Happiness: the ONLY Option

I've always known that happiness is a choice.  I wake up every morning I have two options:
be happy or not be happy.  It is the choice to see things positively or negatively.  While in high school, I found this to be really easy.  I would go to school every day and nothing would be able to bring me down.  I had a wonderful family, an amazing school, awesome teachers, and some of the greatest friends.  I rarely ever felt stress and when I did it was very short-lived. I was happy, and I made an effort to choose to be happy.

Over the summer, I met a girl at my little sister's soccer game.  We were both cheering our younger sisters on.  This girl and I both played soccer and she seemed like a really nice person.  What a surprise it was on the first day of Writing 150 when this girl showed up in my class!  As the semester went on, I got to know this girl and found many qualities I admired about her.  She's outgoing, nice, encouraging, positive, great to talk to, a great listener, and I could tell she really cares.  Basically, she was the happiest girl I've met.  It seemed like nothing could get her down.  One day after our Writing 150 class, as we departed for our next class, I told her, "Have a good day!" not thinking too much about it.

She immediately replied "Of course I will!" Her attitude really shocked me.  She said it like happiness and  positivity is the only thing she has and is—nothing could ever bring her down; it wasn't even an option for her to have a bad day.

So is happiness a choice?  To me, happiness is no longer a choice.  Happiness is the ONLY option!  If I stop including sadness as a possible choice, then I would just always be happy!

Blogging to Bind

"Writing our Stories"

The first step to our family history

One of the first things we read this semester was the article "Stories that Bind Us." This article emphasized the importance stories have in binding families together which included extended families.  In fact, the article made an effort to point out the power of stories in binding extended families together; stating that these stories provide a sense of belonging for each member of the family.

A couple problems came to my mind as I read and pondered this article

My family on my mom's side

Problem 1: I am not close to my extended family at all.  The last time we had a "family reunion" was six years ago (and it wasn't even an official reunion).  So I don't really know them really well or what their life is really like.  Basically, most of them feel like strangers to me and I'm pretty sure that's how they feel about me.

Solution 1: When I started posting on my blog, I had an epiphany: even though we don't get together as an extended family often, I could still share my life with them through this blog.  Hopefully through the stories and thoughts I share on this blog, we can begin to feel more like family and less like strangers.

My family on my dad's side

Problem 2: While my immediate family can read and understand English really well, my extended family is not familiar with it at all.  So I decided I would need to figure out a solution to convey feelings of family unity through something other than language.

Solution 2: I realized that there are lots of ways to help others get to know me that doesn't specifically deal with all the words I write.  I tried to imagine what I would like to see if I was reading a blog in another language.  What would I focus my attention on?

Elements that attract my attention

• Design: this includes a welcoming background that is simple, attractive, and easy for the eye to follow.
• Pictures: "a photo is worth a thousand words."  They can tell the whole story if thoughtfully used. 
• Simplicity: Use simple words that are easy for others to understand.
• Short with emphasis: short posts keeps and directs the readers' attention.

These are only some of the strategies I've come up with to gear my blog posts for my family to enjoy.  By no means are these the only ones.  Eventually, the goal is to translate my posts into Chinese so they can more fully understand my words and who I am.  

 

       

20: As Writing 150 comes to a close

I learned so many things this semester at BYU.  Since this blog was started because of an assignment in my Writing 150 class, I will start with a couple things I've learned in this class.

First of all, writing is fun.  I didn't necessarily enjoy all the struggles and frustrations of writer's block, and organizing my ideas.  What I did enjoy was being able to look back at my writing projects and seeing the result of all my hard work.  My favorite paper I wrote this semester was my personal narrative.  It was really fun to be able to write about something in my life in story form because after all, my life is basically a book of stories.  

Second, Blogging is fun and more than just a hobby.  I never thought I would be a blogger because it seemed to me like it was something crafty people with a lot of spare time do and that was not me.  However, as I started blogging, I realized blogging is an art.  It requires creativity and knowledge in the "blogging writing style."  Blogging is a way for me to share some of the ideas that I would otherwise not share.

The semester is coming to an end which means that my Writing 150 class is also coming to an end.  I feel my writing has improved immensely and I hope to continue improving.  I plan to continue writing on my blog as it is something I really  enjoy.  It makes me happy that I desire to continue something that stemmed from an assignment in my class.  The most valuable thing I've learned is it's possible to

 LEARN AND LOVE WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING!  

19: Why go Running

Every single time I go for a run, I am reminded of why it's not my favorite thing to do.  It makes me wonder why I even go running anymore, perhaps it's the satisfaction I feel of pushing myself through my body's pleas to stop or the fact that I actually got some physical exercise and I just want more of it after I'm finished.  I went running yesterday, not for very long because I had a packed day.  It felt so good and yet it felt horrible!

The sun was setting when I went out so it was getting somewhat chilly (good thing I was smart enough to put on a long sleeve shirt).  Whenever I run in the cold, my ears freeze up and it hurts like crazy!  My esophagus also freezes up from the gallons of cold air I inhale.  When it gets really cold, I just want to grab my head and curl up in a ball (as if that would help at all).  Besides the discomfort of the chilly temperature, the normal physical effects of running are sometimes enough to make me want to stop.  It's a little nicer when it's warmer outside: my ears and esophagus don't freeze but the physical effects of a good run are still ever so present.

While I was eating lunch today, I woman came over and asked if it would be alright if she sat next to me.  Of course I said it would be fine.  This woman amazed me in many ways.  She had no use of her legs and only limited use of her arms and hands.  Because of this, she asked me to help her pull out her lunch, water bottle, and books.  You can be assured that I felt somewhat out of place having fully functional limbs while she relied on me for assistance.  It seemed as if my body was saying, "Look at my fully functional limbs" while I staggered around, helping her get situated.  Funny thing is, I had begun writing this post when she came up to me and now she has given me some new insight.

So why do I love running and physical exercise even though my body begs me to stop every time?  I love my body and I love that I am able to run and move around perfectly fine.  I feel free when I am doing exercise.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing body that works the way it should and exercising is a way for me to show my gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me this amazing body. Because of this blessing, I also feel it is my responsibility to take care of my body so that I will be able to use it to help others who are in need.

   

18: Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving?

During Thanksgiving week, my family put up Christmas lights outside on our house and decorated our Christmas tree.  We started these festivities the day before Thanksgiving.  I mention this because most people seem to agree that Christmas should not even be mentioned until the stomach is stuffed full of turkey and mashed potatoes.  Why is it alright to watch Elf right after the turkey is washed down with some apple cider but not before the table is set for dinner?  Do those couple hours really make a difference?

Radio stations began playing Christmas music long before Thanksgiving, and every single year people complain that it is too early and it ruins the spirit of Thanksgiving.  I always find these arguments amusing.  I enjoy listening to Christmas music so I don't mind when it comes on a little early.  I love Thanksgiving and I also love Christmas.  I think they build on top of each other.  But does there need to be a definite line separating Thanksgiving and Christmas?

I think that Thanksgiving helps us get into the spirit of Christmas.  We have almost been through the whole year of 2014 and it's time to focus on what we are grateful for.  So many things have happened this year that have helped me grow and become a more valuable asset.  It's a time to reflect on all our blessings, which is exactly what Thanksgiving is for.  We can be thankful for good health, a car, food, family, an education, you name it!  But we shouldn't forget to be thankful for our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and everything that they do for our benefit.  Perhaps all the other things we are thankful for stem from the love they have for us.  With this thankful attitude, we move into the Christmas Season.

In addition to all the gift giving and receiving, Christmas is a time for us to focus on the Savior and all that we have received because of Him.  Perhaps instead of seeing Thanksgiving and Christmas as two separate holidays, they could be viewed mutually in a way that adds to the true meaning of these holiday seasons.  After all, neither one of them ever begins or ends.  We should be thankful for our blessings all year and we should always be making the effort to remember
our Savior Jesus Christ.      

17: Finding LOVE in the worst parking spot

"I feel my Savior's love, the love he freely gives me."

I leaned this song in primary, not thinking too much about the meaning of it.  Today, it reminds me of the presence of the Savior in my life.  I have to admit my days do not always go as perfectly as I would like, which is not even a surprise because everyone has bad days.  One thing I've learned is whenever I feel the need to complain, I make myself turn that complaint into something I am grateful for.

For example, at my high school, we had a parking lot and a long strip of parking that extended pretty far from the school that we called "the drag."  Whoever arrived late to school got the wonderful opportunity to park at the bottom (end) of the drag and walk the 5-7 minutes up to the school (for the student who's already running late, the walk up to the school ensured the student a tardy on their record).  The few times I was "that" late student (yes, I was late once in a while), rather than complaining about the awful parking spot I had, I would tell myself how grateful I was to even have a car to drive to and from school even though it meant I would not always get the prime parking spot.

Through this exercise, I was able to see that good exists in everything.  I was able to recognize how much my Savior really loves me.  He is constantly showing us his love through all the blessings he gives us but sometimes we just don't see or recognize it.  Rather than being blinded by my awful parking spot, Forcing myself to focus on the positive side opened my eyes to all the other blessings I've been given.  I really should never feel the need to complain or mope because Christ has packaged so much love for me within my experiences.  

As we prepare for this upcoming Christmas season, I am going to make an added effort to recognize all the love our Savior has given me, and make an effort to help others recognize that love through Christ-like service.

16: Thanksgiving Gratitude

This was our Thanksgiving meal.  Nothing fancy or big.
But in my view it was perfect.

My Thanksgiving day was amazing!  The break from school was very much needed and greatly appreciated.

Since most of my extended family members don't live anywhere near us, we usually invite family friends who are in the same situation for Thanksgiving dinner so we still have some sort of gathering.  However, this year, we decided we would just have Thanksgiving dinner as a family.  It was small, not stressful, and a great way to celebrate the holiday.

Our roast duck prepared turkey

This was our turkey.  We did not accidentally burn it, it is meant to be that way.  Instead of the typical way turkeys are usually prepared, we prepared this turkey like we would a roast duck.  If you have never had roast duck, you are missing out!  I will probably prepare every Thanksgiving turkey this way; that's how good it was!  My dad and I began preparing it the night before Thanksgiving.  It was a great opportunity to learn how to make something I love and to spend time with my dad.

Corn :) yellow and sweet

Corn.  Corn is just fabulous!  I love eating corn: on the cob, or in a plate like this :)  Nothing else needs to be said about corn.  I'm sure every single person had some sort of corn for Thanksgiving dinner.

I had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  I think the best part of Thanksgiving is that I got to spend time with the people I love the most: my family.  I'm so thankful for them and for all the love they show me.  In addition to that, I'm thankful for the opportunities I have to express my love for them.  I'm thankful to be living on the earth, to have a knowledge of the gospel and my purpose here, and for all the experiences am having in my life.  We didn't have a lot of people over for Thanksgiving dinner (nor did I have any pretzel salad: I still haven't tried it) but it was just perfect!