to the gospel

I realized that I have a long way to go

I learned ALOHA

I've successfully memorized a couple dozen new songs with which to annoy people

I found/stole the best chocolate-chip cookie recipe ever

I made new friends

I moved to a new house with new roommates and new experiences

I took my Debate team to State, where they took 3rd place overall as a team

I smiled more

I complained as much as always ;)

I've tried harder to do what's right

I've started asking better questions

I've stopped rising to an argument (it's kind of like the first step towards patience for me...)

My parents gave me their old piano

I got a job on campus

and...

I'm a whole year older.

~

Eventually, my pondering bought about the recollection of lessons I have learned. Here are some free words of wisdom from the last year of my life:

1. Wag more. Bark less.

2. If for a while is seems the harder you try, the harder it gets; take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived.

3. Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

4. Never pick a fight with an old man; if he's not in the mood to fight, he'll just kill you.

5. A man has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses.

5. It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

6. He/she can who thinks he/she can.

7. Angels don't always have halos and wings; sometimes they are disguised as perfect strangers and our closest friends.

8. If you have no other qualities, you can succeed with love alone.

9. You can't be perfect today, and you can't be perfect tomorrow, but you can be better today and you can be better tomorrow.

~

Well, it is the passing of another year of my life. Twenty one years. I can now legally gamble, drink, and rent cars..........yeah...what's so great about turning 21 again? ;)

~

Today's Featured Quote:

"Life will either grind you down or polish you up; it all depends on what you're made of."

Originality

I am taking a class this semester on Literature and Film--mostly adaptations of literature to film. However, based on discoveries in that class, I would like to point out that there is very little originality out there folks. Now, that's okay; I don't particularly care because I like classic stories and if they're good, why not reuse them in a different way? But I find it very amusing because when you find other stories' plots imbedded in new stories, it makes for an interesting discussion about originality...of which there is very little apparently.

Please follow the link below and enjoy the 35 second clip that illustrates this concept masterfully. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8CD6tI21Cc&feature=related

There is very little out there that can be called original, but why moan and complain and criticize? I think we should just learn to enjoy a good story wherever it is used well. But, of course, we should also make comparisons wherever we can if for no other reason then to annoy and irritate our friends and family. :)

~

"It is great cleverness to know when to conceal one's cleverness." --Francois de la Rochefoucauld

"It's not denial. I am just very selective about the reality I accept." --Calvin

"Vanity working on a weak mind produces every kind of mischief." --Mr. Knightly, Emma

~

Today's Featured Quote:

"Well, remember what you said, because in a day or two, I'll have a witty and blistering retort! You'll be devastated THEN!" --Calvin

Love in My Heart

I have done a lot of thinking lately (perhaps too much) and I have felt disheartened because I feel like I have so far to go. In recent reflection I believe some of my sadness comes from a false impression that everything has to be done at once instead of gradually, one piece at a time. After this realization, the biggest questions I had was: where do I start? The following quote is long, but I believe it is a wonderful place to begin:

Love in My Heart

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life, but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force. My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.

I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth I will look on all things with love, and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge. I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I speak? I will laud my enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs. Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speak with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to His children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.

I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I act? I will love all manner of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they may be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls. I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.

I will greet this day with love in my heart. But how will I react to the actions of others? With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. My shield will protect me in the market place and sustain me when I am alone. It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exaltation. It will become stronger and more protective with the use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men. And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say I love you. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkled my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened.

Most of all I will love myself. For when I do I will zealously inspect all things that enter my body, my mind, and my soul. Never allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

I will greet this day with love in my heart and henceforth will I love all mankind. I have not time to hate only time to love. From this moment I take the first step required to become a (wo)man among (wo)men. If I have no qualities, I can succeed with love alone. I will greet this day with love and I will succeed."

I think we could all use a little more love. :)

~

"Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts." --Robert Fulghum

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." --Proverb (I'm sure)

"If you keep waiting for tomorrow, you will find yourself with a whole lot of empty yesterdays."

"Not because we are able, but because He is." --Lawrence E. Corbridge

~

Today's Featured Quote:

"Success will come when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." --Unknown

Lighten Up

This is a video of a speech I gave in the fall of 2009. The topic is: Lighten Up. Now, I have watched the video and with a little embarrassment I admit that sometimes I get a little too excited and a go a little over the top, but I was younger then. :)

This is something that I am very passionate about and I hope that you will enjoy it and share it with others!

~

Today's Featured Quote:

"If I fret over tomorrow, I have little joy today." --Llonio, Taren Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander