Remember to...

Forget: Things that people have said to and about you.

Focus: On the people who truly love & care for you.

Carry: On with what you enjoy doing & do it with the extra knowledge that you and your heart are good.

The Four Agreements

Reading a new book.

The Four Agreements

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

This quote made the whole book worth reading:

"If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesn't walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find that you don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices."

Words of Wisdom

We must have a deep sense of purpose and the will to fulfill it... We must... Resolve old, unfinished business and eliminate toxic people and attitudes from our lives. We must... Work hard, have long periods of study and concentrated efforts. We must... Withdraw and sever ties with people who are not truly aligned with our best long term interests... (Finally!) Focus exclusively on your ambition and what is important to you. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS AND MOVE FORWARD!

God is Love,

Rev Run

Erase Me

Whole new meaning to this song for me! Love this version, too. Pardon the D's, B's, and H's :P

Smile Even When It Rains

Urgh! I keep wanting to publish a new post, but halfway through I re-read what I'm typing, and it's one huge, venting pile of trash talk! I've always taken pride in the fact that I have incredible amounts of self control, but recently I am struggling. I feel the constant need to defend myself, when I KNOW that I've done nothing wrong.

A few weeks ago I had to play "the bad guy" role, something entirely different from what I'm used to. Feelings were hurt. Friendships were broken. With this decision came a new perspective. I've been able to forgive those who have wronged me in the past more fully. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Just a reminder though, it's not nice to mock others.

I'm gonna keep doing what I do best: Smiling, laughing, and praying.

Living in Thanksgiving Daily

I was planning the FHE lesson for my ward tonight and ran across this talk, "Living in Thanksgiving Daily" by Elder Joseph B. Worthlinthat, that I absolutely love. Can you imagine how your life would improve if you lived in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if others did the same? Do you think the world would be a happier place? less stressful? less angry? more spiritual? Here are just a few excerpts that I found helpful:)

First, we must open our eyes.
Look around you. Notice the people you care about. Notice the fragrance of the flowers and the song of the birds. Notice and give thanks for the blue of the sky, the color of the leaves, and the white of the clouds. Enjoy every sight, every smell, every taste, every sound.

The second thing we can do is open our hearts.
We must let go of the negative emotions that bind our hearts and instead fill our souls with love, faith, and thanksgiving. Forgive others who have offended you. Don’t waste another moment feeling self-pity. Every day drain from your heart the feelings of resentment, rage, and defeat that do nothing but discourage and destroy. Fill your heart with those things that ennoble, encourage, and inspire.

The third thing we can do to live in thanksgiving daily is open our arms.
One of the best ways we show our gratitude is by blessing the lives of those around us.
When was the last time you unselfishly reached out to help another in need? Every time we cheer another’s heart, every time we ease another’s burden, every time we lift a weary hand, we show our gratitude to that God to whom we owe all that we have and all that we are.

President Joseph F. Smith proclaimed: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

BYU vs New Mexico!

We were freezing, but we loved every minute of it!

Kylie was mad, because she accidentally left her phone in my car the whole game.

No marshmallows...