Better not to ask

Note to Self:

Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to . . . and then I realize it's probably better not to ask. 

As part of my daily internet surfing, I made my way over to yahoo.com this afternoon. Here are some stories that blew my mind. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did! . . . or didn't. 

1. A gingerbread reenactment of "The Hunger Games":  

http://vimeo.com/55319569

2. Baby named "Hashtag" (plus other unusual names of the year):

 http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/most-unusual-baby-names-2012-201000510.html

3. Meggings. Male Leggings. Yeah, I wish I was joking too:  

http://shine.yahoo.com/the-thread-how-to/meggings-male-leggings-wearing-them-185200978.html

We live in a very special place boys and girls . . . where those things really do exist. Aren't we so lucky? 

Moral of the story? Things are going downhill. Enjoy your brain cells and high IQ scores while you still can! And remember . . .  it's best not to ask why. Just walk away. 

Traditional vs. online schooling

Note to Self:

We are blessed with a life full of amazing technology, but it's best not to forget the fundamentals.

With all of the technology available to us today, we have many opportunities to take classes online. While online schooling has its advantages, I believe in a more traditional route. People today are slowly growing accustomed to technology and forgetting the fundamentals that our society was based on; such as human interaction, responsibility, and punctuality.

If you asked me whether I would rather talk with someone on the phone or text them, I would choose the latter. If you told me I had to get a message to someone in person, I may argue that it would be easier by email or some social networking site. Is it because I am incapable of interacting with people? No. It’s simply because I’ve been raised in a generation where I don’t have to. This is just one problem that I’m referring to.  

Though the change that comes with technology is inevitable, a traditional school setting gives children and young adults the opportunity to have some practice in human interaction before they are sent out into the “real world” of adulthood. School gives students a chance to meet new people and learn how to cooperate with them. I believe that these years in school and these lessons are crucial to a person’s progress in society.

Besides human interaction, traditional schooling offers lessons in responsibility and punctuality that are not required with the flexibility of online classes. Online it’s easy to be inefficient and careless, a traditional school setting requires students to be more accountable for their choices and actions.

I’m not saying online schooling is all bad. I’ve taken a class or two online, myself. I do believe, however, that traditional schooling is the way to go, especially since many other aspects of our lives are so technologically driven.



P.S. This post was for a scholarship (which it turns out I can't apply for anyway).  But, instead of taking down the post, I'm going to leave it up. I really do believe everything I said. :)

Stand up

Note to Self:

You're never going to regret standing up for yourself, your morals, and what you believe to be right. 

We are all different with our own beliefs and opinions. We all have varying morals; that is to say, what seems wrong to one person may not seem wrong to another. To a point, we have to respect these differences. But from my experience, if you see something that goes against what you believe in, STAND UP. Don't sit back and watch it happen. 

Today at a church meeting, I witnessed something that caused me to stand up. 

A lovely family in my ward, with four beautiful children, was seated in the row behind me. I know the family pretty well and let me tell you, these are great kids. They are kids just the same, however, and it's asking a lot for them to sit completely still and quiet through a whole meeting. We've all been there. These sweet kids were walking around their row, talking quietly to each other while they tried to keep themselves occupied. Of course I could hear them, but it didn't bother me as I was able to intently listen to the speakers.

A man two seats down from me, however, was not having the same experience and was thoroughly annoyed by these children and continually turned around to tell them to be quiet. At one point during the final speaker's remarks, he turned around and nearly yelled at one of the children, "I have had enough of this. Sit down and SHUT UP." The little boy turned, walked over to his mom, asked her what the man had said to him, and quietly cried as she answered. 

I strongly believe I'm not the only one who sees a problem with the situation I just described. Were the children talking? Sure, anyone would admit that they were.But even if you were seated near them, if you tried at all to pay attention to the speaker, you would find that the children did not take away from the Spirit or meaning of the message. The speakers words could be heard clearly throughout the room, and the children did not change that. 

After the meeting ended, I stood up and quietly glanced over at the man. He had stood as well and was glaring back at the children. I took a deep breath and stated firmly, "What you said to those kids was uncalled for. There was no reason for you to do that." As soon as I had finished speaking, his glaring eyes turned towards me as he furiously replied, "No. What those kids were doing was uncalled for." At that moment I knew that nothing I said would change his mind, but I wasn't about to let him get the better of me. As I gathered my thoughts other men and woman who had witnessed the same thing, stood up with me and expressed their disappointment in his actions. The man retreated and the rest of us helped the confused and upset children out of the building. 

Perhaps that man learned nothing from the meeting today. Clearly he wasn't listening to the speakers who, ironically, were talking about how we should be more Christ-like and kind to others. Perhaps he will continue to do the same thing down the road. And perhaps there's nothing I, or anyone else, could do or say to change that. But standing up for what I thought was right today, is something I will never regret. I'm sure those who stood up with me feel the same. 

There have been times in my life when I haven't stood up. I've sat back and let it all happen. And even though some of those times are long past, I still regret doing nothing. Because, at the end of the day, I could have made a difference if I had tried. Maybe that man will think twice next time he turns to yell at a child and maybe I helped make that difference in his life. Even if I didn't and even if he wont, I don't regret a thing I said or did. I know that I was standing up for what I believed to be right. I always want to be able to stand up, no matter the situation. 

I know we all have different ideas, values, morals, beliefs, and everything else . . . but even though they may conflict each other at times, I hope that all of you (whoever is reading this) will stand up for what you believe in too.

You can make a difference. Just stand up and try. :) 

"All that is necessary for the triumph of  evil is that good men do nothing." 

- Edmund Burke

Use that power

Note to Self: 

Girls: don't get upset when guys make it your job (the woman's job) to do the shopping. Use the power to your advantage. 

At my work, the male to female ratio is roughly 4 to 1. And yet this...

... is the soap that we have in the office. I bet you can guess which gender buys it. Ladies, there are advantages to filling the roles that the guys expect us to. We get to do it OUR WAY. So don't get upset when the guys tell us it's our "job" to do the shopping and cleaning and such. Use that power. Buy the lavender or hand renewal soap. It'll make your day better. :)

It only happens in the movies

Note to Self:

You know all those things that "only happen in the movies"? Well where do you think the ideas came from? 

The last few weeks I have had so many moments where I stand back astonished... because the thing I just witnessed "only happens in movies". And then I think about it and really a lot of those things happen... all the time. So why do we think they only happen in the movies? Haha 

Here's just a few I've noticed recently. 

1. It was the big football game of the season; the rivalry game. More people go to this game than the Homecoming game so you know it's big. Both my sophomore and junior year my school won and we were hoping to keep the title this year too. Well, the night of the game the weather wasn't exactly in our favor. It rained. And when it rains, it pours. We were all drenched within just a few minutes of the game, but we stayed and kept on cheering. We were behind in the first quarter, but we picked up speed and we won the game. This is the "movie moment":

After we won we all ran onto the field in the pouring rain. It was so great! Could it have been any more perfect? Well it turns out that wasn't the biggest movie moment of the night either. As my friends and I are spinning around in the rain and laughing at each other, we happen to stop and look over just as one of the guys in our senior class runs over to one of his friends (a girl), dips her, and kisses her. Right there, at the end of a victory football game, in the rain. It was beyond great. 

2. This one actually happened the same night. My friends and I were freezing cold after the game so we did what any normal teenager would do... we went to get some ice cream! On our way we drove towards a gutter that was filled with water. We watched in awe as a big truck ran right through it, splashing water up onto the sidewalk where a person was walking, and completely doused them. Come on... am I the only person who has never seen that happen in real life before? 

3. This last one happened about a week ago... I had just walked into the girls bathroom at the high school to change before dance. Well, as I looked over I saw a legitimate "Hot List" written on the door. Complete with about 20 names of guys in my school. There were the obvious picks on there, you know the football players, the SBO's, etc. Then there were a few surprises as well. 

Sure I've seen a few AB + CD written in hearts around the school (those are made up initials by the way), but a whole "Hot List"? Complete with contributions from a number of girls? Never. I sure got a laugh out of it though.

Anyway. These are just some stupid, high school examples. But my point is that the things that "only happen in the movies"... don't just happen in the movies. So watch your back, you never know if one of these "movie moments" is coming your way next! ;)

It's a great day to be alive

Note to Self:

It's a great day to be alive. 

I came home from work early the other day and I saw three gorgeous dandelions in front of my neighbors house and decided they'd be perfect for an aperture shot for my photography class. I ran inside, grabbed my camera, ran back out the door in about a minute flat. Then I planted myself in the gutter and spent a good 15 minutes and took maybe 60 pictures until I thought I had the perfect shot. 

I stood up, brushed myself off, and looked around to see that it really was a beautiful day outside. No one else was home at my house, and wouldn't be for at least half an hour, so I decided to take a walk. Just me, my camera, and nature. As I reached the end of the driveway, a neighbor rode by on his bike. He smiled as he came down the street and askd me how I was doing. I said I was doing well and asked him the same. He gave me the biggest smile and yelled, "It's a great day to be alive," over his shoulder as he passed. 

I smiled to myself and continued walking. I took some pictures of some cool rocks and some pretty weeds  ever notice how some of the prettiest plants are weeds?  and even some birds that happened to hold still long enough. I loved taking pictures, but mostly I just loved walking around and looking up at the bright blue sky. 

I came around the last bend and saw my house. I new I still had homework, dinner, family time, and who knows what else waiting for me that night. But as I finished my walk around the block, I forgot about the places to go, the things to do, the people to see... because you know what? 

It's a great day to be alive. :D

Make goals, not plans

Note to Self: 

Make goals. Not plans. 

Maybe goals and plans seem like the same thing to you . . . but to me they're different.

I'm a planner by nature. I have one year plans, ten year plans, plans for how I'm going to get my homework done in time, plans for finally talking to that one guy, plans for driving to school or work each day. I plan. And you know something? Funny enough, my plans RARELY go as planned. 

Turns out a teacher gave us an extra assignment and now my whole schedule is off. That guy I was going to talk to after school? Yeah, he wasn't where I planned he would be. The road I take to get to school or work? Construction; miles and miles of construction. And in an instant, there go all my plans. 

Now those are small plans. Plans that I can rearrange quickly in my head and sooner or later I'll reach the finish. But there are other plans   life plans   that aren't so easily rewritten. 

I had my whole life planned out and not just one plan either. I planned for so many different situations I really can't recall them all. But my biggest plan was this:

Graduate high school on June 6th, 2013. Start college at Weber State University (where I was just accepted) in August of 2013. I would attend there until I got my bachelors degree (I'm still deciding between majors however). While there, I would find a guy and fall in love. We'd get married and start a family and we'd live happily ever after, right? Now of course, in between all of that, I'd planned much more in depth,  but you get the point. 

Wouldn't that be nice? If we could plan our lives and just like that, they would happen? It doesn't work like that, though. Whether you believe in a God or in destiny or anything else . . . chances are that your life is going to take a whole lot of turns you never expected. So many opportunities and situations you never imagined can come up. You can plan your life away, but in the meantime life is going on all around you. 

This past weekend was the LDS General Conference and I'm sure most of you who are reading this know that I'm a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but for those of you who don't . . . now you do. And, as I'm sure everyone knows by now, President Monson gave a remarkable announcement Saturday morning. As of Saturday, October 6th, young men may now serve missions at age 18 and young women may now serve at age 19 (this is a big change from the previous ages of 19 and 21 respectively). 

Since I was about 12 years old I've danced around the idea of serving a mission. I've never been sure of what I would do, but as I've grown up a bit I came to the realization that a mission just might not be in the cards for me. By age 21 I would have most likely received my bachelors degree (with previous credits earned and attending school for summer semesters as well), not to mention the fact that I may be well on my way to getting married or at least finding someone to marry. I would have been well into my life by the time I turned 21. I wanted to serve a mission, but where it wasn't required, I wanted a career and a family more. Or so I thought. I had planned out my whole life, remember? And I just didn't see a mission fitting in there. 

As this change of age was announced on Saturday, however, everything changed. I could go on a mission at age 19. This is a possibility that was never an option before. As the words were spoken my heart raced and tears came to my eyes at just the thought. Posts flooded Facebook, with all of these girls saying how they couldn't wait to go on missions and it was all a bit overwhelming to be honest. This is an amazing opportunity and, for girls, this change could mean the difference between going or not going. 

In the past three days I've had more people ask me if I'm going on a mission than I can count. And my answer is maybe. Maybe, because I just don't know. It was something that I wanted for so long but I had put it out of my mind. And now it's something that I have to think about. I almost wish I was one of the girls who heard that announcement and immediately knew they were going, but I'm just not. I'm not impulsive . . . at all. I have to think about things for days and months and longer even, before I can think about making a decision. That's why I plan: so I don't have to make decisions quickly. (Though that never works out . . . you'd think I'd learn by now.) And this, even though the opportunity is much different and much more at hand, still doesn't fit into what I had "planned" for my life. It's just a lot to think about. 

Anyway I kind of went off on a tangent there. My point is that plans don't always work out. Sometimes there are options and things thrown into the mix that change everything   as I've learned over the past couple of days. So maybe it's better not to plan. Maybe it's better to simply make goals. 

Goal:

Wake up in the morning.

Goal:

Get to work and school... somehow. 

Goal:

Graduate High School. 

Goal:

Attend and Graduate College. 

Goal: 

Get married.

Goal:

Start a family. 

Goal:

Go on a mission?

Goal:

. . .

Be happy. 

Maybe goals and plans seem like the same thing to you . . . but to me they're different. Goals are something that I have to look forward to. Things that I can work towards. Goals can change easily. As I grow up and things change my goals can change with me. I don't have to think of every little detail of a goal and design just how I'll execute it . . . I just have to work towards the end product. And if something comes up, then it comes up. I don't have to change a thing. I just keep working towards my goal. 

For a goal there there doen'st have to be a timeline or a deadline . . . just a finish line. 

So I'm done making plans. I know that I'm not alone in anything I do and I have faith that my goals will get me where I need to be :)

Wear the dang toga

Note to Self:

Wear the dang toga. 

It's just a short note today. And a note that probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me. So I'm going to try and give you a little insight:

It's my senior year in high school. I can't believe it's here already! But it is and I plan on making the best of it. At the beginning of this year I told myself that I wanted to do everything. I wanted to be on all the committees, go to all the dances, do the crazy things I wouldn't have a year or two ago. Senior year for me is about making memories that will last a lifetime because even though I'm excited for college, I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of this chapter of my life. 

In case my "note" seemed strange  what am I saying, of course it sounded strange  this week was Homecoming week at my high school: the first real chance I had to try out my new "do it all" attitude. So even though I didn't know how I was going to fit it into my schedule, I decided to be on the Homecoming committee. Best idea ever. I didn't get home until around 11 each night (with stuff I still needed to do) but it was so worth it. 

Among many meetings, events, and other things, the Homecoming committee (along with the entire school) was asked to wear togas this past Friday to go along with our Greek theme. About a third of the committee vetoed the idea and about... oh... 99.9 percent of the student body did as well. 

What did I do? I wore the dang toga. 

I can't tell you exactly why most people didn't participate. I can only tell you what I think. I think the majority  of people at my high school think they're too "cool" for it. I think another good portion of them don't want to look like freaks. There are probably a hundred more reasons as well, but like I said, I can only tell you what I think. 

And here's what I have to say to all those people:

WEAR THE DANG TOGA. 

You think you're too "cool"? To cool for what? School spirit? I say there's nothing wrong with school spirit. We're "stuck" at school anyway, we may as well have a good time and enjoy it!

You don't want to look like a freak? Honey, look around! We're all freaks whether we're wearing togas or not. "Freak" means "abnormal"... well what is normal? Can you honestly look at someone and say "Wow, they're normal"? And if you could, would you want to be like them and be just normal anyway? 

Look, this post isn't just about wearing a toga. I promise, I'm not that crazy. 

I was always the shy girl. The girl who would rather stay in at recess with the teachers than interact with the other kids. I followed every rule. I studied and got good grades. I wouldn't do anything adventurous because to me that meant either dangerous or illegal... or both. I wouldn't take risks. I was the good girl. And I never would have worn a toga to school. 

Well I've learned something. Not all rules are good. Not all risks are bad. Not everything adventurous is dangerous or illegal. And life is too short and too serious to not try and have some fun along the way. I'm not saying go do something stupid, or dangerous, or illegal because life is short. I'm not at all a fan of using YOLO (you only live once) as an excuse. I'm just saying we should have some fun. Good, clean fun. 

So next time life throws the opportunity your way, wear the dang toga. 

Go see them

Note to Self:

"When you know a friend is there you do not go to see him. Then he's gone and you blast your conscience to shreds that you did not see him." - East of Eden, John Steinbeck

GO SEE THEM. (Them being your long-lost friends.) Your conscience can't take any more "blasting" than you already give it. 

For AP Literature, we were assigned to read East of Eden by John Steinbeck over the summer. I assume only about half of the students actually read the entire 602 page book, but I was one of them. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I actually learned a lot about myself and other people/things while reading it. I know, crazy right? 

I had a lot of favorite quotes and little things that hit home for me while reading this book. The quote above is one of those things. 

I can immediately think of at least a dozen people or friends who I didn't go see... friends who I still haven't gone to see. It's heartbreaking. Some of them have moved or moved on... and others are still here. I think about them often, but I never make any move towards talking to them or seeing them. Why? I don't think there's just one real reason.  

Maybe I'm afraid; afraid that we won't have anything in common anymore and wouldn't be friends now anyway. 

Maybe I'm "busy" or think that they'll be too "busy" to see me. 

But I think I know the main reason. I have very vivid memories with these people. These are the memories that I go back on when I'm sad and confused and lost... the memories that I cherish more than almost anything else. They're just silly little things that I'm sure I've glorified over time... but that's all I have. I don't want to think about the fact that things have changed. I don't want to accept the fact that we're growing up and even growing apart some. I want to keep them safe in my past and in my memories. 

And that is just stupid. I should still be making memories with these people! Not just reliving the ones in my head. 

 SO GO SEE THEM. ALL OF THEM. Talk to them, text them, hang out with them, write them letters, message them on Facebook... anything. You don't want to regret any missed chances. 

Just another little life lesson. 

You are alive

Note to Self:

You're alive. Be happy. :)

My account of the terrorist attack on the World Trade center, 11 years ago today:

September 11th, 2001,

I was only 6 years old and had just started first grade a couple weeks before. I woke up early and was eating breakfast and watching tv, waiting for my friend to come over (we carpooled). As he was being dropped off, all I really remember is parents running around and the channel being changed to the news. The next thing I remember from that day is sitting on the floor in Mrs. McGavin's first grade class and having a moment of silence. I didn't know what was going on. I was only 6 and no one really wanted us to know anything. All I really remember is that those few minutes of silence felt different than the more common ones we had had on occasion. 

That's all I know from that day. And for 9 years after I found out little more. The only thing I really remember is that each year on September 11th, we had that same moment of silence. I wish I could remember more... I wish I had been older and could have understood at least a little. But then again maybe I'm lucky... lucky that I was so young. I don't remember and can't recall any of the horrible details. 

Last year was the 10 year anniversary of the attack. It was a Sunday and I came home from church desperately wanting to understand what exactly had happened on that day 10 years before. All I had to do was turn on the tv. For the rest of the night I sat and watch documentary after documentary, setting aside all my "pressing" homework. I sat and watched and sat and thought. Finally I had some idea of what had happened. I say some idea because everything that happened is more than any one person can take in all at once. I don't think anyone can really understand everything that happened on that day. 

Every year since on September 11th we come together, put out flags, have moments of silence... but then the next day it seems as if it never happened. The same sense of unity that we felt on September 11th, 2001, should be felt every day throughout the country. I wish it was. Maybe someday we'll get there... or maybe not. But the only person I can really control is myself. 

We all have stuff going on in our lives... trials and struggles that we wish we didn't have sometimes. But hey... we're alive. Lots of people don't get the chance to see tomorrow, thinking about the disaster at the World Trade Center, and hearing the stories of the people and families reminds me of that. 

I'm alive. Why shouldn't I be happy? As each day comes to an end I pray and thank God for the opportunity I had to live another day. And, not to sound morbid, but if I wasn't going to see tomorrow, I'd like to think that today was the happiest day of my life. Sure, little stupid things happen to get on my nerves. But so what? I am alive. :)

So many people are fighting for and protecting this country. Our country. And some of them die every day protecting us. Many people died because of the attack on the World Trade Center, but many people were saved as well. These noble men and women are the reason we can live the way we do and the reasons we have the freedoms that we have. They are the reason we can live to see another day. 

These people are so appreciated but no level of appreciation would be enough. A great start would be to remember them and everything they do for us, not just on days like today, September 11th, but every day of the year. After all, they don't just protect us a few days out of the year... they are there for us every day of every year. So for any of you reading this who are soldiers, or firemen, or policemen, or doctors, or any of the thousands + people who help protect and take care of this country, or are a family member/friend of someone who is, THANK YOU. 

I'm sure this post, as well as many today, seems somber and even upsetting. But that's not my intent. We, as individuals and as a country, are still here today. Alive and fighting. And that's something to be proud of. Something to be happy about. 

So every day when you wake up, I challenge you to smile. Because you are alive. Be happy. :)

It's ok to miss

Note to Self: 

It's ok to miss. People, places, things... it's even ok to miss how things were. 

I miss all the time. Not 24/7 all the time, but often enough. I've moved from places. I've moved up through school. I've had friends move and move on. I've lost friendships and relationships. I've had family members die. And every once in a while... I really just MISS. But that's ok. No one expects me (or you) to be perfectly ok all the time. No one expects you to be able to move on and pretend like it never happened or like those people and times never existed. And if someone does expect that... well, I wish them luck. 

Missing something doesn't mean that you can't let go and you're "stuck in the past". Missing isn't bad. Missing shows that you recognize what you had. Missing shows that you've had good times, you've had good people in your life, and now you have good memories. It doesn't mean you won't have and make more... but just that you appreciate the ones you will always keep with you. 

People come and go. Time keeps ticking. Life goes on. Some people say we should "live in the moment" and "forget the past". Not me. The past is where I came from. It's where we all came from. It's made me who I am today and has shaped every part of my life. I've learned from things in my past and I continue to do so. I cherish every "mistake" I've ever made... and I don't live with regrets. I live with memories and lessons. 

Sometimes I have days like today. Nothing causes them... they just happen. I walk around, I work, I go to school, I socialize, and whatever else the day may bring. But the whole time, I'm thinking. I can picture things like they happened just yesterday. Playing made up games at the neighbors house, camping with an old friend, watching tv or playing blocks with my grandpas, my first day of school, my first kiss... anything and everything. And I miss it. I wish I could live those moments again. But at the end of a day like today, I look in the mirror. I am who I am because of everything that I've been through. Missing doesn't make me weak. It makes me stronger. Because when I look in that mirror and I see how far I've come and all the good times I've had... I also see how far I can go and all the good times to come.  

So it's OK to miss. Remember that. 

P.S. Not all of my notes will be so serious... pinkie-promise :)

Starting over

Note to Self:

Starting over isn't easy. It's hard. It's scary. It sucks. But look at the other option. Are you going to do the same thing  stupid or not  day after day? No. You're going to take each new day and start over. Start fresh. And eventually... someday... you're going be exactly where you want to be. You're going to be with exactly who you want to be with. You're going to do exactly what you want to do. And you're going to be exactly who you want to be. Hang in there.

And so it begins!

Note to Self: 

You probably shouldn't start a blog if you have no idea what you're doing.