Thoughts from ME

In one of the classes I took this past semester, we had to write a life journal. In a binder, we combined our life stories, a life timeline, funeral plans, resumes, document proofs of our lives, and a bucket list. If you've seen the movie that came out in 2007 starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman (who I just love!), then you know what a bucket list is. For those of you who don't, it is simply a list of all the things you want to do before you die. Mine is pretty lengthy. The other day I was updating it and the realization came to me that a lot of the items on my bucket list, I need to be doing sooner, rather than later. Here is my bucket list: • Run a marathon • Do a three day hike • Serve a mission • Earn a BA • Earn my MA • Earn a Psy. D. • Own my own clinic • Ride a horse • Live the rest of my life not needing any kind of surgery • Learn to salsa dance • Fall madly, incredibly, insanely in love • Do service in at least two other countries • Be married in...

 Fat Caskets. A new line of caskets for a new race of people - XXL. Never would they have thought in the days past when they were making caskets out of wood that one day we would have to make caskets three times as big as a regular person. But the term regular person no longer means an average size. The reason for this is because there no longer IS an average size. And if there is, heaven forbid it, for it's got to be huge. In the United States of America, 64% of adults are overweight and 26% are obese ( "Obesity Statistics: U.S. Obesity Trends" . North American Association for the Study of Obesity. 2006 . http://web.archive.org/web/20060206185213/www.naaso.org/statistics/obesity_trends.asp . Retrieved 2008-03-08 .) Over 20% of children are obese in the US and the rate at which it is growing is outstanding. More children will grow up to have heart problems, asthma, diabetes and that's if they grow up at all. The increase of obesity is parallel to the increase in ch...

"7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong ." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) We are told in the scriptures to be glad in adversity for all will be for our good. This is easier said than done. However, I have learned recently that when you approach hardship and trials with a mindset of learning, they are always easier to endure. In a conference talk given in General Conference in 2008, Elder J...

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Dating versus Hanging Out "There is another possible contributing factor to the demise of dating and the prominence of the culture of hanging out. For many years the Church has counseled young people not to date before age 16. Perhaps some young adults, especially men, have carried that wise counsel to excess and determined not to date before 26 or maybe even 36. Men, if you have returned from your mission and you are still following the boy-girl patterns you were counseled to follow when you were 15, it is time for you to grow up. Gather your courage and look for someone to pair off with. Start with a variety of dates with a variety of young women, and when that phase yields a good prospect, proceed to courtship. It’s marriage time. That is what the Lord intends for His young adult sons and daughters. Men have the initiative, and you men should get on with it. If you don’t know what a date is, perhaps this definition will help. I heard...

Dan Gilbert asks, Why are we happy? | Video on TED.com

           As the famous 19 th Century German philosopher Friedrich Neitzsche once said, “Do not just live, live with passion.” I would like to change this quote to replace the word “live” with “teach.” After this adjustment, the above quote states nicely the topic of my article: “Do not just teach, teach with passion.” When you think of the individuals in your life who have had the most influence, who comes to your mind? Think about them, stack them up. Tallest to shortest, oldest to youngest, whatever your fancy may be. They are the people who taught you something about life. How did they do that? What was it about them that made you grab a double glance, pull up a chair, ponder awhile? The person who first comes to my mind does not do so because she’s attractive or because she’s witty. She comes to my mind first because of the way she treats people. When she sees people, she sees them as human beings with loves and dreams and troubl...

 This morning on the way to church, I was walking behind some really pretty girls. They had dressed nice with good hair and nylons/tights of different colors and designs. Shoes, hair, make-up, skirts. A boy passed and said to his friend, "What? Is this a fashion show?"   All I have to say to that, boy, is," Why yes, yes it is." Ever wonder why exactly women get ready? Look quite so nice? It ain't for you boys! Its TOTALLY for each other! Life is a competition. Every aspect of it. It is nice to dress up for boys but it's so you will think WE look better than THAT other Girl. Basically, girls get ready, put on crap loads of make-up so other girls will look, notice, compliment, and LOSE. Mwahahaha!   Now you know one of the secrets of girlhood. Feel better boy on the sidewalk? P.S. to Girls, guys don't care as much as you think. All that make-up you put on? He'd rather not see all the stuff on your eyes and lips. Natural is pretty too.