Affect-ive Decisions

Hey guys. I done been thinking this week about the effects our decisions have on other people. I know a lot of times we say things to ourselves like "This won't hurt anybody..." or "No one will know/care," but the fact of the matter is that every decision you make can affect someone else. In my Book of Mormon class we talked about this in relation to Corianton, an individual in the book. Corianton was trying to teach some people about Christ, but when those people saw Corianton's actions they were disinclined to believe his teachings. My professor always says, "You teach who you are." We've all heard "actions speak louder than words" a million times, but how often do we really stop to think about it? A decision you make today could affect millions of people for generations...
One pretty big example of this is missionary work. (It all comes back to missionary work!) Every missionary touches thousands of lives, even if he or she only teaches a few people. It's like a ripple effect. One drop leads to lots of ripples.
So the moral of the story is, don't underestimate the consequences of your actions. You aren't always the only one who has to deal with them. Don't be selfish. Stop living for yourself and start living for others. If everyone lived to try and make someone else's life better, imagine how great the world would be!
GUYS, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. DO GOOD THINGS.
I know you're all good people. :)


So let's get to the Thankful List, shall we?


*drumroll please...*

#1: Awesome friends and family!
#2: Getting to spend some serious quality girl-time with my mom and sisters :)
#3: Long weekends
#4: Free paint samples from Wal-Mart and a little Pinterest creativity:

#5: COUNTRY SWING DANCE!

#6: An awesome fiery-haired best-friend-dance-partner

#7: Good hair days

and, last but certainly not least...

#8: You! Because if you're reading my blog, you're awesome. And I appreciate it :)

Also, you should watch this video if you haven't already. The song is freaking neat-o. 

Have a fabulous day!

Missionary Prayer

Hello, Readers!
As many of you probably don't know, I am now a student at Brigham Young University in beautiful (and currently FREEZING) Provo, Utah. As a student of this wonderful institution, I am required (and blessed!) to take a religion course every semester. This semester I get to study The Book of Mormon, which is one of the key parts of my religion. It's really cool to get to study this amazing book and learn things about it I never would have known if I hadn't taken this class.
Anyway, the point is that part of my homework in this class is to write a forum entry every week on an impression or thought I had or something I learned in class or doing the reading. So this week I thought I'd share my entry with all y'alls :)
Since it's my second semester of the class, we're studying the second half of the BoM, starting with the book of Alma, chapters 30 and 31. In chapter 30, we are given an example of someone working with the devil's tactics to bring us down. Chapter 31 is the exact opposite - it shows us how to work with the Lord's tactics to bring others (and ourselves) up. It's a great example of missionary work, which I found really helpful this past week.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we put a lot of emphasis on the importance of missionary work. Young men are heavily encouraged to serve a full-time, two-year mission when they turn 19 (or, if they choose, 18, due to a recent announcement by the First Presidency). Young women, while not under the same obligation to serve, are welcome and even encouraged to serve a mission if they choose. What with the recent news, there has been a lot of talk about missionary work, and I think it's important to remember that whether or not you choose to serve a full-time mission, you can always do missionary work. I found some verses in Alma 31 (specifically verses 26-35) to be really helpful in working towards being an effective missionary. Here Alma is praying to the Lord to help Alma and his companions be patient and have the strength to make it through their afflictions and to be able to help and serve the people (Zoramites) the way they need to. The biggest thing to remember is to love the people you serve and truly want to help them. If you get outside of yourself and truly try to put others before you, you'll find your life improving in so many ways. I heard a great analogy today, and I'd like to share it with you now. It's called:
THE PARABLE OF THE POPPER

"Behold at the time of harvest the ears of corn did bring forth kernels, which were dried and prepared for the popper's hand.  And then it was that the popper did take the kernels, all of which did appear alike unto him and did apply the oil and the heat.  And lo, it came to pass that when the heat was on, some did explode with promise and did magnify themselves an hundred fold, and some did burst forth with whiteness, which did both gladden the eye and satisfy the taste of the popper.
 

And likewise, some others did pop, but not too much.  But lo, there were some that did just lie there and even though the popper's heat was alike unto all, they did bask in the warmth of the oil and kept everything they had for themselves.  And so it came to pass that those which had given of themselves did bring joy and delight to many munchers, but those which kept of the warmth and did not burst forth were fit only to be cast out into the pail and were thought of with hardness and disgust.
 

And thus we see that in the beginning all appear alike, but when the heat is on, some come forth and give their all, while others fail to pop and verily become like unto chaff, to be discarded and forgotten."

I have no idea who wrote it, but it wasn't me, so don't give me the credit for it. I just really like how it shows us that magnifying yourself and sharing what you have helps other people be happy, while keeping all your talents, service, etc. to yourself doesn't help anyone, not even you. 

So there's your happy thought for the day. Whether you're a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or not, you can find a way to magnify yourself and serve others, and when all else fails, just try to love the people around you. The rest will fall into place. :)

So, in the true Optimismus style, I now end with my list of Happys for today:

1. Big, ugly, comfy sweaters.

2. Colorful pens (especially the pink one)

3. Not procrastinating any more!

4. Finding a booth to sit at during lunch

5. Making new friends

6. A new beginning to make life what you want it to be :)

Go out there and make a happy in someone's life :)

New Year, New Year

So, I realize it's been quite a while since last I posted... What with being a brand-new college student, juggling classes and a job and getting no sleep and everything, it's hard to remember to post :P

So HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 slipped by like nobody's business... Holy cow, it seems like just yesterday I was freaking out about getting all my IB requirements finished and turned in by their January deadlines! (Which, by the way, I DID finish, and I got my IB diploma! *yay!*)

It being New Years and all, I figure I should make a resolution. I always forget to make an actual resolution, so maybe this year I should resolve to actually make a resolution... Hmm. Does that count? Probably not. I feel like I'm sort of copping out by saying something like "Well, I just want to be a better person and improve myself!" because, let's be honest, that's LAME. I also, however, don't want to make an unrealistic goal that I'll have a hard time keeping. Do you see my problem?

So here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna be semi-vague, but kinda specific-ish. I'm gonna resolve, in the year 2013, to become better at saving money, develop closer relationships with my family, and also be better at remembering to update my blog. *cough.* So yay! Resolutions!

As is the style of Optimismus, I'll end the post with a list of things to be happy about :)

1. Having something to look forward to each day when I wake up, thanks to a very special someone <3
2. The new Les Miserables movie... Seriously, don't listen to anyone who didn't like it. It was amazing.
3. Roommates with whom I can have ridiculous dance parties and also gush about how handsome a certain student professor is.
4. A best friend with whom I can discuss all of the above, plus anything and everything else (assuming we're not giggling too hard to speak).
5. The best family EVER. 'Nuff said.
6. Having a whole year of possibilities ahead of me to have adventures, be myself, and just be happy.

May your new year be full of awesomeness! Go out and do something you love. It'll make you happy. :)

Respect Your Eldahs

Happy May, everybody! (Yes, I do realize it's been 6 months since last I posted... *sheepish grin.*)
Normally, I'd give y'all a big summary of the past 6 months of my life, but tonight I have something much more important to talk about.

Everyone has friends. Right? Some friends are closer than others. Some friends are really more like acquaintances. And then some friends are really more like relatives. You know the kind; the ones with whom your conversations are made up of more inside jokes than "normal" comments, with whom you spend more time giggling than being serious, to whom you can tell anything, and for whom you would do anything.

I've got me one of those friends.

I call him my Bruddah. Cause he's really more of a brother than just a regular friend. He actually goes by many names... Bes' Frien', Raw Burrito, Bruddah... and this week he'll become Eldah. I can't believe it's already time for him to go out and dedicate two years to serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'm really proud of him, and excited for him to have wonderful experiences serving the people of El Salvador. But yeah, I'm going to miss him.
I feel bad because we haven't spent nearly as much time together as we should have lately - I've been busy with school, he's been busy with work. A word to the wise: Spend as much time as you possibly can with your soon-to-be-Elders. Before you know it, they're gone.

So I'd like to take just a moment to tell my Bruddah a few things I think he should know.
#1: It's 11:11. So make a wish.
#2: The memories we've made together are priceless to me.
#3: Don't make me blush ^^
#4: You give the best hugs <( ^ ^ )>
#5: Baby, eat the applesauce!
#6: I still have that scar on my hand from the stupid filing cabinet. And I still have the picture you drew of my battle with the filing cabinet. And I miss sitting next to you in seminary and having you draw Duke Archibald McFezzon on and around said scar from said filing cabinet.
and #7: Did you not know it was a snake duck??

Thanks for all the memories, and good luck to you! I'ma miss you lotsly. <3
-Your Sistah

(oh, and NEW POST!!!!!)

Dear Me, is it November Already?

First off, I'd like to see how thoroughly my almost-name-buddy is ACTUALLY blog-stalking me.
Because this post is because I remembered you told me I should post so you could stalk me.
You know who you are.

HAPPY NOVEMBER!
Don't you just love the cold weather? The bare trees, school being in full swing, almost-but-not-quite being able to listen to Christmas music without guilt? :D
...yeah, me neither.

At this moment, I would like to quote a poem, as told to me by my brilliant grandfather.

No birds, no bees.
No flowers.
No trees.
November.

That pretty much sums it all up.
BUT HEY! At least we have Thanksgiving (*turkey turkey turkey turkey turkey!*) coming up next week! I guess the Powers that Be decided there needed to be something to get the world through the month. Why not a lot of food? Yes? Yes.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I ask you:

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

Here's my list (in no particular order):

1. Fuzzy red socks that keep my toes toasty through the night.
2. Zebra-striped Snuggies
3. Moose hats
4. A best friend who's just as excited about a boy as I am
5. The boy mentioned in #4, who just so happens to be the best thing ever :)
6. Things that make you laugh so hard your abs hurt
7. Michael Buble
8. Unlimited texting... *sheepish grin*
9. A clean bedroom
10. Sisters :)
11. Being almost done with college apps
12. This song:

(see: #5 and #7)
13. Fun tights
14. Hot chocolate
15. 11:11 wishes

The list could go on forever.

(SPEAKING of 11:11 wishes, did you make a wish at 11:11 on 11/11/11? I did. Did yours come true? Mine did. :D)

So here's my challenge to you. (Buahahaha! Blogger homework. That's what you get for reading my blog.) Make a list of what you're thankful for. It's good to remember all the things you're blessed with. You don't even have to write it down; just take a moment to be grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving, and have a good November!

:) :)

Chipmunk Cheeks

Sooooooo...
I haven't posted in... like... a month. FAIL.
*cough.*
Anyway.

I got my wisdom teeth out this week. Ick. If you've never done it, I'm sincerely sorry for you when you do. A word of advice: DON'T DO IT AWAKE. Just don't. Also, don't plan on eating any real food for at least three days. Applesauce is your best friend. And ice cream. Yeah.
So I expected my cheeks to swell up. I knew I would look like a chipmunk. I wasn't expecting only ONE cheek to really swell. No normal-looking chipmunk for me! I got to be a LOPSIDED chipmunk. Ohhh yeahhh.
I've ALMOST gotten to the point where I can chew real food. Almost. My biggest problem all week has been the fact that I get hungry every three minutes and I couldn't eat any real food. It took me 30 minutes to eat a string cheese the other day... but I did it!


On another note, I've re-discovered the joys of having a record player in my room. Yes, at this very moment I am (definitely not embarrassingly) dancing around my room to The Beach Boys' glorious tune, "Salt Lake City." (Yes, they did sing a song about my happy hometown. It makes me very happy.)

Girls camp is coming up this next week! A whole week without parents, phones, iPods, Lappy, or actual showers. It's a good thing none of us get to shower, or we might notice how bad we smell. My dad and brother and nephews got to go on a fathers-and-sons campout this weekend at the same campground I'm going to next week... apparently they left me a secret message. I'm very excited to find it. :]


Have I ever mentioned that I love my family? Yeah, they're pretty cool.

ALSO, I discovered that Dollar Tree has an INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLE selection of coloring books. Best. Discovery. Ever.

Speaking of discoveries, I recently got a volunteering opportunity at the local childrens' museum. I basically get to check off my school-required service hours for playing around all day. I spend a lot of time re-stocking tiny grocery shelves with fake bread, fake peanut butter, fake laundry soap... you get the idea.

School starts in 3 weeks. I'm going to die. Senior year, here I come! (I hope.)

This was really long and kind of random. Sorry.

Au revoir! :]

Happy 4th!

I always feel slightly guilty on the days I don't post, so I figured a holiday was as good as any day to say hello.
HELLO!
Happy Fourth of July, Independence Day, or whatever you want to call it. May we always cherish our beloved country and honor our freedom with patriotism (and illegal fireworks)! After all, "what better way to celebrate the independence of your country than by blowing up a small piece of it?"
On such patriotic days as this, I like to sit back, relax, and watch 17 hours of movies such as 1776, The Music Man, Independence Day, and both National Treasures. When that's done, I'll listen to John Philip Sousa marches and Stan Freberg's The United States of America (if you haven't heard of it, look it up. Seriously. You'll be glad you did.) And of course, there's the traditional poppers and sparklers to finish off the day with a BANG (forgive my pun). Between big breakfasts, barbecues, and popsicles, picnics, fireworks, and watermelon out the wazoo, the Fourth is a truly familial holiday.
So even though there's only 65 minutes left to it, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!