Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah.. I know. I am a slacker when it comes to this thing. But, the important thing is hear I am ready to go for the rest of the semester. People have been bugging me for a while now to get back into this thing. I am intimidated myself by writing such good blogs at first. I don't think I can write things that good everyday like I was. You tend to run out of those good ideas eventually. Now I am here and Ill be posting 4 times a week at least. That is my new goal.
I guess some people might be wondering what I have been up to. The only things to highlight I guess over the past few weeks that is different then what has been going on is two trips to california and POND SKIMMING!!! Details to come later on those.
Over the past few weeks I admit I came off that high of a new place. I kinda got down on myself, got a little behind in school, and now going up again. I think everyone can understand that you can just go up and hit a high and stay there.. You got to come down and then go back up to where you can stay. I feel like I am learning my comfortable spot here more and more everyday.
The thought of the day I guess would be talking about opportunities. I know without a doubt I have missed out on some great opportunities in life. A talk I listed to last week as well as listening to again right now talks about not missing things that have been put in front of you. This could be anything. And missing that opportunity cause you were slacking off, not ready, or think its stupid, can really hurt you. I can remember last year when I was selected to be a counselor for the youth of my church. Many friends and peers where shocked in a way when thought about comparing me to the other people that were selected to do that job.
Many people including one of my ex bosses were very disappointed in decisions that I made in 2009. I feel like the decisions that I did end up making (some of them I guess) are some of the best decisions that I have ever made. I had the opportunity to be a counselor, one thing I hardly ever talked about but in my heart was a long term goal since i was a participant and EFY. The way that my counselor Dj influenced and touched me back when I was 16 was incomparable to others who I was around everyday. I dont know about you, but my personality gets bored of repeats and the same thing over and over. So that might be why one week with DJ I will never forget or I also believe it was because of the example he set that week. The idea that he showed us of having fun and relaxed influenced how I treated my kids this past summer at EFY.
Over the past few months I have had kids that I had at EFY thank me and beg me to be a counselor again this summer, as well as tell me stories of how I helped them become better. I do not have the opportunity to since I am not in school. Looking back at that decision to quit a job, go back to my old one, so that I could be a counselor is why I am telling all of this to you. If I had not gone to EFY this past year, who knows where I would be today. While a counselor at efy I was able to talk to kids and see how much they wanted to change their life from where they are at not. It made me take a look at my life and think about what I know I should be doing. I can still remember the feeling I had while reading a book called "Achieving your Life Mission." That night I knew that I had to get to BYU Idaho. Long story short, here I am.
Well I guess in other news of me wanting to change my life and be better. I am slowly but surely in the process of getting out of debt. This does include selling my truck. Yes, I am actually selling it. It's going to be hard to sell it, but once I do I am going to be happier being out of debt and not having that payment. All the things I am doing while up here, I am doing to improve my life. There are many things holding us all back. Take a look at whats holding you back and if you can, get away from it. There was a few things holding me back while living in So. Cal. I cant tell you in words that happiness I feel being here where I am around positive people. Not really anybody trying to bring me down. Having this opportunity and taking advantage of it was a very hard but huge step for me.
Many of the things I have talked about, although very scrambled and random, are opportunities that I have taken advantage of. The list of missed opportunities is just too long. I look forward to improving my life more. I have finally started using the opportunities I have to study( as I slacked in at first) I challenge you all to look at what you do. Think about what lies in front of you. Dont miss out on those opportunities that are our in front of you. I guess when it comes down to it, we just need to be ready to improve what is in us. Mistakes in the past, Mistakes in the future, arent important as long as we learn from them and learn to not make the sames one again. I have missed out on lots of opportunities in the past and I hope to not do the same anymore.
A quote that I really enjoy...... "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies with in us." -Ralph Waldo Emerson..
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Never give up!
I think it is funny that I have decided to post the following poem. In the past, I have been known to give up on things and just try to go to something different. I can share numerous occasions where I wish I had not given up, finished what I was doing, and then changing it around after I finished the season, job, etc. Monday night, (the day that I was suppose to blog this), my room mate shared this poem at Family Home evening. I liked it because it shows how people really feel when they see someone never give up.
"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!"
They shout at me and plead.
There's just too much against you now.
This time you can't succeed!
And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure's face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
For just the thought fo that short race
Rejuvenates my being.
A children's race; young boys, young men
How I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear.
It wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side,
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire.
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought,
My dad will be so proud!
But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip.
The little boy, who thought to win,
Lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself
His hands flew out to brace,
And, mid the laughter of the crowd,
He fell flat on his face.
So down he fell, and with him hope.
He couldn't win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
To disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face
That to the boy so clearly said;
Get up and win the race!
He quickly rose, no damage done.
Behind a bit, that's all
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and win,
His mind went faster than his legs;
He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before
with only one disgrace
I'm hopeless as a runner, now.
I shouldn't try to race.
But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his father's face,
That steady look that said again,
Get up and win the race.
So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
If I'm to gain those yards, he thought,
I've got to move real fast.
Exerting everything he had,
He regained eight of ten
But trying hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again.
Defeated! He lay there silently
A tear dropped from his eye
There's no sense running anymore.
Three strikes; I'm out. Why try?
The will to rise had disappeared.
All hope had flown away.
So far behind; so error prone-
A loser all the way.
I've lost, so what's the use, he thought.
I'll live with my disgrace.
But then he thought about his dad,
whom soon he'd have to face.
Get up, an echo sounded low,
Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here,
Get up and win the race.
With borrowed will, get up, it said.
You haven't lost at all.
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall.
So up he rose to run once more
And, with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now,
The most he'd ever been,
Still he gave it all he had;
He ran as though to win.
Three times he'd fallen, stumbling,
Three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win,
He still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place,
Head high, and proud, and happy,
No falling; no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer
For finishing the race.
And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race,
To listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said,
I didn't do so well.
To me, you won, his father said.
You rose each time you fell.
And now when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy
Helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race,
With ups and downs and all,
And all you have to do to win
Is rise each time you fall.
"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!"
They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says
Get up and win the race!
Well I am finally here at BYU-Idaho. Through the support of many family, friends, and everyone else I am finally somewhere I feel comfortable and willing to learn. Hopefully when I finish this race, I will feel as good as this boy was when everyone cheered for him. Ill let you know in 4 years!!!!
"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!"
They shout at me and plead.
There's just too much against you now.
This time you can't succeed!
And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure's face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
For just the thought fo that short race
Rejuvenates my being.
A children's race; young boys, young men
How I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear.
It wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side,
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire.
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought,
My dad will be so proud!
But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip.
The little boy, who thought to win,
Lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself
His hands flew out to brace,
And, mid the laughter of the crowd,
He fell flat on his face.
So down he fell, and with him hope.
He couldn't win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
To disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face
That to the boy so clearly said;
Get up and win the race!
He quickly rose, no damage done.
Behind a bit, that's all
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and win,
His mind went faster than his legs;
He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before
with only one disgrace
I'm hopeless as a runner, now.
I shouldn't try to race.
But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his father's face,
That steady look that said again,
Get up and win the race.
So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
If I'm to gain those yards, he thought,
I've got to move real fast.
Exerting everything he had,
He regained eight of ten
But trying hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again.
Defeated! He lay there silently
A tear dropped from his eye
There's no sense running anymore.
Three strikes; I'm out. Why try?
The will to rise had disappeared.
All hope had flown away.
So far behind; so error prone-
A loser all the way.
I've lost, so what's the use, he thought.
I'll live with my disgrace.
But then he thought about his dad,
whom soon he'd have to face.
Get up, an echo sounded low,
Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here,
Get up and win the race.
With borrowed will, get up, it said.
You haven't lost at all.
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall.
So up he rose to run once more
And, with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now,
The most he'd ever been,
Still he gave it all he had;
He ran as though to win.
Three times he'd fallen, stumbling,
Three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win,
He still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place,
Head high, and proud, and happy,
No falling; no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer
For finishing the race.
And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race,
To listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said,
I didn't do so well.
To me, you won, his father said.
You rose each time you fell.
And now when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy
Helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race,
With ups and downs and all,
And all you have to do to win
Is rise each time you fall.
"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!"
They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says
Get up and win the race!
Well I am finally here at BYU-Idaho. Through the support of many family, friends, and everyone else I am finally somewhere I feel comfortable and willing to learn. Hopefully when I finish this race, I will feel as good as this boy was when everyone cheered for him. Ill let you know in 4 years!!!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
New Posts
I have asked by a few for notices when I post. If you can not see that if you read everyday, then you will see a new post, email me and I will send you a notice each time I post.. Thank you for your feedback and support.
Brianddurr@gmail.com
Brianddurr@gmail.com
Motivations
I totally spaced this one as I was writing about reasons. Motivations is why you do things for other reasons. This is also a huge part of my life as of this weekend. It is amazing to me, even though we rarely reflect on it, the little things that happen day to day that can change our level of motivation. It could be that someone promised you something if you do something, you could meet someone that shows you something is out there for you, or anything else. If it strikes you and you feel more motivated from it, then you will greatly benefit from that.
I will let you all figure out which one happened to me. Although that reason might not work out in the long run, I believe that I have been shown that there is more potential out there then I had realized. Once you meet someone, and knowing them very little, who impresses you enough to make you want to be way better then you are; I think that can never be a bad thing. My dad has always told me to find someone that not only has my standards and morals. But is more perfect then me. Now that you are thinking that I am dating some amazing girl... I am not, yet. However I have met someone who shows such a great example of how girls should be, act, and present them self that it makes me want to change my life in a way that I would deserve someone like that given the opportunity to date them.
So as of today, I have switched my classes from 14 units to 18 units. I have more of a desire to be physically fit. I need to be ready to support a family whenever I have the opportunity to get married. Why take more classes? I am 24 years old. I am about 3 years behind most guys my age. I have a lot of making up to do. I have been blessed to have supportive parents and the opportunity to have scholarships and things that will pay for my school. I need to take advantage of these things while I have them and catch up in life so I can graduate earlier and be able to start my career sooner. Here is a little quote I would like to end with:
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
Its amazing how there are so many leaders around us that motivate us in different ways day to day. Even the little things that happen that can change our level of motivation or even change our way of life.
I will let you all figure out which one happened to me. Although that reason might not work out in the long run, I believe that I have been shown that there is more potential out there then I had realized. Once you meet someone, and knowing them very little, who impresses you enough to make you want to be way better then you are; I think that can never be a bad thing. My dad has always told me to find someone that not only has my standards and morals. But is more perfect then me. Now that you are thinking that I am dating some amazing girl... I am not, yet. However I have met someone who shows such a great example of how girls should be, act, and present them self that it makes me want to change my life in a way that I would deserve someone like that given the opportunity to date them.
So as of today, I have switched my classes from 14 units to 18 units. I have more of a desire to be physically fit. I need to be ready to support a family whenever I have the opportunity to get married. Why take more classes? I am 24 years old. I am about 3 years behind most guys my age. I have a lot of making up to do. I have been blessed to have supportive parents and the opportunity to have scholarships and things that will pay for my school. I need to take advantage of these things while I have them and catch up in life so I can graduate earlier and be able to start my career sooner. Here is a little quote I would like to end with:
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
Its amazing how there are so many leaders around us that motivate us in different ways day to day. Even the little things that happen that can change our level of motivation or even change our way of life.
Reasons
Right now I had planned on studying my scriptures for my class but ever since church today I have been talking to friends and cleaning. The entire time I have been dying to write this stuff in my blog so studying wasnt going very well.
One thing that I have thought about this past week is reasons. Why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we were we are in life? Why are we in the situations that we are in? If you have any belief in a religion at all, I think part of you believes to an extent that things happen for a reason.
In church today, while my bishop was speaking, he asked that by the end of the semester we will know why we are here and make sure it is for the right reasons that we are doing the things we are. This hit me hard. For years I have not felt like I have done things for the correct reasons. It might be for my parents, for my friends, to look cool, or even just for the money. But, we all should take a look at our lives and every time we do something; stop, think, and say to yourself, " who am i doing this for." If you are doing it for yourself then you are doing good. Some of you might think that I am ignoring service, and other things that you do for other people. Those things are also for yourself. You do those things because YOU want to. You don't do nice things like that only because the other person wants you to. Then you are doing it for the wrong reason. When we do things for other people, we should want to do them.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I am doing everything I am doing to better improve my life and because I want to. I open up books and read them because I want to. I read my textbooks because I want to. I don't have to read any of this. I could be working right now, or even playing somewhere all the time. Instead, I am choosing to study and become a better person in the best environment possible. I am up here because I want to be. Thinking that is still new and kind of weird to me. I am enjoying going to class. I know that in less then four years, I will be graduated and ready to start my career in something I love. Hopefully by the end of this semester I will have 100 percent decided on what that is.
I hope all of you understand what I mean by reasons for doing things. We must do what we do to because we want to. I think I finally have the idea that explains this the best. Doing something because we are scared what someone else will, think, say or do, is the wrong reason to do something. I just feel super proud to finally be able to say I am here because I want to be and am super excited that I finally made that decision.
Since I did not write last night due to the lack of things that happened.. Ill just mention really fast that I went to my very first concert that I could wear jeans to. All of the previous "concerts that I had been to were orchestras and other things that my father had purchased tickets for that required semi formal dress. It was Brooke white concert. Was it a date? Some might be wondering. My dad would think so because in his mind if a girl is next to me at an event and its even numbers or whatever then its a date. Well he used to think like that in a way. But, it was not officially anything. However, I will write this hoping to not offend anyone but merely to only entertain those who read this as well as myself. One of the most amazing girls I have ever met did use the extra ticket that I bought. It was just a little weird how she ended up going. To all the girls I have met before, your amazing too. :)
One thing that I have thought about this past week is reasons. Why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we were we are in life? Why are we in the situations that we are in? If you have any belief in a religion at all, I think part of you believes to an extent that things happen for a reason.
In church today, while my bishop was speaking, he asked that by the end of the semester we will know why we are here and make sure it is for the right reasons that we are doing the things we are. This hit me hard. For years I have not felt like I have done things for the correct reasons. It might be for my parents, for my friends, to look cool, or even just for the money. But, we all should take a look at our lives and every time we do something; stop, think, and say to yourself, " who am i doing this for." If you are doing it for yourself then you are doing good. Some of you might think that I am ignoring service, and other things that you do for other people. Those things are also for yourself. You do those things because YOU want to. You don't do nice things like that only because the other person wants you to. Then you are doing it for the wrong reason. When we do things for other people, we should want to do them.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I am doing everything I am doing to better improve my life and because I want to. I open up books and read them because I want to. I read my textbooks because I want to. I don't have to read any of this. I could be working right now, or even playing somewhere all the time. Instead, I am choosing to study and become a better person in the best environment possible. I am up here because I want to be. Thinking that is still new and kind of weird to me. I am enjoying going to class. I know that in less then four years, I will be graduated and ready to start my career in something I love. Hopefully by the end of this semester I will have 100 percent decided on what that is.
I hope all of you understand what I mean by reasons for doing things. We must do what we do to because we want to. I think I finally have the idea that explains this the best. Doing something because we are scared what someone else will, think, say or do, is the wrong reason to do something. I just feel super proud to finally be able to say I am here because I want to be and am super excited that I finally made that decision.
Since I did not write last night due to the lack of things that happened.. Ill just mention really fast that I went to my very first concert that I could wear jeans to. All of the previous "concerts that I had been to were orchestras and other things that my father had purchased tickets for that required semi formal dress. It was Brooke white concert. Was it a date? Some might be wondering. My dad would think so because in his mind if a girl is next to me at an event and its even numbers or whatever then its a date. Well he used to think like that in a way. But, it was not officially anything. However, I will write this hoping to not offend anyone but merely to only entertain those who read this as well as myself. One of the most amazing girls I have ever met did use the extra ticket that I bought. It was just a little weird how she ended up going. To all the girls I have met before, your amazing too. :)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friends
Today was a semi-uneventful day. Not much happened in my History class or english class. Although, in english, we talked a little about our potentials. I have always been told what my potential is but have not really believed it for myself or tested it. I think this semester will be a giant leap of figuring out and showing myself my potential if i put forth the effort that I tend to put out in things I am interested in. As my teacher challenged us to do in class. I challenge you all to reflect on your potential in what your everyday life is. What could you do better? What improvements can you make to reach that potential? We had to write about this as a student, but all of us can apply this to our everyday lives.
Tonight was probably my favorite night so far. We started out with a round of laser tag at this local place, followed by hanging out at Mt Pines.. Aleesha is a friend from San Bernardino whose apt we always end up at. Even though Aleesha and everyone else I have known for the past week were playing a game I bought called Phase 10 twist, I decided to sit out and talk to one of her room mates that arrived here yesterday. She had a friend come over, and then my friend Taylor Rohm showed up.. We played NERTS (panic) for a while and then a few more people showed up. We ended up with an intense game of cards going in which i more then double all of their scores. It was a fun night with people I didnt meet until tonight. I really enjoy meeting all of these new people and getting to know them all. For the past few years in San Bernardino there really hasnt been very many new faces and that what I love doing is meeting new people.
I guess to sum up this post entitled friends, I shall try to figure out how to end this. I guess on this slow day of great experiences, I am tending to forget the most important part of your life. Your friends!!! Treasure them, hold them close, make more, and do all you to serve and include those around you. If you have any questions or comments leave them in the comments area. If you feel you want more information or something answered just let me know. Until tomorrow................. ( well until 20 hours from now)
Tonight was probably my favorite night so far. We started out with a round of laser tag at this local place, followed by hanging out at Mt Pines.. Aleesha is a friend from San Bernardino whose apt we always end up at. Even though Aleesha and everyone else I have known for the past week were playing a game I bought called Phase 10 twist, I decided to sit out and talk to one of her room mates that arrived here yesterday. She had a friend come over, and then my friend Taylor Rohm showed up.. We played NERTS (panic) for a while and then a few more people showed up. We ended up with an intense game of cards going in which i more then double all of their scores. It was a fun night with people I didnt meet until tonight. I really enjoy meeting all of these new people and getting to know them all. For the past few years in San Bernardino there really hasnt been very many new faces and that what I love doing is meeting new people.
I guess to sum up this post entitled friends, I shall try to figure out how to end this. I guess on this slow day of great experiences, I am tending to forget the most important part of your life. Your friends!!! Treasure them, hold them close, make more, and do all you to serve and include those around you. If you have any questions or comments leave them in the comments area. If you feel you want more information or something answered just let me know. Until tomorrow................. ( well until 20 hours from now)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Learning Model
A thought I had as to what to name my blogs, would be the highlight of my learning today. As you can see, today's title is the learning model. This is what BYU Idaho has chosen to teach and learn by. There are three steps in this model. First we must prepare. Then teach one another.. then ponder and prove. Incorporated into the learning model are five principles. I thought about typing them up, however today in my study skills class we summed them up into one main point. The main idea of the principles is that we must be ready to learn, have the obedience and the righteous character so others can learn from us, and the patience to ponder and retain the things we are taught each day.
Over the past few days they have been drilling the idea of this learning model. It is still new to me and still hard to understand. However, today it hit me. Principle number four states: Learners and teachers at BYU-Idaho act for themselves and accept responsibility for learning AND teaching. In all of my classes the teachers really focus on the learning aspect. For those of us who interact with anyone throughout the day, we must not only learn from the people around us, but we also have to be able to teach them things as well. This applies to the students in a way that we must be on top of our homework. We must focus on the idea that we are going to go to class, and then try and teach those around us. Something that is said to us often the past few days; " if you can not teach it to your peers, you do not know it." Now to relate this to those who are going to read this and are not students. If you are at work, you should try to be able to do everything that is asked of you, be able to show other people tricks you have learned. Also be ready to learn from your co-workers, friends, etc. Life is all about learning. We should strive everyday to learn something new. Retain it as well. Write it down, blog about it, talk about it.
Today I also had science and trig. Science is just science. Learning more about the universe and all that stuff well, gets old. But, hopefully with one of these postings I will be able to write about the highlights of that class and something that I really enjoyed. Trig, on the other hand, we are doing algebra review. It really reminds me of my freshmen year in high school. That entire year of algebra was review from seventh grade. I ended up just helping other students in the class and pretty much getting an A. Today lots of people around me were having a hard time. I really had a lot of fun being able to teach them the correct way to solve problems and being able to help them learn. My dad used to always force me to do service. I hated it back in the day. But now every time I have the opportunity to share what I am good at or help those around me that need it, I always come out of it feeling better about myself and glad I was able to help someone out. Yes it can really take some humbling to do some service. But sometimes it is easy and rewarding.
This afternoon, for the first time in.... who knows how long, I decided to go online and read some of the church magazine articles. So far I have read two. One talks about the learning model that I have previously wrote about. The other is titled "Hold on a little longer". Even though this talks about faith and enduring through rough times, since reading it a hour ago I have thought about my past and how I did not hold on to things that I started. To name a few; 8th grade basketball, high school soccer, high school volleyball, and even some jobs. There are many lessons we can learn from quitting. However, if we just hold on a little longer, we might just get through those tough times, and then the hard things will be past us and not only will be happier and enjoying the fact we are still doing what we set out to do, but we will also know that we didn't quit. We pushed though the tough times and now we are seeing the benefits of that.
Also I have once again listened to the talk that I heard on Tuesday. I have decided for those who would like to read or listen to things in which I write about I will work on links and what not for you to access them. Here are todays links... If this works.. copy and paste these
Are Ye Stripped of Pride?
http://web.byui.edu/devotionalsandspeeches/Default.aspx
there is not a big list yet... should be easy to find
Hold on a Little Longer
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=7bdeaf79ec2b5210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The beginning of forever ( catchy phrase stolen from kevin)
Sunday was the first day that I met anyone from my ward besides my current room mates. Sitting in church was quite the humbling experience during testimony meeting. It really made me realize how blessed I am to be where I am today. You might tend to think that I mean hot girls or something were there. Well, that is not really the case as all. ( unfortunately) It was more of the fact of where I am being blessed to have the support that I do. I have been able to afford most but not all of this semester on my own. Hearing other students talk about how they did not know if they were going to be able to stay up here throughout the entire semester due to lack of funds or how a miracle happened the day before and they were able to get a last minute flight into town and attend school was very odd to me. I knew that college students were poor. I had no idea that so many students had to do it 100% on their own and could not get any help from anyone. In that experience I had felt a little pit of pride at the same time as sorrow and humbling. I will talk about pride a little bit later.
Over the past few days I am slowly getting used to the idea that I will be up here for about 4 years. This idea can scare you at times, but there are so many instances where you feel so happy that you will be here for that long. I have always been the last one to admit to how excited I am to be surround by such great examples of how to live and people who are so obedient and such. But there is no denying the fact that you can see a 100% difference in the happiness of the people around here compared to California. I reflect back to a point in middle school. There was a time where I was asked by my friends why I smile so much. I don't remember the response that I gave but here I know why everyone does. Your surrounded by good examples. You have lots of rules to live by that only brings more happiness.
Last summer I was an efy counselor. Being at efy is about the same experience as I have had here the past two days. You are surrounded by people of the same faith and everyone tried to abide by the same morals and standards.( for the most part) Being at EFY both as a youth and as a counselor were some of the best moments of my life. Was it fun? Of course. Why was it so great though? The feelings of happiness and the absence of temptation of the world around you.
Over the past two days, there has been two instances in which I reflect on over and over and love the fact that I have the opportunity to attend things in which this might happen weekly. First of all, every Tuesday at 2 pm campus completely shuts down for one hour. There are no classes being held, no office open, no where to get anything on campus from 2-3 on Tuesdays.
Every Tuesday we have a devotional where someone speaks to us like a fireside or even like a normal Sunday at church. Yesterday was our first Tuesday. I can honestly say I had no desire to go. I had a friend ask me if I wanted to so and I said sure why not. We ended up going into a different building to watch it then the main one cause we were not dressed up in church clothes which they ask us to do for respect of the speaker in the main room. The speaker this week was President Clark. He is the president of BYU Idaho. He spoke on pride. It was a very powerful talk to me. Pretty much a slap in the face in the attitude I had coming up here. Part of this is the reason I am starting this blog. To show everyone the impact on things that happen up here. He talked about many things in which he pretty much said that everyone has a level of pride but its the level your at that can make a difference in your experience while going throughout life. I know that I have been prideful without the right to be and look forward to working on that.
Along with president Clark's talk that kinda felt like EFY all over again, I had a book of Mormon class today. It is a required class while up here. Over the past 24 years of my life I have read it just a few times and to be honest don't know it very well. Over the next 12 weeks I look forward to remember more of what I have read rather then reading it through just to read it. Anyways, in this class, our teacher is a cool guy. Being in there just reminded me of how great the weeks Ive been at efy throughout my life and I began to think. Right there and then, I realized that I at EFY in a way. Same type of people. Same rules. Same everything.
For the next 4 years, I will be able to enjoy this type of atmosphere every week. Devotionals on Tuesdays. Talks in which are geared for people my age. Speakers who know what they are talking about and can deliver it in a way that can motivate you. Teachers who care for you. Who not only want to get to know you, but some even require you to come to their office and talk to them. Its amazing that in two days I have gone from looking forward to the sand dunes, girls, and semi my education to now looking forward to the experience I am going to have in changing my life. Now, I have only one more thing to get motivated to do......... GYM!!!!!
Over the past few days I am slowly getting used to the idea that I will be up here for about 4 years. This idea can scare you at times, but there are so many instances where you feel so happy that you will be here for that long. I have always been the last one to admit to how excited I am to be surround by such great examples of how to live and people who are so obedient and such. But there is no denying the fact that you can see a 100% difference in the happiness of the people around here compared to California. I reflect back to a point in middle school. There was a time where I was asked by my friends why I smile so much. I don't remember the response that I gave but here I know why everyone does. Your surrounded by good examples. You have lots of rules to live by that only brings more happiness.
Last summer I was an efy counselor. Being at efy is about the same experience as I have had here the past two days. You are surrounded by people of the same faith and everyone tried to abide by the same morals and standards.( for the most part) Being at EFY both as a youth and as a counselor were some of the best moments of my life. Was it fun? Of course. Why was it so great though? The feelings of happiness and the absence of temptation of the world around you.
Over the past two days, there has been two instances in which I reflect on over and over and love the fact that I have the opportunity to attend things in which this might happen weekly. First of all, every Tuesday at 2 pm campus completely shuts down for one hour. There are no classes being held, no office open, no where to get anything on campus from 2-3 on Tuesdays.
Every Tuesday we have a devotional where someone speaks to us like a fireside or even like a normal Sunday at church. Yesterday was our first Tuesday. I can honestly say I had no desire to go. I had a friend ask me if I wanted to so and I said sure why not. We ended up going into a different building to watch it then the main one cause we were not dressed up in church clothes which they ask us to do for respect of the speaker in the main room. The speaker this week was President Clark. He is the president of BYU Idaho. He spoke on pride. It was a very powerful talk to me. Pretty much a slap in the face in the attitude I had coming up here. Part of this is the reason I am starting this blog. To show everyone the impact on things that happen up here. He talked about many things in which he pretty much said that everyone has a level of pride but its the level your at that can make a difference in your experience while going throughout life. I know that I have been prideful without the right to be and look forward to working on that.
Along with president Clark's talk that kinda felt like EFY all over again, I had a book of Mormon class today. It is a required class while up here. Over the past 24 years of my life I have read it just a few times and to be honest don't know it very well. Over the next 12 weeks I look forward to remember more of what I have read rather then reading it through just to read it. Anyways, in this class, our teacher is a cool guy. Being in there just reminded me of how great the weeks Ive been at efy throughout my life and I began to think. Right there and then, I realized that I at EFY in a way. Same type of people. Same rules. Same everything.
For the next 4 years, I will be able to enjoy this type of atmosphere every week. Devotionals on Tuesdays. Talks in which are geared for people my age. Speakers who know what they are talking about and can deliver it in a way that can motivate you. Teachers who care for you. Who not only want to get to know you, but some even require you to come to their office and talk to them. Its amazing that in two days I have gone from looking forward to the sand dunes, girls, and semi my education to now looking forward to the experience I am going to have in changing my life. Now, I have only one more thing to get motivated to do......... GYM!!!!!
Introduction
I have decided to fall into the footsteps of the "great ones" before me and update those who are interested about my Journey through this life changing experience. As all of you know I have finally done what I have been talking about doing for years. I am now a student of BYU Idaho. I have entitled this blog Why Idaho due to the fact some of you might really be asking why. I hope to show all of you why I felt I needed to come here as well as show you that it is completely worth it. I know that in the months prior to coming up here, I would tell everyone different reasons. Some of which being girls, girls, sand dunes, girls, and sand dunes. Ok, so I might have told my dad that it was for education purposes. However, I have been up here less then a week and I can throw all of that out the window. I hope everyone enjoys the posts yet to come as you see me progress towards being a better person as well as be an example to all of those who can benefit from it.
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