Just Flip Over the Hourglass. No One Can Tell the Difference

Rush Rush Rush List List List Check Check Check Go Go Go Plan Plan Plan

If you're feet aren't moving, your mind is. It's easy to get caught up in the fast pace "build a world" concept. And we expect almost perfection from ourselves. I feel guilty when I don't wake up early in the mornings to get a good start, when things are still left unchecked on my list, when I get less than a 100%, when I disappoint people, when I'm selfish.

Guess what. All those things happen almost every day. I cannot turn into some major depresso so what do I do? Change perspective...or at least try. I focus on better things. Not that seeking perfection is bad, I hope we all are, but we can do it in a better way. We are taught to have charity for others, and I think we can have charity for ourselves as well. I am one of Kayla's worst critics and it's something I have to work on, because I know I am a good person. I think one of the problems is it's so easy to focus on the negatives, the differences (in good humor they can be fun)...in ourselves and in others. Who likes negative feedback anyway? Let's help each other....



1. Positive Feeback: focus not on what you are doing bad, but what you can do to be better. Write it down. Remind yourself. Make your best friend remind you. Accomplish it in baby steps.

2. Keep a gratitude book. Write down at least 3 things every day that you tend to look past and not recognize as good. Recognize God's hand. Here's 3 I wrote down one day...(they really can be simple)
- I don't have a mental disorder
- I am employed
- that even the weird kids get married

Along with a book, tell people you appreciate them as well. Don't be afraid to hold back.

3. Develop a Talent: make time for yourself to get away and learn a new skill that you enjoy. Just do it.

4. Along those lines, take a random trip. Sometimes planning trips can be stressful especially if you're like me and always somehow take charge of it and you realize money doesn't fall off trees. Key word: random and cheap. Everyone deserves them once in awhile. Get a big group together and normally you can work it where someone knows someone and you just go crazy. It's okay to do that every now-and-then. Sometimes we try too hard to be grown up.

5. Put even the simplist things on your list so that you can check them off. This makes me more motivated any way.

6. Prioritize your life. Really thing about your goals, things you would like to accomplish. Write them down as well and steps you can take towards them.

7. Pray often. Study religion. Understand your purpose and realize God is there for you every step of the way.

8. Pass on a smile. Smile and say hello to people on the sidewalk. I love people that do that; they make me happy and it in turn it makes me do the same.

9. Don't take offense. People are so afraid of being taken advantage of. Don't feel insecure. Know that people love you and we just say stupid things sometimes. And if people really are jerks, who wants to be around them any way. You're the one seeking a better life and it doesn't involve them.

10. Tell your best friend. I find that if I tell my story just a couple of times or write it down, I get over it quickly. Don't bottle it up. And if you need to bring it up with someone in particular: do it. I'd rather know if I'm doing something that offends you, because trust me I'm not doing it on purpose. This one can be hard because no one likes stepping on toes.

We take time for granted. I find myself in a rush and I don't even know why. I've had days where I felt like I didn't accomplish anything. I procrastinate a lot. I forget how lucky I am. I'm not saying we should freak out about dying tomorrow and do everything at once. I'm just saying to evaluate yourself and take advantage of every moment. We have time. We just got to use it better.

Realize that it's not about getting there first, it's about getting there right.

I'm grateful for... my family: they are always in my thoughts. In the end, they are it and most important. Good or bad they have always been there and will forever be there. They helped me be me. Everyone knows my family is part of who I am. We are always in each other's business, and it's great. We care and want to be there when no one else is. I never realized how lucky I was to have a close family. I swear we are dysfunctional, but sometimes those are the best kind. We can laugh about anything.
Danny: he sees me when I can't see myself. He cares and it's all I ever needed.

Friends: which sometimes classify as family. They have always been there. Even when I'm gone forever, we pick up like I never left. They are not afraid to tell me what they think and they are there to make the ride more enjoyable. Friends you don't even know, but already love: these people are amazing. When we do see each other we laugh and joke. There is a mutual appreciation and love that is almost uncanny.

Money Room: some of the most amazing people work here. We all have a simular sense of humor. We are friends and family. All sarcastic and all down to earth. And it's nice to have a job let alone with people you love.

BYU: I couldn't ask for a better place to learn, to be uplifted. I am grateful for the opportunities that BYU offers. the list could go on and on. But the best things are those immaterial things. I have to better understand that and treat people as such.