While you read this, you should listen to "Who Says" by Selena Gomez which can be found in my playlist (3rd song)
Sometimes, we all need to follow our own advice. Right now, I'm referring to me. So here, here's the advice that I give others all the time that I'm going to strive to follow myself.
-Everything will work out ok, so there's no need to worry. Thomas S. Monson tells us that "Fear is the root of Failure". So does the Book of Mormon. We are commanded o "trust in the Lord" with all of hearts, yet, how many times do we (I) worry about finding a job, paying for college, fitting in, schoolwork, or being perfect? We all just need to chill a little and let the Lord do His work.
-Appreciate the little things.
I've noticed that when I take the time to notice how things smell, feel, taste, etc., the world is a lot better place. I mean, isn't the sun rising just beautiful? And your bed just SO comfortable after a long day? How about hot showers, getting a text message/Facebook post from someone you love, or having something work out perfectly? Stop rushing, and look at the little things in life.
-Never take for granted those that you love.
Pretty soon, I'm leaving for college, and the people I've spent the last four years of my life with will be gone. Every hug, every hello, every smile, even every fight, is important. It's all part of the intricate interactions between human beings. I love my friends SO much, I love my family SO much, and I love my ward family SO much. Thank you all for being there even when I haven't appreciated you as much as I should.
-Always believe in yourself.
Junior Miss definitely helped me with this. Seriously, let's just be confident in ourselves. Because there are always going to be people better than us, stronger than us, richer than us, prettier than us etc, etc, etc. But if we limit ourselves by what we're not, then we're never going to live up to what we can truly be. Let's not limit ourselves by other people's successes, but rather strive to achieve our own.
-Every day matters.
"Success comes from small efforts repeated day in and day out." I think that we all wish we could fast forward to magical moments in our lives, like birthdays, vacations, summer, and other happy events, but the drudgery of every day life can really be special too. Like, have you every taken the time to realize how many times you actually might laugh during a school day? Or just how amazing it is that we as teenagers can get up at 5:30 am and not go to bed until midnight every night? How about that feeling when you accomplish that piece of homework that's been nagging at you, or finally clean your room? There really is magic in all this, and if we can do this well, greater things will come.
-Be grateful for what you do have, and don't worry about what you don't.
Again, there are always going to be people worse off and better off than you are. So let's all be grateful for the clothes we do have, the house we do have, the food we have, the life we have. Because I can guarantee that we are all very, very blessed.
-Find something that makes you happy.
For me, it's photography, exercise, and music. I couldn't be happier than when the pictures from my latest adventure turn out well, I just completed a half hour workout, or after practicing the piano. Maybe your happiest when you're helping others, helping animals, drumming, ice skating, sewing, swimming laps, or even doing nothing. Whatever it is, treat yourself to it. You are important and so is your happiness.
-Don't make yourself happy at others expense.
I've seen too many people try to make themselves happy by putting others down. Making yourself powerful won't make you feel any better, because power is always a temporary thing. Only you working toward becoming your best self can ever make you happy.
-Live up to your destiny.
Each and every one of us is a son or daughter of God. Each of us is supposed to accomplish something specific here on earth, whatever that may be.
Jenny Phillips says this best in her song "Happily Ever After"
It’s your time
It’s your destiny to shine
So arise
Be true to the royal
That’s inside of you
Don’t settle for the story that
The world would have you write
You were born to reach eternal life
Let faith fill every chapter
Let the Savior lead you to
Happily ever after
-Never underestimate the difference you can make.
So it may not feel like that text message you sent at 1:20 am last night saying good night will ever make a difference, or giving someone a compliment as you pass them in the hallway, or even holding the door for someone, but the truth is, these simple things can cause cataclysmic change. I've seen it in my own life, but I tend to forget it. Don't.
-Be your best self.
OK, so we're human and we're not going to be perfect all of the time. But we can try to be. If we are even just striving to be the best we can be, we are going to unleash potential never seen before.
-Don't beat yourself up.
OK, going along with the perfect thing, it's ok to make mistakes. It's ok not to be happy all of the time, or to have a bad day. Again, we can strive to have as few as possible. Just as saying something good may change someone's life, saying something mean can also have cataclysmic effects.
Again, I think Jenny Phillips says it best. This is from her song "We Seek After These Things"
"Our mighty God has given us
So much good to find
There’s just no room for darkness in our lives"
So that's my goal for this last semester of my senior year. To be happy, and enjoy all the good that's been placed in my life. To truly create magic in little Sylvania, Ohio.
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Thank you.
The picture is the one of me all sweaty after getting out of the cougar suit. :P
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