Motivation

How does one acquire motivation? I need some, and have every intention of doing stuff, and then it goes unnoticed by me. Because I have no motivation when I see this obstacle that I need to face.

Motivation at work is very easy. I like being one of the best, and so working hard there is fun. I get in a zone of listening to music and answering questions. I guess it helps that I do get rewarded with a pay check, and also other bonuses; but I would work hard because thats the me everyone sees.

When it comes to me time, whether it is as simple as picking up the house, or as complex as working out motivation seems to pass me by. i can always find something else to do. Another facebook status to check, another thing to pin on pintrest, and another blog to post (that is why i am writing right now.) But all of this wasting time is just that, a waste of time. It doesn't prepare me for something that will help me in the future. Unless in the future they have a job on procrastination (in which case I call CEO)

For 2012 my goal is to motivate more, procrastinate less; yet I need to know if there are any tricks I can learn. A saying, maybe. Gold at the end of the rainbow? What can I do?

11 of 2011

With the year ending, I am seeing top 10 lists all around. Top 10 best/worst celebrity baby names. Top 10 NYE Celebrations. I have decided that I would do my own top 10, but why only stay with 10, when this is 2011? Wouldn't it just make sense to do the top 11? These are my Top 11 things. I don't have a have a specific topic. It's just things that I like throughout the year.

1. PINTREST.com This site is the best site I have found to take ideas that others have done, and do it yourself! I have done many crafts from this site.  The picture on the right is my art piece that is hanging in my apartment right now. It's crayons melted with a heat gun. another project I am working on is a clock for a friend. I am getting a pattern to make a purse out of old ties. I also love how many quotes are on Pintrest. I love to find all the inspirational ones.
2. PANDORA.com  I know this isn't new for some people. You may have used it for the last couple of years. But this is the first year that I have used it everyday I am at work. I love it because I have such a random taste in music, and I get bored of music fast. With Pandora I can listen to a Top 40 hit, then a Musical, and top it off with a song from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I have Pandora on all day long at work, it calms me, and keeps me going.
3. Hey Tell app. This app is amazing! It's like walkie talkies/texting/and voicemail all in one. It's great for driving. You can talk to someone like a walkie talkie, and if they are available they can listen. If not its like voicemail. The best thing is you don't have to use your phone minutes, so its like texting. My friends and I use it for places to meet, or just about anything. It also has a GPS feature, but that still needs to be fixed. It is available for iPhones, and Androids. So you can talk to all of your friends!



Dallas Mavericks 2011 NBA Champions

4. Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 NBA title! Dirk, JET Terry, Jason Kidd, and all the rest finally sent the big, bad Miami Heat home for the summer. Dallas took the Larry O'Brien trophy home. It was a great series. Miami and Dallas both traded home and away wins. But in the end Dallas took the title 4-2. Some friends and I went to go buy the championship t-shirts at midnight, and they were already sold out! So I got up at 6am to get to the store by 7am when they opened. I stood in line for 30 mins, and was still about 50th in line. But I got my shirt! I didn't get to go to the parade because I didn't have PTO at the time, but thats ok, because I heard that it was a mad house.
5. STOMP I have already written about STOMP in my blog, and recently too, but thats how much I loved this show! I loved it so much that in my Branch Talent Show we did a STOMP inspired routine. It wasn't an actual stomp routine because they are long, and hard. I could see this show 100 more times, and never get bored.
6. Cycloptomus The One Eyed Shark that was never actually born. Every time I see it, it half creeps me out, and half is so cool that I want to know if it is real, or just a hoax. Everything I have read says that it is real. But then again, with photoshop, anything is possible. 
7. Harry Potter. Yes, I was so excited when the final movie came out! I have read all the Harry Potter books, and I have seen all the movies. I even have the book The Tales of Beetle the Bard. It's my one book series that I have geeked out with. So I think thats ok. 
8. Vocal Point / Penatonix. Both of these are vocal a cappella groups that were contestants on The Sing Off.  These were by far my favorite. Vocal Point is a group of 9 make singers from BYU. Penatonix is a group of 5 kids from Arlington, TX. Vocal Point is traditional a cappella with great arrangements, hugh energy dance moves, and a fun spirit. Penatonix brings a new age twist on their songs with a great bass and beat. 
9. Zip lining at the DFW Adventure Park. This is the first time I have been zip lining. I was so scared that I was only focused on the landing, not the ride. When I go back next year, I am going to be sure that I enjoy the ride, and the thrill of the flight.  Just one time zip lining, and it makes me want to do more fun things that are off the wall for me. Like indoor sky diving, and a ropes course. Both of these sound like so much fun!
10. LMFAO my favorite party rock tunes right now. Theres Party Rock Anthem, and my favorite song, I'm Sexy and I know it. Both of these songs get me pumped to party all night long. When I get bored at work my co worker and I turn up either one of these songs and do some bad dance of the day, then get back to work. When either of these songs come on in the car, the radio goes up all the way. When the Party Rock Anthem song comes on at a dance, watch out because I am going to dance and party. I love that these songs make me happy, and get me pumped.
11. SYTYCD's Melanie Moore.  If you have never seen her art, just watch the video. If you have seen her, and know who she is, then this is my favorite dance that she did throughout the season on SYTYCD. (So You Think You Can Dance) In the video Melanie literally leaps about 15 feet through the air! When I saw the show dance live, I had to rewind it 4 times to make sure that I was seeing it right. Well that, and I had goosebumps. She has some other amazing videos, including one with the runner up of the show Sasha. And her partner for most of the show Marko, with whom she had 2 memorable dances. Overall I think this has been my favorite year of SYTYCD, there have been so many dances that were memorable to me. Sasha was just as amazing as Melanie, and was my second favorite all season long.

So thats my Top 11 of 2011. In case I don't say it, Happy New Year! May 2012 be the best year yet! I plan on 2012 being my best year for me. I'm going to be braver, and stronger. 

Family

Today is Christmas. I was going to post about the Savior. About His birth, and the humble surroundings, His ministry, and His atonement. How without the atonement we wouldn't celebrate His birth.

I am still grateful for Jesus Christ. But this Christmas has taken a different turn. This year is about family, and whom I call my family.

You see My immediate family consists of me, and my mother (in TX) she is amazing. She raised me as a single parent for 23 years of my life. We have had our hard times, but I realize now that she gave me everything she had. She always thinks of me first. My father, stepmother, and stepsister (in CA). My father has been my knight in shining armor since I could remember. He makes me laugh out loud all the time. We can talk for hours in the phone, and he gave me memories that I will remember forever. My stepmother is so different than my father. I don't know how they ever fell in love, but I am so glad they did so I could learn from her. She is very analytical, and sees the world from a different point of view. I know that if I ever need advice and dad doesn't understand, she will have advice that I couldn't have even thought of. She also has the best since of who I am. When I moved into my new apartment, she sent towels, I didn't even tell her the colors I was going for, and she sent the exact color! My stepsister and I have never had a close relationship, but she is a great person, and we laugh about the differences of our parents all the time.

I never had the big family that I always wanted. I remember pleading to my mom, telling her how much I wanted a little sibling when I was little. Well I never got that wish. But as I have grown older I have realized that even though I don't have physical brothers and sisters; I have friends in my life that I wouldn't trade for the world.

New Traditions

Today is Christmas Eve. I was asked by some coworkers to go to the airport this morning. I decided to go, and am now SO happy I did.

We didn't just go to the airport to pick up someone, or to see someone off, but to welcome home active duty soldiers from the United States Armed Forces. I was amazed at how many people came who didn't have anyone to say hello to.

The Crowd that came

I thought I was going because I wanted to give holiday cheer to all those who have been at war. But the opposite happened.

When I got to the crowd of people everyone had signs, and balloons. This crowd clapped every time someone new walked through the door. It didn't matter if they knew them or not. There was also patriotic music playing in the front.

Many of the soldiers couldn't stop smiling. You could tell the soldiers that were coming home for the first time. It was like they were in a parade. They would look around, they were soaking it all in. 

I was almost overwhelmed just watching them come home. But 3 times brought me to tears.

First, When a soldier who was wounded came through. He was on crutches, and walking with the crutches, so it could have been an ankle or a knee sprain; but you could tell as soon as most to the crowd saw that he was on crutches they all erupted in a loud cheer. 

Second, when a soldier was walking towards the exit, and his wife/girlfriend finally broke through the croud. She ran up to him, and flung her arms around him. I have never seen a man literally melt into a woman now that he was home. 

Waiting on Mom

Lastly, a family who was waiting on their mother. 3 girls, I would guess their ages were 7, 9, and 14, and their father. The dad would put the youngest up on his shoulders so she could get a better view of her mom coming through the gate. They were waiting right there for about 20 min. I could tell that the middle child was getting antsy for her mom to come. She kept trying to look around people, and the sign that she held fell down a few times.

Finally the mother came out of the gates. I don't even remember which child saw her first. But when they finally saw here, all three children lit up with glee. I was lucky enough to get a video of their reunion. It's not a great video, but you can see the emotion.

Also when you listen to the video you will hear a lady in the crowd on the right. She is yelling out "Jared" and then a soldier with red hair comes to go home with his family. The reunions with the families was the best part about today. I could see how much the families missed the soldiers, and how much the soldiers missed their families.

I think this is going to become my new Christmas Eve tradition. What a great way to really say Merry Christmas, than to welcome home soldiers from a long time away from their families. So Merry Christmas to all those who served our country to keep it free. We do appreciate all you have or are doing. I hope that you had the same experience getting home as these soldiers did. 

End of year Review

So I'm never good at telling everyone what I have been up to during the year. And i figured that while i still remember what I did I should write it down.

2011 started off really bad for me. Within a week of the new year I was let go from my job. Not because I had done anything wrong, they just couldn't pay me anymore. This turned out to be the best thing because  I wouldn't have left that job. It took me 2 months, and a good friend to help me land a job for Capital One. Not only did I get a pay raise, but I also have paid time off, and insurance!

In the spring I got to go see the show Burn the Floor! I love this show! Well I actually spent most of the night staring at Pasha Kovalev!

I kept taking pictures, but didn't post as many as I would have liked on facebook, or my long lost blog, because I kept getting busier, and busier.

In the summer life didn't slow down. I did so many new and exciting things that I know I can't remember them all. One thing is I got to go see STOMP! This might have been the best thing I have ever seen! I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough. The 2 hour show went by too fast. My favorite part was the audience participation. They are so good at what they do, and it really is a show. It's amazing to me how quiet everyone was!

After stomp came the not so fun part of my year. In August I had my first ever surgery. I had my gall bladder removed. This also meant my first overnight stay in the hospital. Not something I ever want to do again. (Unless it is for something like I am in labor)

Recovery from the surgery was long. I didn't ever hurt, but even know I see where I am still getting my endurance back for small things like lung capacity. But all in all I am doing better than before. I don't eat nearly as much, and I don't crave the same fatty foods that I used to. I am thankful that i had to have surgery, I am healthier now than I have been in years.

After my surgery I decided that it was time for me to move out on my own!! I now have an apartment with no roommates. I have really learned how to entertain myself (for the most part) I enjoy blogging more, and also doing family history. Each day as I learn a little more about how I entertain myself, what I like to do, and who I want to be I am glad that I moved out. Even though every now and then it gets really quiet around here. But the best part of my house is that I have the BEST VIEW! I can see the McKinney Stake Center steeple from all my windows. When I wake up, and when I go to sleep, I feel like I am looking at the temple with how it lights up.

Lately I have wanted to do some fun stuff. I went zip lining and also Drag car racing. What a thrill! Both of these were so much fun! I get to go zip lining again in January! It's going to be colder this time, but I don't care.

I got to shoot my first ever engagement shoot this fall. I learned so much about color, and light. I'm excited because I am also slated to shoot their groomals, and wedding as well! We shall see what else I can learn at the next shoots.  I love just having fun at shoots. I find that when I am relaxed, they subjects are more relaxed, and the pictures turn out much better.

Looking forward to 2012 is promising. I know that I am going to be busy! But I am learning to take time for myself. This is probably the best lesson I have learned all year long.

Follow Your Dreams

On Sunday I was at a Young Single Adult Fireside. The speaker was President Mike Fisher. His topic was goal setting (of which I could have a whole other blog). His subject really set a fire under me to set goals for myself.

During the presentation he talked about something his mother asked him to do when he was younger. She told him to write a letter to his future children. Not just any letter, but a letter of what he deemed was most important. This simple request touched my heart. It just felt right. That night I went home, sat down with my journal, and started writing to my future children. I'm not going to tell you everything that I wrote, because you are not my future children; but I will share a little bit with you.

Follow your dreams. Don't let anyone stand in the way. I had a dream that I let another person tell me that I could never achieve. Because of that one little negative comment I have held myself back more than once. Don't ever worry how big or small your dreams are, because end in the end they are YOUR DREAMS. You are going to be the one to work for them. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. You are worth it.

After writing the letter to my children, I thought about my own dreams and ambitions. I'm done with letting life pass me by. I want to make a difference in the world, but the only way I can is make a difference is by working towards it.

My dreams are there. I am going to make them come true, because I want them. They are mine to follow, and mine to achieve. And guess what? I'm even ok with failing at them, because even if I fail, I will still be closer than if I had never started.

The Letter Writer

I was watching a show on BYUtv called the Letter Writer. It's a pretty typical mormon show. Basic acting, sound that is subpar for a movie, and it looks like it was shot all on set. But in this show something was said that really made me think.

Sam, the old wise man who was there to teach the young heroine a lesson, was the letter writer. His gift was writing letters to others to make them feel special. He was talking to the heroine, Maddy, about her gift. When she asks Sam to teach her how to write letters like he does, he states that he may not be able to. Letter writing is his gift, and it may not be hers. When she asks how she can know what her gift/calling in life is, he states that it is something that when she does it she will feel a connection to, and it will be like a line between her and God has been opened up.

When thinking about that I was like wow, that is such a good concept. However it also made me question what is my talent/gift/calling? I have so many things that I truly love to do. I have so many dreams of things that I would like to see accomplished. But there has never been a connection from me to God on what to do in my life. I know I love the arts. I am not good at painting, but I love to listen to music, I love to sing, and I love to do photography.

As I have already stated in a previous post, I really want to write a movie. I actually have a really good plot line coming along in my head and when I am not at work, or posting on this blog, I am probably working on the movie. It has a beginning, middle and an end. Now all that is left is dialogue, and adding some filler scenes to get the story line from A to B to C and so forth.

So I want to know what your gift/talent/calling in life is? Do you know what you were sent here to do? If so how old were you when you found out? What did you do to make it manifest in your life? Have you pursued that goal fully? What is stopping you from pursuing the goal?

Sam also said something else profound. He said to always remember a key. A key can unlock whoever,  and wherever you want to be.

I'm taking this key, and unlocking a new me. A me who is looking to learn of her gift, and to use it to bring others to the plan of happiness. I'm gonna use this key as unlocking my moxie for me to do what my talents lead me to do.

The Most Interesting Man in the World

If you live on the American Continent (and own a tv, computer or smart phone) then you have most likely heard the commercials for a certain beverage that entertains that a certain man who drinks this beverage is the most interesting man in the world. I think these commercials are funny, and witty. But I must admit that I think they are false.

I know the Most Interesting Man in the World.

Thomas S Monson

Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I love this picture of him. When I think of him, this is who I see. His smile is always radiant, and he must have a dozen ties of similar stripes, or colors.

I have been listening to the Mormon Channel durring my work. I think it helps me stay focused, and allows me to be spiritually uplifted at the same time. I had listened to the conversations series. Some by Elder David Bednar and his wife; Sister Julie Beck; Sister Barbara Thompson. All of these people I adore, and they have inspiring messages. Then I came across a name I didn't know too well at all, Heidi Swinton, she is an author for several books, and even a playwrite. So I decided to listen to her conversation with Ruth Todd. Even within the fist couple of minutes I was hooked. I learned that she wrote a book about the prohet Joseph Smith.

But I digress. She is the author to a book that I want.

To The Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson.

As she explains in the conversation with Ruth, she was called as a mission presidents wife when President Monson called to ask her to write his biography. She spent the last year of her mission having 2-3 hour video conferences with President Monson.

But the reason I believe he is the most interesting man in the world? He loves. Heidi talks about how people would tell her stories of how he flew to Germany on a weekend off to bless a German officials wife. How he didn't miss a single funeral for one of the 85 widows that were in his ward when he was first called as Bishop.

He is the epitome of the warm fuzzy movement going thoughout the Church. What a life of service, and love. What an amazing man. I can't wait to read his book, and I can't wait to reread all his words from past general conferences. (A little lesson I learned from Heidi, she talks about how when she was wanting to learn who President Monson was, she read every talk he had ever given, because the talks given were from Heavenly Father) The more I listened to her conversation, the more I love this man, the more I know that he is the Prophet of God who leads and directs us today.

'Tis the Season

This might not be like my normal posts.

I want to say that normally I love Christmas. I love the lights, love the warm fuzzy feeling that I get within my heart. Love the family time. But most of all I love when people get together to remember that this is the season to remember Christ.

This Christmas is not like most Christmas' for me. I don't know how to describe it, but it's different. My feelings have changed. I'm not as cheery, I don't have the warm fuzzy feeling of holidays. I am not listening to Christmas music because right now it depresses me.

But I don't want to stay in this mood. So I am going to focus on what I can focus on cheering me up. One thing. Christ. I want to focus on the birth of my Savior. The way He came into this world so meek and mild, but without His entrance into the world we would not be able to return to live with Him again.

I am going to focus on giving of my time and talents to help others to feel the Love the Savior has for all men. And maybe by giving all I can to others, the Spirit of Christmas will come to me again.