Finals are still in the process. I have two down, and three to go. Well in about two hours I will have 3 down and 2 to go. Things are looking up. Plus on friday one of my companions from my mission is getting married. We always joked who would get married first and it looks like he beat me. Don't worry I am not twiddling my thumbs, I am actively engaged in a good cause.
As I have taken a moment to think I have noticed a few things that I am looking forward to this christmas break. I am looking forward to relax, reflect, heal, and learn.
First of all I am looking forward to relax. School is stressful. So is running track. And don't let me forget dating. Now try managing these three giants at once. Oh I forgot one, there are church duties as well. I am not saying that I am just going to disappear in a cave and shy away from all of these responsibilities over break, but actually the sound of that sounds nice. I just want to take it easy and not worry about things so much. That is what I mean by relaxing. Relaxing my mind as well as my body.
Next I am looking forward to reflect. With less distractions in my life I will be able to reflect more efficiently. I don't seem to take as much time to reflect anymore. Personally it pays huge dividends to myself and keeps me sane. If I let the stressed of the world get me too much then I am not a happy camper. Reflection helps me to be a happy camper. I reflect on a lot of things. My future, my goals, my strengths, my weaknesses, what I can do to become a better person, Jesus Christ, His Atonement, gospel principles, what I want in a future spouse, etc.
Then I am looking forward to heal. My hamstring feels like a popped tire on an old ford pinto. It is not functioning very well. Neither did the ford pintos. Hopefully it isn't going to explode like some of the ford pinto's did. I need to give it time to heal so it doesn't explode. By explode I mean damage even further.
Lastly I will take the time to learn. Learn from my mistakes, good books, friends, etc.
Yes now I am looking forward to that day. Finals will be over soon enough and I will be able to enjoy two weeks of luxury. Oh ya I am going skiing too!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Adversity
Adversity always seem to have its clever way of catching up with someone. It doesn't just hit you in a moment and then leave forever. It comes and goes. It is unpredictable. There is no way to hide from it.
About a month ago I twisted my ankle. At first I didn't notice any ill effects. But then the next morning I woke up and the muscle to the side of my calf was as hard as a rock. I told my coach my leg was feeling a little tight and he was like "You'll be ok just jog it out." Then I showed my leg to him and the muscle was bulging out. He grabbed it and couldn't believe how hard it was.
That injury set me back about a week. It wasn't that big of a deal. I was excited to start training again once the tightness left. About a week after that injury I went home for Thanksgiving break. I decided to go do a track workout when I got home and ended up straining my hamstring.
The next morning I woke up, it was sore, and I could barely walk. This was another set back I wasn't expecting. I was pretty frustrated. I had a lot of things on my mind at that time. It seems whenever I am stressed out I get injured. There must be some kind of relationship between the two.
Well my hamstring injury set me back about two weeks and then I got back into training once again. I felt refreshed and excited to get to work again. I have specific times I want to run this year and I didn't want to waste anymore time.
Then I strained the same hamstring again. Two strains on the same hamstring within two weeks. My leg wasn't strong enough. I tried to sprint on it too soon. I usually do not show my emotions. I try to hide them so people don't ask questions. Inside I was livid. I wanted to scream and break something. I didn't do either because I am calm and collective. But I wanted to.
The next day I was ok and realized that patience is a virtue. It is not the end of the world. I have a lot to be grateful for. I will never take for granted a healthy body. I am grateful for my family, for good friends, and for the opportunity I have to learn and grow. I am grateful for a savior that loves me and cares for me. I am grateful for his example in my life.
I realize that greatness doesn't come easy. The trials are not what makes a man. The ways someone deals with the trials they are given makes the man. You can grow more through adversity than when everything is just handed to you. Your character grows more when you have to go through trials.
Really we are just big rocks. Each trial hopefully chips the rough edges off more and more. Eventually we will be as smooth as a pearl. But only with the help of a very patient master.
About a month ago I twisted my ankle. At first I didn't notice any ill effects. But then the next morning I woke up and the muscle to the side of my calf was as hard as a rock. I told my coach my leg was feeling a little tight and he was like "You'll be ok just jog it out." Then I showed my leg to him and the muscle was bulging out. He grabbed it and couldn't believe how hard it was.
That injury set me back about a week. It wasn't that big of a deal. I was excited to start training again once the tightness left. About a week after that injury I went home for Thanksgiving break. I decided to go do a track workout when I got home and ended up straining my hamstring.
The next morning I woke up, it was sore, and I could barely walk. This was another set back I wasn't expecting. I was pretty frustrated. I had a lot of things on my mind at that time. It seems whenever I am stressed out I get injured. There must be some kind of relationship between the two.
Well my hamstring injury set me back about two weeks and then I got back into training once again. I felt refreshed and excited to get to work again. I have specific times I want to run this year and I didn't want to waste anymore time.
Then I strained the same hamstring again. Two strains on the same hamstring within two weeks. My leg wasn't strong enough. I tried to sprint on it too soon. I usually do not show my emotions. I try to hide them so people don't ask questions. Inside I was livid. I wanted to scream and break something. I didn't do either because I am calm and collective. But I wanted to.
The next day I was ok and realized that patience is a virtue. It is not the end of the world. I have a lot to be grateful for. I will never take for granted a healthy body. I am grateful for my family, for good friends, and for the opportunity I have to learn and grow. I am grateful for a savior that loves me and cares for me. I am grateful for his example in my life.
I realize that greatness doesn't come easy. The trials are not what makes a man. The ways someone deals with the trials they are given makes the man. You can grow more through adversity than when everything is just handed to you. Your character grows more when you have to go through trials.
Really we are just big rocks. Each trial hopefully chips the rough edges off more and more. Eventually we will be as smooth as a pearl. But only with the help of a very patient master.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Stress
I have a friend from high school that has been stressed out a whole lot more than myself. Her parents split up when she was in high school. Since then her dad has made a lot of empty promises to her; e.g., I will pay for your education, and I will pay for your car.
He promised that if she took out loans in her name then he would help make the payments on those loans. What was the result? He ended up making her responsible for paying them in the long run.
She didn't make wise choices and eventually got kicked out of the school she was attending. The loans she took out unfortunately didn't disappear with her leave from school. Now she has had to work multiple jobs and accept any double shifts she could to take care of these responsibilities.
Her dad has basically left her on her own since she turned 18.
Over Thanksgiving Break I tried to catch up with her but she was too busy with work and other engagements.
Yesterday I decided to write her a letter and send some pictures of when we used to hang out in the good old days. We used to take her family with us to our cabin in Mammoth to go snowboarding so I had a bunch of pictures from those vacations. I hope she will find some joy in the simple letter I wrote as well as when she sees the pictures of our past.
It was something that had been on my mind for quite some time so I am glad I was able to finally get it done. I hope it will in some way, probably small, relieve some of the stress she has been experiencing for quite some time.
He promised that if she took out loans in her name then he would help make the payments on those loans. What was the result? He ended up making her responsible for paying them in the long run.
She didn't make wise choices and eventually got kicked out of the school she was attending. The loans she took out unfortunately didn't disappear with her leave from school. Now she has had to work multiple jobs and accept any double shifts she could to take care of these responsibilities.
Her dad has basically left her on her own since she turned 18.
Over Thanksgiving Break I tried to catch up with her but she was too busy with work and other engagements.
Yesterday I decided to write her a letter and send some pictures of when we used to hang out in the good old days. We used to take her family with us to our cabin in Mammoth to go snowboarding so I had a bunch of pictures from those vacations. I hope she will find some joy in the simple letter I wrote as well as when she sees the pictures of our past.
It was something that had been on my mind for quite some time so I am glad I was able to finally get it done. I hope it will in some way, probably small, relieve some of the stress she has been experiencing for quite some time.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Decisions
We make decisions everyday. It would probably be impossible to be able to count up each day all of the decisions we make. Even what we choose to think about is a decision. Some decisions are small and require little thought before action. Some decisions are larger and have greater consequences. These decisions that carry greater consequences need more time and introspection before action is taken.
In order to make a correct decision we must think about it, study it out in our mind, pray to God about, ponder, and meditate over it. Then action is required. More often than not, God is not going to shoot us with a lightning bolt to lead us in the right direction. That would interfere with our free agency. God has given us the ability to act logically. Once we have come to a logical conclusion then we can act.
The most amazing thing about this process is that God will never let someone living the Gospel righteously be led down a wrong path.
Recently I was faced with such a decision. There were three different routes I could go and I didn't know which one to pursue. I thought about it and may have let my emotions lead the way a little too much and then acted. After I made the decision I knew it wasn't the right one. I had a feeling about it. It just didn't feel right. I continued to stick with this decision until my mind became weighed down more and more. I realized I was unhappy. Did I make the wrong decision? Yes. Was I harmed in the process? Not really.
Well I decided to change and pursue another route tonight and that has made all the difference. My mind is now clear and refreshed. No longer is my mind weighed down. I feel good about the new direction I am headed and will listen more promptly to the feelings that come.
God is real and he does answer prayers. Sometimes we must step out in the darkness and then he will lead the way. But it isn't until that first step is made.
In order to make a correct decision we must think about it, study it out in our mind, pray to God about, ponder, and meditate over it. Then action is required. More often than not, God is not going to shoot us with a lightning bolt to lead us in the right direction. That would interfere with our free agency. God has given us the ability to act logically. Once we have come to a logical conclusion then we can act.
The most amazing thing about this process is that God will never let someone living the Gospel righteously be led down a wrong path.
Recently I was faced with such a decision. There were three different routes I could go and I didn't know which one to pursue. I thought about it and may have let my emotions lead the way a little too much and then acted. After I made the decision I knew it wasn't the right one. I had a feeling about it. It just didn't feel right. I continued to stick with this decision until my mind became weighed down more and more. I realized I was unhappy. Did I make the wrong decision? Yes. Was I harmed in the process? Not really.
Well I decided to change and pursue another route tonight and that has made all the difference. My mind is now clear and refreshed. No longer is my mind weighed down. I feel good about the new direction I am headed and will listen more promptly to the feelings that come.
God is real and he does answer prayers. Sometimes we must step out in the darkness and then he will lead the way. But it isn't until that first step is made.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Set backs
A couple weeks ago I rolled my ankle but didn't notice any initial pain. The next morning I woke up and a muscle on the side of my leg was really tight. It felt as though it was permanently flexed. I couldnt walk without feeling pain so I got a little nervous for practice.
Getting injured is probably one of the worst things that could happen to me at this point in my life. I have goals I have set that I want to accomplish this year and injuries are only going to take me further away from them. I was patient and went and saw the trainers. They looked at my leg and just suggested I receive stem and ice.
When I went back to tell my coach he was a little upset because he felt like the trainers weren't doing their job fully. My coach was patient and the rest of the week I didnt do much running. My leg didn't seem to be getting better abduction and that was when my coach took me to Ron.
Ron figured out what was causing the tightness in my leg, gave me some exercises to do to correct the problem, and rubbed my leg out a bit. What was the result? The nexty I woke up and my leg was significantly better
As a result I am now more fully motivated to work harder in practice. I feel refreshed and ready to do work again. how grateful I am for setbacks that take me out of my comfort zone.
Getting injured is probably one of the worst things that could happen to me at this point in my life. I have goals I have set that I want to accomplish this year and injuries are only going to take me further away from them. I was patient and went and saw the trainers. They looked at my leg and just suggested I receive stem and ice.
When I went back to tell my coach he was a little upset because he felt like the trainers weren't doing their job fully. My coach was patient and the rest of the week I didnt do much running. My leg didn't seem to be getting better abduction and that was when my coach took me to Ron.
Ron figured out what was causing the tightness in my leg, gave me some exercises to do to correct the problem, and rubbed my leg out a bit. What was the result? The nexty I woke up and my leg was significantly better
As a result I am now more fully motivated to work harder in practice. I feel refreshed and ready to do work again. how grateful I am for setbacks that take me out of my comfort zone.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Complications
Why is it that whenever you make a resolve to change or do something differently, there is always something that seems to stand in the way or become a distraction?
I was excited when I made the resolve to make a few changes to simplify my life in regards to dating.
Let me explain what I wanted to change. One week I took out four different girls. These girls were each amazing in their own individual way. After date number one of the week I started thinking to myself, "Maybe I'll go for this one, she seems like a great girl." Then date number two of the week came, "Hm this one is pretty cool too, and I think I like her personality better." Then three "This girl is pretty dang attractive." Then four, etc.
So you can imagine the confusion I faced. How do you narrow it down when they are all uniquely amazing?
Solution. Pick one, stick with her and no one else, and then if it works out it works out. If it doesn't then pick another girl and continue the process.
Well this was my resolution. The girl was picked . . . but then . . . Yup you guessed it, another girl came into the picture. It wasn't expected. A text message out of the blue came my way. She wanted to hang out. I thought I had everything figured out. Well I was weak and ended up hanging out with her. Now I have two girls in the pool again with one decision to make. Which one to pursue?
Or do I forget both of them?
Patience is a virtue. I figure if I keep developing friendships with both I will eventually narrow it down. As long as I don't kiss either of them while I am still figuring it out I think I am pretty safe. I don't want to be seen as a player in any regards. I just want to find someone suitable to pursue that will make me happy.
Until next time. Stay tuned.
I was excited when I made the resolve to make a few changes to simplify my life in regards to dating.
Let me explain what I wanted to change. One week I took out four different girls. These girls were each amazing in their own individual way. After date number one of the week I started thinking to myself, "Maybe I'll go for this one, she seems like a great girl." Then date number two of the week came, "Hm this one is pretty cool too, and I think I like her personality better." Then three "This girl is pretty dang attractive." Then four, etc.
So you can imagine the confusion I faced. How do you narrow it down when they are all uniquely amazing?
Solution. Pick one, stick with her and no one else, and then if it works out it works out. If it doesn't then pick another girl and continue the process.
Well this was my resolution. The girl was picked . . . but then . . . Yup you guessed it, another girl came into the picture. It wasn't expected. A text message out of the blue came my way. She wanted to hang out. I thought I had everything figured out. Well I was weak and ended up hanging out with her. Now I have two girls in the pool again with one decision to make. Which one to pursue?
Or do I forget both of them?
Patience is a virtue. I figure if I keep developing friendships with both I will eventually narrow it down. As long as I don't kiss either of them while I am still figuring it out I think I am pretty safe. I don't want to be seen as a player in any regards. I just want to find someone suitable to pursue that will make me happy.
Until next time. Stay tuned.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Why do people think it is so awkward to eat alone?
My Hunger started kicking in. Everyone had already eaten. I decided to go to Zupas by myself and get a sandwich and some soup. I am completely comfortable eating by myself. I actually enjoy it because it gives me time to relax and think.
The girls at the table next to me seemed to feel more awkward for me eating by myself than I did. I could see it in their eyes as they looked at me and then looked around to see if anyone else was coming. After they realized I really was eating by myself they looked over, smiled, and asked if I wanted to join them. I hope they don't think I was rude but I declined their offer. I was comfortable where I was and didn't really feel like moving over a table.
Then I noticed a bunch of people from my ward enter into Zupas so I ended up moving over to the table they sat at. They also thought it was weird I was eating by myself. Is it a crime to eat alone? Is it socially just not cool? I just laughed and thought it was funny.
This reminds me of another experience like this. I went to Cafe Rio one night around 9 p.m. Most of my friends had already eaten so I went by myself. After I finished dinner I went next door to spoon it up and got some yogurt. I knew the girl working at the cash register. This was her response when she noticed I was alone, "You are really getting yogurt all by yourself?" I just laughed and responded, "Ya this is how I do it." I sensed she felt bad for me that I didn't have anyone to get yogurt with.
Why is it so weird to go get food or yogurt by yourself? Are people really that insecure to always need someone with them when they go out into public? I guess people these days just don't enjoy their own company. Now by no means am I anti-social. I fully enjoy good company to dinner or lunch or yogurt. But sometimes it just doesn't work out and doing it alone works just fine.
The girls at the table next to me seemed to feel more awkward for me eating by myself than I did. I could see it in their eyes as they looked at me and then looked around to see if anyone else was coming. After they realized I really was eating by myself they looked over, smiled, and asked if I wanted to join them. I hope they don't think I was rude but I declined their offer. I was comfortable where I was and didn't really feel like moving over a table.
Then I noticed a bunch of people from my ward enter into Zupas so I ended up moving over to the table they sat at. They also thought it was weird I was eating by myself. Is it a crime to eat alone? Is it socially just not cool? I just laughed and thought it was funny.
This reminds me of another experience like this. I went to Cafe Rio one night around 9 p.m. Most of my friends had already eaten so I went by myself. After I finished dinner I went next door to spoon it up and got some yogurt. I knew the girl working at the cash register. This was her response when she noticed I was alone, "You are really getting yogurt all by yourself?" I just laughed and responded, "Ya this is how I do it." I sensed she felt bad for me that I didn't have anyone to get yogurt with.
Why is it so weird to go get food or yogurt by yourself? Are people really that insecure to always need someone with them when they go out into public? I guess people these days just don't enjoy their own company. Now by no means am I anti-social. I fully enjoy good company to dinner or lunch or yogurt. But sometimes it just doesn't work out and doing it alone works just fine.
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