Have you ever noticed how your day is different depending on how you start your morning?
Are you up at a decent hour or did you sleep until noon?
Did you eat a good breakfast or did you have a pop-tart?
Did you shower and get dressed or are you in sweats and a sloppy bun?
Sometimes, these things are acceptable and necessary, but I definitely notice that my days are most productive when I start right. If my day starts well it is so much easier for me to stay motivated and energized.
If I have a lazy start the day feels wasted and I don't want to do anything else.
I've read a few articles about how to have productive mornings and right now, my favorite tip is drinking water. I used to hate drinking water in the morning, and I still need my glass of milk with breakfast. But I've downloaded an app that reminds me to drink water and I've been drinking more water in a day than I ever have. And starting earlier than I used to definitely helps me feel good during the day.
What do you do in the morning to stay productive throughout the busy day?
Friday, July 29, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Book Club=Truth, Beauty, and Good
I've accomplished one of my lifetime goals. I joined a book club. I don't know why it has taken me this long, but I am glad it has finally happened.
I love reading and experiencing new stories and new ideas through literature. I can be sitting on my bed but feel like I'm traveling the world. I love it. I love the way books can shape who I am and help me think about the world in new ways. Books open my mind and expand my horizons.
This book club has taken the joy I get from reading one step further. It is so enjoyable to talk about why a book is so meaningful with other people that value literature. It's comforting to have friends agree with and understand why a book is so meaningful. I also loved hearing my friends insights. They pick up on things I never would have seen and that adds a whole extra layer of meaning and pleasure to a book.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Pioneer Day
Yesterday was pioneer day. A beautiful time to remember our ancestors and be grateful for all they did to create the lives we now comfortably live.
This pioneer day has been especially meaningful to me. My husband's ancestors were very important in helping the Saints cross the plains. It has been wonderful to learn and celebrate his ancestors as well as mine.
I am so grateful for the pioneers who suffered so much to give their descendants a better life.
This pioneer day has been especially meaningful to me. My husband's ancestors were very important in helping the Saints cross the plains. It has been wonderful to learn and celebrate his ancestors as well as mine.
I am so grateful for the pioneers who suffered so much to give their descendants a better life.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Family is Beautiful
Today I am grateful for my wonderful family. Families are one of the most beautiful creations on earth. The blessing of being in a family has brought my life so much joy and goodness. I am who I am because of my family.
My mom is always there for me. We talk about everything and she comforts me when I need it the most.
My dad is always supportive of my ventures and he sacrifices so much to provide for his family.
My sister is an amazing role model. Ever since I was a kid I've been following her footsteps, and I've never regretted it.
My brother is the one who makes me laugh the most. He has helped me see how fun and enjoyable life can be.
My husband is kind, loving, and respectful. He accepts me for who I am; he makes me a better person every day.
Family is beautiful. I'm so grateful for mine. I'm definitely in the family that is best for me. The family that is best for my needs and best for helping me reach my potential. I couldn't design a better family if I tried.
My mom is always there for me. We talk about everything and she comforts me when I need it the most.
My dad is always supportive of my ventures and he sacrifices so much to provide for his family.
My sister is an amazing role model. Ever since I was a kid I've been following her footsteps, and I've never regretted it.
My brother is the one who makes me laugh the most. He has helped me see how fun and enjoyable life can be.
My husband is kind, loving, and respectful. He accepts me for who I am; he makes me a better person every day.
Family is beautiful. I'm so grateful for mine. I'm definitely in the family that is best for me. The family that is best for my needs and best for helping me reach my potential. I couldn't design a better family if I tried.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
TBT to that one time I was a missionary
I've been thinking about my mission a lot lately. Probably because I've been going out with the sister missionaries when I have the time and they need an extra hand.
Near the end of my mission, in my last area, there was a sister that would always help me and my companion. If we had a member present in a lesson, there was a good chance it was her. And she was always feeding us food.
She was such a good member for lessons too because she never spoke too much and she never took control of the lessons. She always respected our calling and bore powerful testimony.
With all the help she gave us it was clear how much she loved and adored us, and the feelings were mutual. She is one of my favorite people on this planet. As I've been helping the missionaries and thinking about my mission, I've thought a lot about this sister and how I vowed to be like her when I got home from my mission.
Near the end of my mission, in my last area, there was a sister that would always help me and my companion. If we had a member present in a lesson, there was a good chance it was her. And she was always feeding us food.
She was such a good member for lessons too because she never spoke too much and she never took control of the lessons. She always respected our calling and bore powerful testimony.
With all the help she gave us it was clear how much she loved and adored us, and the feelings were mutual. She is one of my favorite people on this planet. As I've been helping the missionaries and thinking about my mission, I've thought a lot about this sister and how I vowed to be like her when I got home from my mission.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Being Brave and Persevering
Last night I was very distraught. I was in one of those moods where I felt like I wasn't going anywhere in life. I had a productive day deep cleaning the kitchen, doing two loads of laundry, and other household tasks, but I want my life to be so much more. I want to be the best wife I can be and take care of the house since I am the one at home all day.
But I want to be so much more than that. I have dreams of running a marathon. I have dreams of being a published author. Last night, though, I felt overwhelmed and my dreams seemed impossible. I had been struggling to run more than a mile, and I hadn't written in a long time.
I wanted to give up. I was seriously questioning if I was capable of running a marathon or writing a novel worth publishing. I've run tons of races and written tons of papers/stories. So what was I so afraid of?
I realized that I've never done anything this big. I've never run enough steps to run a marathon and I've never written enough words to create a novel. I wondered if I could do it. And, I wondered if I should do it. Does God want me to do these things, or would he rather I focus my attention on working more or starting a family? What does God want me to do with my life, and how do I know? There are so many wonderful things I can learn and do, sometimes it is hard to know which path is right.
I'm still mulling over a lot of these thoughts, and I don't know that I've come to any clear answers. But I know I am going to keep searching for answers and keep following my dreams. If they are right, I will know it. If they are not, I won't. I've been able to write a good bit late last night and this morning. I also ran three miles this morning.
If we are brave and we persevere, God will guide us.
But I want to be so much more than that. I have dreams of running a marathon. I have dreams of being a published author. Last night, though, I felt overwhelmed and my dreams seemed impossible. I had been struggling to run more than a mile, and I hadn't written in a long time.
I wanted to give up. I was seriously questioning if I was capable of running a marathon or writing a novel worth publishing. I've run tons of races and written tons of papers/stories. So what was I so afraid of?
I realized that I've never done anything this big. I've never run enough steps to run a marathon and I've never written enough words to create a novel. I wondered if I could do it. And, I wondered if I should do it. Does God want me to do these things, or would he rather I focus my attention on working more or starting a family? What does God want me to do with my life, and how do I know? There are so many wonderful things I can learn and do, sometimes it is hard to know which path is right.
I'm still mulling over a lot of these thoughts, and I don't know that I've come to any clear answers. But I know I am going to keep searching for answers and keep following my dreams. If they are right, I will know it. If they are not, I won't. I've been able to write a good bit late last night and this morning. I also ran three miles this morning.
If we are brave and we persevere, God will guide us.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Truth in Goal Setting
Remember how I told everyone that I recently started working and before that, I had little responsibility demanding my time?
Well, with my new found responsibilities, I'm on a craze to increase my productivity. I like this feeling of having things to do, and I want to maximize it.
So today, I want to talk about goal setting. I know it helps me to set goals. I can compare weeks when I haven't set goals to weeks when I have and the difference is obvious and huge! Goals really help me focus on what is most important and they help me remember what I want to accomplish. I know this works because I can't be productive without goals.
I think the first step to setting goals is being realistic. For example, it isn't realistic for me to set the goal of running a marathon tomorrow. It's a goal of mine to run a marathon, but I could only run a mile this morning. I'm not realistically ready for a marathon. You can't expect yourself to reach perfection and hit your highest goals immediately. Be reasonable with yourself and decide what you can realistically accomplish. Start small and remember that you can always raise the bar later.
The second step is to set goals that are reachable. I once had the goal to be so fluent in Spanish that I would dream in it! Great goal right? NO! I have no control over my dreams. I hear some people can choose the content of their dreams by thinking about something before they want to fall asleep, but alas, I am not that person. I can't choose the content of my dream let alone the language that it is in. I became fluent in Spanish years before I had a dream in the beautiful language. A reachable goal is something that you can measure. Something like, I want to run 3 times this week. Or I want to run 30 miles this week.
The last step to setting a good goal is making a plan. A goal is really hard to achieve if you don't know how you are going to achieve it. What needs to happen for your goal to be achieved? How long does it realistically take? What are you going to do each day or month to achieve that goal. For example, if I want to run 3 times a week I would plan for that goal by deciding which days I want to run and where I want to run. Planning it all out helps me stay motivated. If I don't plan which days I will run, then every morning I'll tell myself I'll run tomorrow until there aren't three days left in the week. But if I know what days I am running, then when that day comes the decision is already made and it can be so much easier to accomplish my goal.
What helps you to accomplish your goals?
Well, with my new found responsibilities, I'm on a craze to increase my productivity. I like this feeling of having things to do, and I want to maximize it.
So today, I want to talk about goal setting. I know it helps me to set goals. I can compare weeks when I haven't set goals to weeks when I have and the difference is obvious and huge! Goals really help me focus on what is most important and they help me remember what I want to accomplish. I know this works because I can't be productive without goals.
I think the first step to setting goals is being realistic. For example, it isn't realistic for me to set the goal of running a marathon tomorrow. It's a goal of mine to run a marathon, but I could only run a mile this morning. I'm not realistically ready for a marathon. You can't expect yourself to reach perfection and hit your highest goals immediately. Be reasonable with yourself and decide what you can realistically accomplish. Start small and remember that you can always raise the bar later.
The second step is to set goals that are reachable. I once had the goal to be so fluent in Spanish that I would dream in it! Great goal right? NO! I have no control over my dreams. I hear some people can choose the content of their dreams by thinking about something before they want to fall asleep, but alas, I am not that person. I can't choose the content of my dream let alone the language that it is in. I became fluent in Spanish years before I had a dream in the beautiful language. A reachable goal is something that you can measure. Something like, I want to run 3 times this week. Or I want to run 30 miles this week.
The last step to setting a good goal is making a plan. A goal is really hard to achieve if you don't know how you are going to achieve it. What needs to happen for your goal to be achieved? How long does it realistically take? What are you going to do each day or month to achieve that goal. For example, if I want to run 3 times a week I would plan for that goal by deciding which days I want to run and where I want to run. Planning it all out helps me stay motivated. If I don't plan which days I will run, then every morning I'll tell myself I'll run tomorrow until there aren't three days left in the week. But if I know what days I am running, then when that day comes the decision is already made and it can be so much easier to accomplish my goal.
What helps you to accomplish your goals?
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Beauty and Good in Camping
This is kind of a repeat of other beauty posts, but there is just something about camping. Ruffing it and being at one with nature is a beautiful experience that everyone needs to experience.
This weekend my husband and I and some of our friends went camping up in Washington. It was a beautiful campground surrounded by tall trees. Friday night we roasted hot dogs, smores, and star bursts.
Saturday morning we cleaned up, had breakfast burritos, and then headed towards Mt. St. Helen's where we went on an amazing hike.
All in all, there was so much obvious beauty and the whole trip made me so happy. I love camping. I love the chance to set the technology aside and focus on the simpler things.
This weekend my husband and I and some of our friends went camping up in Washington. It was a beautiful campground surrounded by tall trees. Friday night we roasted hot dogs, smores, and star bursts.
Saturday morning we cleaned up, had breakfast burritos, and then headed towards Mt. St. Helen's where we went on an amazing hike.
All in all, there was so much obvious beauty and the whole trip made me so happy. I love camping. I love the chance to set the technology aside and focus on the simpler things.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Productive Days
The power of being productive is huge. There is something so satisfying and so fulfilling about having a full and productive day. A stream of lazy days always makes me grumpy and dissatisfied with myself.
I've just ended a period in my life where I had little to do, and I've recently started a job. It is so nice to have things to fill up my day! I love being productive. I love how it makes me prioritize my time and be the best that I can be.
It makes me focus on what is most important without wasting time on things of little importance. It's funny how I get more done when I have less time.
I've just ended a period in my life where I had little to do, and I've recently started a job. It is so nice to have things to fill up my day! I love being productive. I love how it makes me prioritize my time and be the best that I can be.
It makes me focus on what is most important without wasting time on things of little importance. It's funny how I get more done when I have less time.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Eternal Truth
Now it seems like I'm on a Truth streak. Yesterday the closing hymn in Sacrament meeting was "Families Can be Together Forever" I'm NOT one for crying but this song got me all teared up. The second verse talks about preparing for eternal marriage.
As I sang about eternal marriage and looked over at my husband, how could I not be overwhelmed by the Spirit. I am so grateful that families are eternal. I am so grateful that I am sealed to my parents and siblings, my extended family, and my husband. This is the most beautiful Truth that I have.
I know families are eternal. I have felt it deep inside of me. Truth demands the question, "how do we know what we know?" In this case, it is hard to answer how I know. But I do. I guess the answer is through the Spirit. Which, I suppose, is something everyone has to feel for themselves before it can be their Truth. It's my eternal Truth, is it yours?
As I sang about eternal marriage and looked over at my husband, how could I not be overwhelmed by the Spirit. I am so grateful that families are eternal. I am so grateful that I am sealed to my parents and siblings, my extended family, and my husband. This is the most beautiful Truth that I have.
I know families are eternal. I have felt it deep inside of me. Truth demands the question, "how do we know what we know?" In this case, it is hard to answer how I know. But I do. I guess the answer is through the Spirit. Which, I suppose, is something everyone has to feel for themselves before it can be their Truth. It's my eternal Truth, is it yours?
Friday, July 8, 2016
DNA Truth
Today, I want to talk about Truth. I've posted a bit about Beauty and The Good and I don't want Truth to be forgotten.
While browsing Facebook, I found an amazing video that embraced a Truth many people are unaware of. Thanks to modern science and what we understand about DNA, it is very possible to create precise records of our heritage.
This video brought together a diverse group of people. A DNA sample was connected from each person and the results were returned two weeks later. To see the video, click here.
I don't want to say too much to spoil the magic of the video, but it acts as a powerful reminder that no two humans are really that different. We have a lot in common. So rather than focusing on our differences, lets embrace Truth and except our common ties. Let's be understanding and kind. Let's make the world a better place.
While browsing Facebook, I found an amazing video that embraced a Truth many people are unaware of. Thanks to modern science and what we understand about DNA, it is very possible to create precise records of our heritage.
This video brought together a diverse group of people. A DNA sample was connected from each person and the results were returned two weeks later. To see the video, click here.
I don't want to say too much to spoil the magic of the video, but it acts as a powerful reminder that no two humans are really that different. We have a lot in common. So rather than focusing on our differences, lets embrace Truth and except our common ties. Let's be understanding and kind. Let's make the world a better place.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Happy 4th!
I'm a bit late, and I haven't written in a while, but I still wanted to write about the 4th of July. I am so grateful for my country and the freedoms that I have. I am grateful that I can believe what I want to believe. I am grateful that I can do what I want to do. I am grateful that I can be where I want to be. The freedom that I have access to is a gateway to Truth, Beauty, and The Good. I am proud to be an American and I am indebted to those who help keep me free. God Bless America!
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