I'm not good at taking breaks. I'm good at getting really exhausted and then checking social media, but that is the worst way to take breaks. My friend Amy recently told me that she doesn't let her car get under a half tank. She wants to be prepared. And then she said, "Why can't we do… Continue reading How to Take a Break
Mind Reading
I thought she wanted to be left alone, so I did. And because I left her alone, she thought I wanted to be left alone. And we almost missed a friendship. . . . I thought they were concerned about germs, so I kept my distance when we were sick. And then they thought I… Continue reading Mind Reading
Kind to Yourself
Jesus Christ suffered for me so that I don't have to suffer. He helps me to become better, patient with my mistakes as he offers healing, hope, and repentance. He treats me with overwhelming lovingkindness. But how do I treat myself? Sometimes I am downright mean to myself. It's like I find myself wallowing in… Continue reading Kind to Yourself
Transform
Pain shifts me away from pride and I face the unknown. Uncertain, I embrace the darkness, except for it's not dark, because there is a fire and it transforms and refines. Pain is the best part of being human. I change as humility allows the disposal of false beliefs. I become beautiful in the unknowing.… Continue reading Transform
All kinds of love
I've been talking about the five love languages with my husband lately. We took the quizzes to figure out what our love languages were, but I didn't particularly like the results. I would rather quality time than gifts, but I still want gifts. I need all different types of love. I need physical affection and… Continue reading All kinds of love
Possibilities and Planning
I want a five year plan. I keep on rethinking the directions I'm heading and want to feel a little bit more stable about my options for the future. But I know that this plan isn't going to be linear and clear. Life turns out a lot different than I expect it to. Five years… Continue reading Possibilities and Planning
Try Less to Be More
I want to fix everything about myself all at the same time. Spiritually, I want to read my scriptures, say my prayers, and grow in my faith and testimony to God. Physically, I want to exercise for longer, go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, eat less sugar, and drink more water. Socially, I want… Continue reading Try Less to Be More
Living, culture, faith
Intellect: burning, fueled by questions and answers and questions and doubt. The facts and the arguments and the proofs can burn so hot that they melt and change and reform. Refining when kept in control, but destroying when it attempts to answer everything. Culture is the lens which we view everything and we are yelled… Continue reading Living, culture, faith
Coupling and Willpower: Make Life Easy for Yourself
It's a new year. People often set new resolutions at the beginning of January in an effort to do better. I have not done that this year. I am instead currently working on seasonal planning, which means that instead of planning a whole year in advance, I plan the year in 3-4 different sections. I… Continue reading Coupling and Willpower: Make Life Easy for Yourself
Christmas
Last year after Christmas was over, I wrote a note to myself: Make a few meaningful events instead of lots of things. Don't feel guilty for not doing service every day. It's okay. Gingerbread houses, snowflakes, and remember the nativity. It's okay to do something once instead of every year. Christmas: Do dinner for lunch.… Continue reading Christmas