Somewhere Over The Rainbow.....

You know those days when you wake up, you feel great, you go for a short jog, you get a hot shower, you get a good breakfast, you pack your lunch, you get out of the door on time and you know it's going be an awesome day, only to have it all blow up in your face? Or it feels like that? (But at least that lunch was good eh?)

I have days like that from time to time. (had one today in fact). I think we all have one once in while. Days that when we go to bed, we want to wake up and see it all as a dream, a bad one. These are usually the days that our true selfs come out and our true colors get shown. Because these days don't build character, they test it.

But how are we, how am I, supposed to see the end of the day on a high note? How's it possible to see the good, that we always hear about, amid the bad. I don't have all the answers. I wish I did. But for some to feel better and to get their feet back on the ground and the pieces of their hearts back together, it's going to takea good long hard run. For others, it's going to be a good hot shower or bath. For some, it's a conversation with a friend or family member. For some it music. For me, today, it was all of the above. I still feel kind of low, kind of out of it. But you know what? Dorthy, from the Wizard of Oz, was right. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. And I'm hoping that tomorrow is that somewhere.

Life always has it's challenges. I know my life does. But if I have a say in my own life, I'm going to choose to be optimistic about it. I could get caught up in the challenges and be paralyzed by pessimism and paint a black dark life for myself. Or I can try to reach out and reach up. Find opportunity in optimism, and in the process paint a bright future for myself. That's what Dorthy did when she helped The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow and The Tin Man. She could have been self-centered, and gotten caught up in her own trials and challenges. Instead, she helped others, who and which in turn helped her, and lifted her.

And that is how we can end our day on a high note, with a smile on our face.

Take a look at this Mormon message... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz41YxNiHEg

The Roller Coaster We Call, "Life"

It seems to me that very often we don't get what we want in life, but we tend to get what we need. For example, a child wants a candy bar from the store, but his mother buys food for dinner instead. And thus his needs for growth, development, learning and life are facilitated, and his want is swallowed up (pun intended) in the satisfaction his need. Because of experiences like this, and a billion like it, I think life is nothing but a long lesson of learning.

I had a friend remind me today that we can learn something from anything that happens in life. Through the ups and downs, the corkscrews and loops of life, there are lessons to be learned. I think the message of the lessons tends to be, 'hold on', and to 'remember'.

How much greater do we appreciate the thrills of life when there are some lulls? How much brighter is a sunrise after a blackout? How much more pleasant is it to come home after being out in the snow? How delicious is dinner after we forgot to eat breakfast and we had to skip lunch?

But who wakes up in the morning saying and wishing, "Gee, I wish I could have some trials so I could learn some appreciation". I personally don't know anyone like that, though I'm sure they are out there. No, most of us want 'the good life'. Whatever 'the good life' might mean to us. And so we make goals, set plans and work towards them. And for brief moments we catch a glimpse of our end goals and dreams. But as quickly as those moments come they're gone again and we're left to face the work of our day. And so our messages from the roller coaster ride reminds us to, 'hold on, and remember that glimpse, of hope and peace. To remember what it felt like, to hold on to your dreams, to hold on to your goals. And in time you will have them all'.

And when we think life is getting dull, we but need to remember the brightness of that sunrise, the warmth of our home in winter, the relief of dinner after a day of fasting, the beauty of a rose or the laugh of a child. Perhaps then we will remember that life actually isn't so bad that we do in fact have quite a lot to be grateful for. And we do in fact have a lot to live for. If for nothing else, we have those glimpses of our bright future. If we could just remember to remember them, and if we will hold on and ride the roller coaster of life to the end.

(And yes, enjoyment during the ride is encouraged).

Another day, another year....

It's crazy to think that my checks and my reports will no longer read, 2010. 2010 was a year of ups and downs for us all. I had the opportunity to transfer and start my studies at Brigham Young University. I was able to serve a summer service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints as a band member in Nauvoo. I did marching band, started dating a girl somewhat seriously and I rang in the 2011 playing charades.

But now a new day and a new year has started. I feel more confident at the start of this year then I did at the start of 2010. I think this confidence stems from a few things....

1: Though not perfect I have a better and deeper understanding of life, the meaning of it and why I'm here. I feel a closer connection to God and have a greater desire to live like He would want me to.

2: I'm happy with my major, even though I'm somewhat uncertain as to what job I will hold and which career path I will follow I'm happy with my chosen study field.

3: All of my professors. The ones who day in and day out teach and lead me. I've been blessed to have wonderful professors who not only are experts in the fields of science but are experts in life. Truly they are men to pattern a life after.

4: Last but not least I appreciate more than I have in the past those around me. Namely, my friends and my family. The ones who never give up on me and who always encourage me and brighten my days. My family and my friends are my anchors to reality when the sails of my dreams may take me to harms way. Yes, how blessed I am!!

These are just a few things that have been on my mind as we've celebrated the birth of our Savior and as we have reviewed the past and as we make plans for the future.

Here's me hoping and wishing for a happy and joyful New Year for us all.