Perspective

Once I returned to my apartment after a great Thanksgiving break, I felt disappointed that I would have to go back to school tomorrow. I then thought about all the school work I've got to do, and I started to feel overwhelmed. I stopped myself and seriously went through in my mind all the things I really have to do: A few small online assignments and a research paper (due next week, and I've started to do some research for it). That's it. That's all that was weighing on my mind. It really didn't seem all that bad when I really thought about it. With this perspective, I felt happier. It's amazing what mentally stepping back can do. I am grateful for good, broad perspective.

Cousins

I am so grateful for my many cousins. I have been spending Thanksgiving break with some of them (along with some aunts and uncles and grandparents, of course), and that has been a lot of fun. I also wish to express my gratitude for all my cousins on both sides of my family. When I consider the cousins of my generation on my mom's side on and my dad's side put together, we range in age from late 20's to about 3 years old. We represent many different personalities and viewpoints, but we are still generally very happy to see each other during family reunions great and small. Those of us with jobs and/or pursuing education have many different kinds of great and honorable work. We live across the country and do many wonderful things in our local communities. My dad's parents and my mom's parents all have many grandchildren which they are proud of. It is a blessing to have many wonderful cousins, and I am grateful for the people they are and the wonderful things they do.

Vacation Homes

I am grateful for those people who set up their homes for large vacation groups such as my family. We're in a nice pioneer home tonight, and I am impressed by the way everything is put together. Of course I know these people get money for renting their house out like this, but I still think it is rather generous of them. These are nice houses! I am grateful for vacation homes.

So Much to Be Grateful For

Yesterday marked my 500th post in this blog, meaning I have found at least 500 things to be grateful for. I feel it is appropriate to note something like this on Thanksgiving Day. I love these words sung by Josh Groben:

"Some days, we forget to look around us.
Some days, we can't see the joy that surrounds us.
So caught up inside ourselves,
We take when we should give.

"So for tonight we pray for what we know can be;
And on this day we hope for what we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change;
And even though this world needs so much more,
There's so much to be thankful for."

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Desert Landscape

I am with family in southern Utah for the Thanksgiving break, and at the place we're staying we have a nice view of some desert landscape. It has its own kind of beauty which I have come to appreciate since I served as a missionary a few years ago. I am grateful for the red sand and the red rock formations topped with sagebrush, all of which I am able to enjoy here in southern Utah. The sweet memories the landscape brings to me of my mission also make it special to me.

Happy News

One of the many great benefits of friendship is the opportunity to share good news. It uplifts the giver and the receiver of good news, and all rejoice together. Our truest Friend in heaven wanted glad tidings of great joy to be shared with everyone. Similarly, it is a wonderful thing to be able to celebrate a promotion, an accomplishment, an addition to a family, a miracle, a new opportunity, anything with those who we know would love to celebrate with us. I am grateful to be able receive happy news from a friend, today and every day.

Christmas Music!

There are people who don't like to hear Christmas music until the middle of December, there are people who wouldn't mind Christmas music the day after Halloween, and there are people in many levels within that continuum. I myself am more of a liberal on this particular issue. I love to hear Christmas music in the middle of November, especially if snow has already begun to fall. To me, the music associated with Christmas is truly magical. I have tremendous appreciation for the carols of the season, and for the artists who contribute their lovely interpretations of them. Once the music starts, I feel warmer and happier as my thoughts turn to the glad tidings of great joy that have been shared by God and man alike for over two thousand years. I am grateful for Christmas music!

Anticipation of Vacation

I have a couple of days left of school before my Thanksgiving break. I am really looking forward to this break in school and work routine. Interestingly, I think even the anticipation of this break is affecting me positively. Just the idea of it is motivating and invigorating to me right now. I am grateful to know that I have a vacation soon approaching because it helps me go on for the next two days.

New Works

I saw a new musical today. By that I mean the show had never been performed before and afterwards the audience was asked what they loved about the play and what needed more clarification. I didn't feel like I had very much to say because I was blown away by the musical. I had strong emotional connections with the show and I was very impressed by both the writer and the performers. As great at the piece is now, the writer is still looking to improve it. This is inspiring to me. I realize that too often I may work on something until it's just good enough. Too many homework assignments come to mind. Among the other lessons I got from the musical itself, I also got this: no matter how great you think your work may be, it can be improved. The principle of continual improvement is one that I truly believe and care deeply about. I'm not in heaven yet, so there must be something (or many things) I still need to work on.

Anyway, I am grateful for new works of art and music and theater, such as tonight's musical. I am grateful to see that new things are being created all the time.

Different Branches of the Same Tree

I met with a classmate tonight to discuss a plan for our next homework assignment. In our conversation the topic of our major came up. We are both English language majors (linguistics, focusing on English), and we were both impressed by the fact that we each had a different desired direction with this same major. We are taking many of the same classes, yet we have different academic interests. That was fascinating to me. In a sense we are different branches of the same tree.

I now think of this in a much broader perspective. As a people we have many, many different interests in the many different aspects of our lives. Most of these interests and desires have something to do with improving something, changing something, and progressing. We have a lot of different ideas of what "better" might mean, yet we continue to strive for improvement. I believe these desires, in its various manifestations, come from the same source. Whatever is good comes from God. Two students with the same major and the same classes can have different and equally worthwhile goals. Two people in the world with the same basic desire for improvement can have different aspirations and goals to achieve that improvement. In short: you are awesome; I am awesome; and we can find common ways to be more awesome together. 

I am grateful to know that any good thing, any good action, and any worthwhile goal comes from the same heavenly source. Truly all things around us testify that God is real.

You Are Awesome

A few years ago, I heard a local church leader talk about "awesomizing" people. Basically, the idea is to lift people up by reminding them not only of their talents and capabilities, but also that they're just awesome. See the good and voice it. I am reminded of a meme I saw recently: "When I am stressed, I stop being stressed and start being awesome." Of course the word awesome is a very vague and generic term, but I hope you get my point. There were a few times today when I was reminded of my potential to be a better person, that I am doing better than I realize. These reminders came as simple thoughts, which I believe were small, subtle manifestations of the Holy Spirit, reminding me of my potential and of God's love for me. I am grateful to be reminded of this, so I can more easily see the good in other people.

Pay It Forward

I have been both a recipient and a giver of the pay it forward idea. I think it is a wonderful thing to do, to pay for the next person's ticket or food or whatever. I had the opportunity to do something like that for someone, and I could tell it made their day. I am grateful for the pay it forward idea, because I have seen it go around and around several times.

My Sister's Email Updates

My sister is serving a mission now, and she faithfully sends an email update to her family each week. Her emails are delightful! They make me smile because I can see my sister's personality coming out through the words and the punctuation. I am so glad to hear her successes on her mission, and to hear how happy she is in while serving the people around her, teaching others about how to improve their lives through the teachings of Jesus Christ. I know she is teaching truth, and it is a great work that I loved doing when I was a full-time missionary a few years ago. I am grateful for my sister's delightful email updates. :)

I'm Glad I Came

This evening there was a church meeting I was expected to attend. I had forgotten about it, and I realized it would take away one or two hours from my day. That was frustrating to me at the time. But, I was asked to participate by leading the music for the congregational hymns. Plus, I felt it was the right thing to do to go to the meeting with some of my friends from my apartment complex.

I am very grateful I went to this evening meeting. The talks that were given and the music that was heard and sung invited a spirit of goodness and inspiration. I felt encouraged and inspired to be a better person, which made the meeting a success for me. I had a few specific thoughts about how I could improve myself for this next week. I am grateful I attended the meeting, even though I didn't feel like going in the first place. If I hadn't gone, I would have missed out.

Canadian English

I gave a report about Canadian English in a class today. It was as much fun to research and prepare as it was to present. It's fun to learn the history of a dialect and what makes it different. Canadian English is a mixture of British, French, and American English, with some strong influence from native languages as well. I am grateful for Canadian English.

Smiles for Snow

Today was the first snowfall of the season here, and I was so happy I said so out loud as I walked outside. Today I am not only grateful for the snow, but also for the smiles I saw on people's faces because of the snow and because they saw other people who love the snow as much as they do. I am completely serious when I say that I felt very happy about my day because of the snow and because of the great reactions to it.

A Great Family History Library

There is a wonderful family history library on campus, and I went there today to do some research about my ancestors. I've been there a number of times before, and I am very grateful for the resources provided there and for the people who work there. They are ready and willing to help, and I appreciate that. I know that's the case with all the family history centers that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has across the country and in other countries as well. I am grateful to have easy access to this library.

An Evening of Percussion

I got to participate in a semi-annual percussion show on campus. The music from all the percussion groups was moving and inspiring. There was so much energy on the stage, and I'm grateful I could contribute to that wonderful event.

Another Reason to Appreciate the Cold

You will probably hear no end to my appreciation for the winter season. Today I discovered yet another reason to be grateful for cold weather: When you stand outside on a cold day or night with a chocolate bar in your hand, the chocolate doesn't melt and stick to your fingers. It retains its shape and there's no mess because the lower temperature keeps it together. I'm grateful that I could enjoy a non-melting chocolate bar on a cold night tonight. :)

Remembering My Mission to Help Others with Theirs

Recently I had the opportunity to be interviewed about the experiences I had during my two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The interview was part of a project to collect recorded interviews of returned missionaries for the purpose of creating a resource for those who will soon go on missions (preparetoserve.com). During my interview, I was asked about what the area was like and how it was to meet and serve the people in my mission. I know this will be useful for those who will be called to serve missions in the same area I served.

I remember some aspect of my mission every day, but preparing for and doing this interview has brought my mission even more to the front of my mind recently. I remember how hard the work often was, how frustrating it often was, and how the joys of helping people improve their lives outweighed all of the hardship and frustration. I grew exponentially as a full-time missionary, and I know God was always protecting me and uplifting me every day of those two years. I know He continues to do so now, according to my faith and trust in Him. I know God lives and loves us and wants each of us to be happy while on earth and in eternity after we leave this earth. I taught that for two years and I continue to love according to that knowledge, for which I am grateful. I will always be grateful for my mission. They weren't the best years because it was difficult work, but I never regret it because the work was for God and for the cause of goodness.

If you are interested in watching my interview about my mission experiences, here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE4-J7SNpv0&list=PLo6WmFbBTUex8iyydL05GPbYJTtJhnBZL

Clear Plastic BIC Pen

You know those clear plastic BIC pens? I prefer the black ones myself. I was part of a brief and random conversation with a co-worker about how much we like them. I will explain why I'm so grateful for these pens.

 First they work, pretty much every time. They get the job done for me whether it's for my journal or my planner or my homework assignments or little notes to myself. The clear plastic material that makes the outside of the pen does wonderful things with light. On several occasions I've seen sunlight hit at BIC pen in such a way that sends refracted light in many directions. It is a pleasure to see the light dance around when I spin the pen in the light. On top of all that, they are very cheap. I can easily go to a store and get a pack of ten or more of these marvels at a time, and it's very inexpensive.

I find a lot to be grateful for when it comes to such small things. Genuine joy comes to my life from learning how to find such ways to have appreciation and to show it.

A Canceled Class

I certainly wouldn't want it to happen every day, but I'm glad it happens on occasion. One of my classes was canceled today because of illness, which gave me some time to relax and regroup for a bit. I am grateful for that canceled class time.

Tintinnabulation

Tintinnabulation is a word for the ringing sound of bells. There is a lovely bell tower on campus, and while I was outside walking this afternoon, someone was inside the tower, playing the bells. I enjoyed the sound of the bells. I am grateful for bell towers. They chime the hour (and in some cases the half hour or even the quarter hour), and in some towers, such as the one at my school, someone can manually play the bells. I am also grateful that there is a way to register for a class to learn how to play those bells! All of this is music to my ears.

Echo-y Tunnels and Stairwells

Some aspects of sound and acoustics fascinate me. Every time I walk through a tunnel or in another enclosed space made of brick or cement, I have a desire to sing something like Gregorian chant or the dwarf song from the first Hobbit movie or something similar. This evening the a cappella group I direct went to a stairwell to sing a couple of songs, and the sound was wonderful! I am so grateful for the acoustics of tunnels and stairwells. That five-second-or-more reverberation is magnificent.

Butter

Today I am grateful for butter. Why? Because butter allowed me to transform my ham and cheese sandwich into a delicious stove-top grilled ham and cheese sandwich. I did the same thing with a peanut butter sandwich and with a piece of bread with chocolate spread on it. All of this made for a yummy dinner. :)

I Pray When...

Today I am grateful that I can pray anytime and anywhere. Not only do I make it a habit to pray each morning and night, I also pray when I

leave my apartment,
feel grateful for the beauty around me,
feel grateful for an act of random kindness from a stranger or a friend,
feel grateful for anything,
am about to go on a date,
am about to enjoy a meal,
feel angry,
need help in a time of trouble,
am about to give a blessing to someone in need,
am about to take an exam,
sit quietly to ponder the truths of heaven,

...and so on. Prayer is one of the things I do to build my spiritual foundation each day, and I am very grateful for it. 

Back/Shoulder Massages

I am grateful for those casual, non-professional shoulder massages you get from friends. These often occur in a chain, each person massaging the person in front of them. Some people are better at it than others, but it's fun and it's appreciated.