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
Category: essay
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
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
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
Technology: Pushing it out of your life
Like most people in the world today, sometimes I waste too much time on social media and other websites. They are designed be addictive, after all, and rabbit holes are encouraged in the never-ending display of suggested content. But when I focus on getting rid of that wasted time, I usually fail. I have created… Continue reading Technology: Pushing it out of your life
Beliefs
I recently read this article: People say, “You should be true to your beliefs.” While that is true, you cannot be better than what you know. Most of us act based on our beliefs, especially what we believe to be in our self-interest. The problem is, we are sometimes wrong.... When we act badly, we… Continue reading Beliefs
A Better Way To Plan: Priorities and Processes
I woke up one morning and I made my list of everything that needed to happen that day. My biggest concern was my home renovation--there was a whole lot that I would have liked to get done before winter. I tried to create timelines and figure out how we could get it all done when… Continue reading A Better Way To Plan: Priorities and Processes
Herd Behavior: Comfortable and Necessary
I don't follow herd behavior. I think of myself as a creative and independent thinker. I don't always go with the crowd and I do my own thing. You might think of yourself the same way. Hah. The truth is, we pretty much all just follow herd mentality most of the time. When businesses started… Continue reading Herd Behavior: Comfortable and Necessary
Plan Your Endings
Plan your endings. I woke up, feeling uncertain about the direction of my life. My to-list was very full: write a blog post, work on framing the back wall of my house my house, clean out my kitchen cabinets, read stories with my kids, talk with my husband, finish reading about econometrics, etc. I don't… Continue reading Plan Your Endings
Honesty: How to Fix Your Life
Honesty can solve a whole lot of problems. I always thought I was a very honest person: I never told lies or cheated or tried to steal anything, so I was good. But here's the thing: I still very much care what other people think about me, and sometimes dishonesty creeps in as I fail… Continue reading Honesty: How to Fix Your Life