We hosted an Easter Weekend Girl Cousins Campout here last night. We had The Girl and two girl cousins Miss H (age 6) and Miss M (age 10). The Boy camped out at Gramama's with the boy cousins. So far so good.
I love that these kids enjoy each other so much. There are 10 cousins on Genius Golfer's side of the family and they are fantastic kids. They all live within a hour of each other and of Gramama's so we get together quite a bit. They love it when we do. They start asking for reasons to do something as a family just so they can see each other and play together.
As a girl I knew 3 cousins--Tim, Mel, and Abby. I know I had a lot more than that, but they were two states away and really didn't share a lot in common with us. The 3 cousins we knew and did things with were the only other members of the Church, so that helped in the togetherness goal.
Like GG's family of cousins, our 3 cousins were there for baptisms and any big event. We shared Christmas and Thanksgiving with them. Then when I went to college my aunt and uncle divorced and it changed up the dynamic of the cousins a bit. We still liked getting together, but now it wasn't quite as convenient or simple.
I love that our kids have 8 other cousins to play with and feel at home with no matter where they are. Two of those 8 are married now, so they are a little less in the overall cousins' picture--as they should be. The rest of the 6 are slightly older and slightly younger so my kids fit right in the mix.
Today's plan includes a "girls' day out" to see BYU's Ballroom Dance team perform with Gramama and Aunti B, then the girls will meet up with the boys at Gramama's for an annual event: the Easter Egg hunt.
A perfect way to spend the day with family.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
If We Don't, Who Will?
I guess you might feel this was the week for exceedingly long postings--except the Barbie "photo". But I thought I would add this one since this is what I have been stressing about for the past three weeks or so. We held our Stake Leadership meeting last night and I had a portion of the Young Women's section to teach the YW leaders about VIRTUE, again. I share it here because you too might know some Young Woman and have an influence in her life. Maybe this will help you too.
My assignment tonight is under the heading of VIRTUE. Perhaps you are feeling like you’ve heard this already and you’re tired of this being forced upon you over these last four months. I pray that what I have to say tonight will add to your understanding of HOW and WHY this value was added and, now that it has been, HOW we might be teaching it better to our YW.
Let me begin by telling you the back story. Sister Dalton and her counselors shared with us at the auxiliary training meeting last week in SLC, a little of how this new value was added to the YW theme and personal progress program. For the year or so she served as a counselor to Sister Tanner in the General YW presidency, Sister Dalton said she had been receiving spiritual nudgings. Over that period of time, the nudgings got stronger.
After her call to be the YW General President and then, subsequently assigned to talk in General Conference last fall, she said she went to the temple, in prayer and fasting, to know on what topic she should be speak. In the temple she felt the Spirit tell her the answer in one word: VIRTUE.
Following that talk last fall, she and her counselors continued to get the impression from the Spirit that this should be added as a new value. With their general board members, they wrote a formal proposal and presented it to their priesthood advisers. They had listed many choices for the value experiences and several ideas for the project, like the other values. Their priesthood leaders told them they were on to something here, but not to “trivialize” this with a list of choices, it must be “elevated”. They were instructed to pare it down to the most vital things. This they did and re-presented it to their priesthood leaders.
The 1st Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles approved the new insert on November 28th, exactly 139 years to the day that Brigham Young officially organized his daughters into the early YW program and asked them to “retrench”, an old fashioned term meaning “to return”.
At our training last week, Sister Dalton spoke to us of Virtue again as well. She echoed President Monson’s message from two weeks ago when he quoted an earlier first presidency in his address in the YW general broadcast when he said:
“To the youth…we plead with you to live clean [lives], for the unclean life leads only to suffering, misery, and woe physically,--and spiritually it is the path to destruction. How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean; this youth has joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter. Sexual purity is youth’s most precious possession; it is the foundation of all righteousness.”
As a general YW presidency their focus is to bring YW to Christ through the temple covenants, therefore we must help the YW in our stewardship prepare and be worthy to make covenants there. To do this they must be PURE.
This purity is also a requisite for all the youth—YW and YM—to have the strength that comes from the Spirit’s constant companionship. Virtue is not gender-specific. And in the world these youth live in right now, they need every extra scrap of spiritual strength they can find.
President Dalhquist, the recently released YM General President, popped into our training and was warmly welcomed to the stand. Given a moment to speak he reiterated that this Virtue program is not only for YW and their leaders. He took the challenge himself and completed the VIRUTE requirements while he was in another country. He called Sister Dalton from wherever he was traveling and told her he had completed the value. Upon his return to SLC, the YW General Presidency presented him with a gold tie—his VIRTUE tie—which he wore it proudly that night. He also told us that he had passed out the Virtue insert to all his YM leaders who attended the auxiliary training in SLC that week. Virtue is not gender-specific.
When we speak of Virtue and things of this sacred nature, as leaders and teachers, please do not assume these girls know what you are talking about. Sister Cook, in fact, flat out told us they don’t know what you are talking about. We must teach in plainness, like Nephi who spoke “plainly, that ye cannot err”.
For such a time as this, we must use boldness and plainness and be forthright as we speak with our young women—in every teaching situation, formal and informal. They have to know what is right and what is wrong. You know your girls. You know how sensitive to such topics they may or may not be. Do not let those differences keep you from teaching them truth.
Like the prophet Jacob in the book of Mormon, we might feel “it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech…before…many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate….”
But as we teach, the Spirit must attend us, giving us discernment to know what each particular YW needs to know and how to present the information she must have.
Sisters, we have young women who have been taught all their lives that they are to avoid premarital sex. They are firm in their determination to live that commandment. But they do not clearly understand that participating in oral sex is diametrically opposed to sexual purity. They are told by the world “oral is moral” and they—having never heard the commandments against that behavior so boldly--believe they can still be virtuous even if they participate in that. We cannot let this happen. They must be told the truth.
Sure, parents ought to be the ones teaching these girls the Lord’s laws for chastity and virtue. But in many homes, this is not happening—or not with the clearness and plainness needed in today’s world, by these young women. For such a time as this, we may be the only ones to do it.
I exhort you; I beg you; I plead with you to make this a matter of prayer and fasting. Pray for the guidance of the Spirit to give you the courage to teach with such boldness, that our YW will not someday sit down with their bishops or the stake president for their first temple recommend and have to face the fact that they were not really living the commandment because they did not understand it.
President Monson and other leaders of the church have, even from the pulpit, taught us plainly that sexually charged text messages or cell phone-sent sexual photos are wrong. Our girls should know that, but if the prophet has to mention it in a conference setting, we just as surely ought to be teaching that in our wards and classes.
This is not an easy thing to do. Teaching with boldness and plainness in the Lord’s way demands the Spirit be your guide. What I am trying to do is to give you the permission you need to use the plain and bold words the girls understand. But do it with the Spirit’s influence.
As a girl, I knew “necking and petting” were not appropriate, but, to be honest, I am not sure precisely what those words meant. I needed someone to teach that to me more plainly. The YW in our lives must know exactly to obey exactly. Do not assume they know. They do not.
In the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, our church leaders were more specific and more blatant than ever before in their description under sexual purity:
“Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body.”
Even that might be too vague, for some young woman individually. For others, that description alone might be terrifying. You must have the Spirit with you as you teach these tender topics. Perhaps a special invitation could be issued for mothers to attend the Sunday lesson on Chastity, or maybe a special Bishop’s fireside, or class activity. You will know what to do to affect each YW in a positive way. They are Heavenly Father’s daughters. He will help you help them. It IS that important to Him.
Elder Holland, in a CES fireside a few years ago, said “I do know this: When Christ comes, the members of His Church must look and act like members of His church are supposed to look and act if we are to be acceptable to Him. We must be doing His work and we must be living His teachings. He must recognize us quickly and easily as truly being His disciples.”
In the grand scheme of things, we are each trying to bring these precious daughters of God unto Christ. To do that, they must be equipped with knowledge and understanding so that they can choose to be obedient and worthy and prepared to make and keep sacred covenants. If we shy away from the “difficult” or “tricky” or “uncomfortable” subject matter, our girls will not have that knowledge they need to combat Satan and his overtly vehement followers.
Be bold, sisters. Be plain. Stay close to the Spirit as you do this vital work. If we don’t stand for virtue, who will?
My assignment tonight is under the heading of VIRTUE. Perhaps you are feeling like you’ve heard this already and you’re tired of this being forced upon you over these last four months. I pray that what I have to say tonight will add to your understanding of HOW and WHY this value was added and, now that it has been, HOW we might be teaching it better to our YW.
Let me begin by telling you the back story. Sister Dalton and her counselors shared with us at the auxiliary training meeting last week in SLC, a little of how this new value was added to the YW theme and personal progress program. For the year or so she served as a counselor to Sister Tanner in the General YW presidency, Sister Dalton said she had been receiving spiritual nudgings. Over that period of time, the nudgings got stronger.
After her call to be the YW General President and then, subsequently assigned to talk in General Conference last fall, she said she went to the temple, in prayer and fasting, to know on what topic she should be speak. In the temple she felt the Spirit tell her the answer in one word: VIRTUE.
Following that talk last fall, she and her counselors continued to get the impression from the Spirit that this should be added as a new value. With their general board members, they wrote a formal proposal and presented it to their priesthood advisers. They had listed many choices for the value experiences and several ideas for the project, like the other values. Their priesthood leaders told them they were on to something here, but not to “trivialize” this with a list of choices, it must be “elevated”. They were instructed to pare it down to the most vital things. This they did and re-presented it to their priesthood leaders.
The 1st Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles approved the new insert on November 28th, exactly 139 years to the day that Brigham Young officially organized his daughters into the early YW program and asked them to “retrench”, an old fashioned term meaning “to return”.
At our training last week, Sister Dalton spoke to us of Virtue again as well. She echoed President Monson’s message from two weeks ago when he quoted an earlier first presidency in his address in the YW general broadcast when he said:
“To the youth…we plead with you to live clean [lives], for the unclean life leads only to suffering, misery, and woe physically,--and spiritually it is the path to destruction. How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean; this youth has joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter. Sexual purity is youth’s most precious possession; it is the foundation of all righteousness.”
As a general YW presidency their focus is to bring YW to Christ through the temple covenants, therefore we must help the YW in our stewardship prepare and be worthy to make covenants there. To do this they must be PURE.
This purity is also a requisite for all the youth—YW and YM—to have the strength that comes from the Spirit’s constant companionship. Virtue is not gender-specific. And in the world these youth live in right now, they need every extra scrap of spiritual strength they can find.
President Dalhquist, the recently released YM General President, popped into our training and was warmly welcomed to the stand. Given a moment to speak he reiterated that this Virtue program is not only for YW and their leaders. He took the challenge himself and completed the VIRUTE requirements while he was in another country. He called Sister Dalton from wherever he was traveling and told her he had completed the value. Upon his return to SLC, the YW General Presidency presented him with a gold tie—his VIRTUE tie—which he wore it proudly that night. He also told us that he had passed out the Virtue insert to all his YM leaders who attended the auxiliary training in SLC that week. Virtue is not gender-specific.
When we speak of Virtue and things of this sacred nature, as leaders and teachers, please do not assume these girls know what you are talking about. Sister Cook, in fact, flat out told us they don’t know what you are talking about. We must teach in plainness, like Nephi who spoke “plainly, that ye cannot err”.
For such a time as this, we must use boldness and plainness and be forthright as we speak with our young women—in every teaching situation, formal and informal. They have to know what is right and what is wrong. You know your girls. You know how sensitive to such topics they may or may not be. Do not let those differences keep you from teaching them truth.
Like the prophet Jacob in the book of Mormon, we might feel “it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech…before…many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate….”
But as we teach, the Spirit must attend us, giving us discernment to know what each particular YW needs to know and how to present the information she must have.
Sisters, we have young women who have been taught all their lives that they are to avoid premarital sex. They are firm in their determination to live that commandment. But they do not clearly understand that participating in oral sex is diametrically opposed to sexual purity. They are told by the world “oral is moral” and they—having never heard the commandments against that behavior so boldly--believe they can still be virtuous even if they participate in that. We cannot let this happen. They must be told the truth.
Sure, parents ought to be the ones teaching these girls the Lord’s laws for chastity and virtue. But in many homes, this is not happening—or not with the clearness and plainness needed in today’s world, by these young women. For such a time as this, we may be the only ones to do it.
I exhort you; I beg you; I plead with you to make this a matter of prayer and fasting. Pray for the guidance of the Spirit to give you the courage to teach with such boldness, that our YW will not someday sit down with their bishops or the stake president for their first temple recommend and have to face the fact that they were not really living the commandment because they did not understand it.
President Monson and other leaders of the church have, even from the pulpit, taught us plainly that sexually charged text messages or cell phone-sent sexual photos are wrong. Our girls should know that, but if the prophet has to mention it in a conference setting, we just as surely ought to be teaching that in our wards and classes.
This is not an easy thing to do. Teaching with boldness and plainness in the Lord’s way demands the Spirit be your guide. What I am trying to do is to give you the permission you need to use the plain and bold words the girls understand. But do it with the Spirit’s influence.
As a girl, I knew “necking and petting” were not appropriate, but, to be honest, I am not sure precisely what those words meant. I needed someone to teach that to me more plainly. The YW in our lives must know exactly to obey exactly. Do not assume they know. They do not.
In the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, our church leaders were more specific and more blatant than ever before in their description under sexual purity:
“Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body.”
Even that might be too vague, for some young woman individually. For others, that description alone might be terrifying. You must have the Spirit with you as you teach these tender topics. Perhaps a special invitation could be issued for mothers to attend the Sunday lesson on Chastity, or maybe a special Bishop’s fireside, or class activity. You will know what to do to affect each YW in a positive way. They are Heavenly Father’s daughters. He will help you help them. It IS that important to Him.
Elder Holland, in a CES fireside a few years ago, said “I do know this: When Christ comes, the members of His Church must look and act like members of His church are supposed to look and act if we are to be acceptable to Him. We must be doing His work and we must be living His teachings. He must recognize us quickly and easily as truly being His disciples.”
In the grand scheme of things, we are each trying to bring these precious daughters of God unto Christ. To do that, they must be equipped with knowledge and understanding so that they can choose to be obedient and worthy and prepared to make and keep sacred covenants. If we shy away from the “difficult” or “tricky” or “uncomfortable” subject matter, our girls will not have that knowledge they need to combat Satan and his overtly vehement followers.
Be bold, sisters. Be plain. Stay close to the Spirit as you do this vital work. If we don’t stand for virtue, who will?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Birthday for Barbie
You may have heard it was Barbie's 50th birthday recently. I thought Barbara Walters might set up some sort of interview to mark this historic event. Somehow Barbie doesn't have the same draw she did back in the day....
Makes you feel a little better, doesn't it?!
Makes you feel a little better, doesn't it?!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
I've Been PUNK'D
So, you may have read my posting yesterday. Yeah, you can forget all of that. I have some pretty creative, tenacious, and sneaky friends. They gave me a Golden Apple award yesterday after all that and did it as a surprise! Even Genius Golfer was there for the luncheon. I wouldn't have been more stunned had Ashton Kutcher walked out with a camera from MTV's show "Punk'd".
My darling friend Sherry was also awarded a volunteer Golden Apple yesterday from our elementary school, so it made it even sweeter to hear how this happened.
Apparently Sherry spearheaded a drive to present this to me. She even tried to decline her award, thinking we could only give one volunteer award away a year. But she did all this for me on the down-low. She wrote the program summary and by-passed me (as I was creating the program for the entire luncheon) and with the extra sneaky help of my council friends they ordered the plaque and figured out an extra luncheon servig for GG, made my write-up an insert to the program, and they added it yesterday just before the event began by sending me out of the room to do crazy stuff like switch out tablecloths, etc. I had no idea.
Sherry also got GG to show up--("Tell Sherry 'Thanks for inviting me'", he said last night, by the way). She had to track him down at work, but couldn't remember the name of the place he is at now, so she called back east to the headquarters of the place that USED TO BE in the same building. Of course, they told her that office has been closed for about a year. Then she loaded up her kiddos and took a field trip only to come home and call their militant switch board operator who pressed if "this was a personal call". ARGH! Finally she got ahold of him and emailed him the info. Even more troubling as the time for the luncheon got bumped due to scheduling issues for the room we were using.
Our delightful principal was involved and showed up with a knowing look. Our sassy treasurer, Amy, was there and must have been in on it--even after she was the one who got the brunt of my disappointment three weeks ago before I had processed the life lesson here.
This is a bit of a ramble today, because in reality, this to me is like a "Lifetime Achievement Award". This PTA volunteer work is what I have been doing for nine years. Coming from the elementary school, where I first caught on to the vision of what this work can do and should be doing, makes this incredibly meaningful. Having it come from a friend's innate kindness and love, knowing what it would mean to me personally--because she knows me--makes it a treasure.
I don't like surprises, initially. I don't like to be knocked off kilter. But as I knelt to thank my Heavenly Father for all my blessings of the day, you can be sure I included dear friends, kind associates, supportive hubby, lovely mentors and much gratitude for recognition and surprises. So, only one more to thank.
Thanks again, Sherry.
My darling friend Sherry was also awarded a volunteer Golden Apple yesterday from our elementary school, so it made it even sweeter to hear how this happened.
Apparently Sherry spearheaded a drive to present this to me. She even tried to decline her award, thinking we could only give one volunteer award away a year. But she did all this for me on the down-low. She wrote the program summary and by-passed me (as I was creating the program for the entire luncheon) and with the extra sneaky help of my council friends they ordered the plaque and figured out an extra luncheon servig for GG, made my write-up an insert to the program, and they added it yesterday just before the event began by sending me out of the room to do crazy stuff like switch out tablecloths, etc. I had no idea.
Sherry also got GG to show up--("Tell Sherry 'Thanks for inviting me'", he said last night, by the way). She had to track him down at work, but couldn't remember the name of the place he is at now, so she called back east to the headquarters of the place that USED TO BE in the same building. Of course, they told her that office has been closed for about a year. Then she loaded up her kiddos and took a field trip only to come home and call their militant switch board operator who pressed if "this was a personal call". ARGH! Finally she got ahold of him and emailed him the info. Even more troubling as the time for the luncheon got bumped due to scheduling issues for the room we were using.
Our delightful principal was involved and showed up with a knowing look. Our sassy treasurer, Amy, was there and must have been in on it--even after she was the one who got the brunt of my disappointment three weeks ago before I had processed the life lesson here.
This is a bit of a ramble today, because in reality, this to me is like a "Lifetime Achievement Award". This PTA volunteer work is what I have been doing for nine years. Coming from the elementary school, where I first caught on to the vision of what this work can do and should be doing, makes this incredibly meaningful. Having it come from a friend's innate kindness and love, knowing what it would mean to me personally--because she knows me--makes it a treasure.
I don't like surprises, initially. I don't like to be knocked off kilter. But as I knelt to thank my Heavenly Father for all my blessings of the day, you can be sure I included dear friends, kind associates, supportive hubby, lovely mentors and much gratitude for recognition and surprises. So, only one more to thank.
Thanks again, Sherry.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Recognition Enough
Remember that song "You Can't Always Get What You Wanted" by the Rolling Stones? I believe it is on the Big Chill soundtrack, if that helps anyone. The sentiment it communicates is a good one to understand.
This afternoon I, along with my PTA Council level cohorts, are hosting a luncheon for our local PTAs from each school to award a recognition plaque to their chosen recipients: volunteers, teachers, staffers, or administrators. I was in charge of putting together the luncheon program wherein a "brief"summary of the great and brilliant things the winner has done are written.
I learned "brief" and "200 words maximum" are difficult ideas to convey seriously.
When we put the call out for the local schools to submit the names for their winner so that we could order the plaques and I could then begin the program, in my mind I figured I was a shoo-in for our elementary school's volunteer. In fact I was a little excited by the possibility. After all, I have spent 9 years of my life there. I have my youngest child leaving the school at the end of the year. I felt I had made a positive difference.
Can you say "EGO"?
Of course, to make this posting a life lesson, my name wasn't on their list. Two others, both very deserving, were being given the award from our school. After thinking of it for a day or two--and mistakenly shooting my mouth off to another PTA friend prior to absorbing it that far--I was really glad. I am glad I wasn't on that list.
Not being given this honorable recognition has made me re-evaluate the reasons behind my service. Sure, the recognition frm my peers would have been nice, but is THAT my purpose in doing this, day in and day out? I was forced to think about my motivations.
Now that I have honestly examined my motivations and reasons, I can happliy tell you that I do it because it is good for the kids, and because I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from my service at the schools. I discover and develop great friendships among those with whom I serve. I also gain a greater appreciation for teachers, my kids' and the others, who do their jobs with dedication and genuine concern. I do it because this is a way I can aid my community and offer service to those who not only need it, but who are continually dropping down society's priority list. I do this because it have a residual feeling that this is what I have been "called" to do. It is a good fit for my interests and talents. I do it because I like it.
I can say that there is a bit of selfish satisfaction in my volunteer work, but I now know that it is not for the public recognition by other adults. If anything, the best recognition is a child's face at the grocery store or the city pool who will see me and wave and say, "I know you...you work at my school."
If that one child knows that there is another grown up who cares about them, the school or our community then that is recognition enough. I believe that is what Mick and the boys mean when they sing the lyrics: "You get what you need."
This afternoon I, along with my PTA Council level cohorts, are hosting a luncheon for our local PTAs from each school to award a recognition plaque to their chosen recipients: volunteers, teachers, staffers, or administrators. I was in charge of putting together the luncheon program wherein a "brief"summary of the great and brilliant things the winner has done are written.
I learned "brief" and "200 words maximum" are difficult ideas to convey seriously.
When we put the call out for the local schools to submit the names for their winner so that we could order the plaques and I could then begin the program, in my mind I figured I was a shoo-in for our elementary school's volunteer. In fact I was a little excited by the possibility. After all, I have spent 9 years of my life there. I have my youngest child leaving the school at the end of the year. I felt I had made a positive difference.
Can you say "EGO"?
Of course, to make this posting a life lesson, my name wasn't on their list. Two others, both very deserving, were being given the award from our school. After thinking of it for a day or two--and mistakenly shooting my mouth off to another PTA friend prior to absorbing it that far--I was really glad. I am glad I wasn't on that list.
Not being given this honorable recognition has made me re-evaluate the reasons behind my service. Sure, the recognition frm my peers would have been nice, but is THAT my purpose in doing this, day in and day out? I was forced to think about my motivations.
Now that I have honestly examined my motivations and reasons, I can happliy tell you that I do it because it is good for the kids, and because I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from my service at the schools. I discover and develop great friendships among those with whom I serve. I also gain a greater appreciation for teachers, my kids' and the others, who do their jobs with dedication and genuine concern. I do it because this is a way I can aid my community and offer service to those who not only need it, but who are continually dropping down society's priority list. I do this because it have a residual feeling that this is what I have been "called" to do. It is a good fit for my interests and talents. I do it because I like it.
I can say that there is a bit of selfish satisfaction in my volunteer work, but I now know that it is not for the public recognition by other adults. If anything, the best recognition is a child's face at the grocery store or the city pool who will see me and wave and say, "I know you...you work at my school."
If that one child knows that there is another grown up who cares about them, the school or our community then that is recognition enough. I believe that is what Mick and the boys mean when they sing the lyrics: "You get what you need."
Monday, April 6, 2009
You Have Chosen Wisely
Alright. Enough of my lazy weekend postings. Today's I will actually write.
I read an article a week or more ago about a woman who, in 1997, started a non-religious good-news-only news site called, appropriately enough, The Good News Network.
"I want to give a second life to good news stories," she tell the Washington Post reporter that wrote the article. "Good news is evergreen. It never gets stale."
She mentions that the biggest spike in her readership came on Sept 11 and 12 of 2001, and the next biggest jump was the day in September 2008 when the bailouts of the banks began. Any coincidence? I think not.
I have spent the last several days not watching or listening to the news. As a morning talk radio junkie that was a hard thing...even in the car I have replaced that listening time with a CD of classical music. I haven't officially checked, but I'll bet my blood pressure is down.
Everything we do is a result of a choice. When we make conscious, informed and correct choices we will be choosing deliberately. When we choose wisely, as well, we can make our lives better in the process.
I realize that not everyone subscribes to the World According to Harry Potter logic, but you have to agree that Professor Dumbledore was right when he told Harry, "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
When I read about Geri Weis-Corbley's efforts to place more good news into the cyber world (News to Enthuse, she calls it), I felt better knowing that was another choice I could make.
Having taken the challenge to avoid the standard issue news media for the past few days, I found that making that choice gave me a sense of wellness, mentally. It didn't hurt to also have General Conference to listen to for two days. There was a thematic positivity there for those who will listen.
My point today is there are choices we can make to help us think more positively, and then behave more positively. When a choice is placed before you, choose wisely and you'll feel and see a difference. And so will those around you. Bet me! It is true.
I read an article a week or more ago about a woman who, in 1997, started a non-religious good-news-only news site called, appropriately enough, The Good News Network.
"I want to give a second life to good news stories," she tell the Washington Post reporter that wrote the article. "Good news is evergreen. It never gets stale."
She mentions that the biggest spike in her readership came on Sept 11 and 12 of 2001, and the next biggest jump was the day in September 2008 when the bailouts of the banks began. Any coincidence? I think not.
I have spent the last several days not watching or listening to the news. As a morning talk radio junkie that was a hard thing...even in the car I have replaced that listening time with a CD of classical music. I haven't officially checked, but I'll bet my blood pressure is down.
Everything we do is a result of a choice. When we make conscious, informed and correct choices we will be choosing deliberately. When we choose wisely, as well, we can make our lives better in the process.
I realize that not everyone subscribes to the World According to Harry Potter logic, but you have to agree that Professor Dumbledore was right when he told Harry, "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
When I read about Geri Weis-Corbley's efforts to place more good news into the cyber world (News to Enthuse, she calls it), I felt better knowing that was another choice I could make.
Having taken the challenge to avoid the standard issue news media for the past few days, I found that making that choice gave me a sense of wellness, mentally. It didn't hurt to also have General Conference to listen to for two days. There was a thematic positivity there for those who will listen.
My point today is there are choices we can make to help us think more positively, and then behave more positively. When a choice is placed before you, choose wisely and you'll feel and see a difference. And so will those around you. Bet me! It is true.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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