Don't Ever Let Anybody Tell You You Can't Do Something

My favorite scene in one of my fave movies, it gets to me every time. "Don't ever let anybody tell you you can't do something. You gotta dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period."

That was before, this is after.

I've spent a lot of time the past few weeks trying to figure out why life isn't like the movies. I'm not saying that the quote above isn't true, but sometimes you "Strive valiently, [but]...come short again and again, because their is no effort without error and shortcoming"The truth is, sometimes you give your all to something you are so passianate about, but things don't end up the way you want. It's a sad reality. But, the thing is, I'm not one to be sad. I tried that for a day, and I really couldn't stand it! Wallowing just isn't for me. After I realized that, I started looking for a reason. I knew there had to be something to take from this experience. Although it has taken a while, I've finally learned the lesson I have been searching for. My Race is not yet Run. You know how I said "this is after?" I lied. How could one tiny setback in high school be "the end?" That's just getting dramatic. This is only the beginning of a well planned journey, that I may not know the details of quite yet. I don't have time to sit and think about what has already happened, because its time to stand up and make the best of what I've got. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" (thanks for all the awesome quotes Teddy R.) I don't even know what I can do yet, but I intend on having a fabulous time finding out. Because in the timeless words of "Pre-Taylor-Swift-Incident-Kanye:" "Tha-tha-tha-that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger."

The Song of the Righteous is a Prayer to the Heart

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Baby I was born this way. This is just the half-life. God is the DJ, Life is the dance floor, love is the rhythm. Every now and then I get a little bit terrified. Every now and then I fall apart. And I need you now. I will never say never. Gonna give everything I have, its my destiny. Everybody wants to be loved. My world crumbles when you are not near. I keep my cool but Im fading. Its a beautiful day, don't let it get away. Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. I'll stand by you. You're original, cannot be replaced. Imagine all the people. When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part. She will be loved. Speak now. Fathers be good to you daughters, and daughters will love like you do. We're one, but we are not the same, we've got to carry each other. I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset. After a hurricane, comes a rainbow. Hello world, hope you're listening. Just enjoy the show. I throw my hands up in the air sometimes. Just dance. I hope you dance. A face without freckles is like the sky without the stars. Trouble is a friend. Vienna waits for you. Viva la vida. Where is the love? Caught in between ten and twenty, and I'm just dreaming. Life is a mystery. You're a firework, come on let your colors burst.

Ok, I know. I should have just titled this post "Holy Cheese Ball!" But I just had to do it. Music plays an important part of my life. Especially with swim season starting, I'm going to need some good tunes. Those 500s can get pretty boring without it. Good music can change everything. It changes your mood, and changes how you interact with others. At least for me anyway.

Music makes the hard things in life more enjoyable. So thats my goal:

Make the difficult things in life more enjoyable. Whether this happens just by having a good attitude, "Fakin' it til you make it" or some other profound thing, I don't know just yet. I don't want to make the more difficult and boring things more enjoyable for just myself. I really want to help other people not dread seminary, or practice, or cleaning. I have no idea how to do that, but its a work in progress for now.

I think it probably starts with ourselves. I mean, if one person is enjoying themselves while doing something rather unenjoyable, wouldn't everyone else around them start enjoying themselves too? Its like being the music in life. I think that by having a good attitude during times of trial, its like blasting your favorite song....and dancing to it.....then saying "Bring it!" to your biggest enemy. Basically, what I mean is good attitude=I'm ready for anything. Kind of like great song stuck in my head=I'm ready for the hardest swim practice ever.

Bring it.

Get a New Years Resolution

Howdy Partner, It's been a while. Kind of ironic that I haven't posted any new goal or resolution for this year, as this is my little way of setting goals! I have actually struggled a lot this year on picking a really important New Years Resolution. It's not because I don't need to improve on anything, thats for sure. I think its because there are too many things for me to improve on. I have to admit that even now I don't have a clear cut New Years Resolution. I've definitely thought about it, however. I started off with "wear my retainer everyday," much too simple. Then I started thinking broader and bigger and got a little lost.

As of right now, my goal is simply to get a goal, and always have a goal.

I think that without goal, where am I even going? Nowhere.

If you aren't moving forward, you are moving backward.

2 days later....

After much thinking, post-it notes, organizing, getting ready for the new year, searching for quotes and even borrowing ideas from others, I think I may have my New Years Resolution. But, the thing is, a New Years Resolution gives off an image of weight loss, or quitting smoking, and eventually failure. Since mine has nothing to do with any of these, I refuse to call it a New Years Resolution.

Its simply a resolution. It will not end when a New Year begins.

I resolve to become happier, and the inspiration comes from one of the happiest people I have ever seen, Gordon B. Hinkley. He said "generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves. The happiest are obsessed with the service of others." So there it is, my goal is to become obsessed with the service of others. Whether it be through a smile, a soup kitchen, or some other form of service, I will try to always have it on my mind.

Check back in 2012.