Why am I enjoying finals?

I made it a goal to have a fun finals week.  I know... a total oxymoron right!  But I did it, I succeeded. And I have to say that I am thoroughly pleased with the week I made for myself.

Here's the key.  Just kidding, there isn't a key.  You just need to be positive. Have fun study breaks.  Plan out your week so you know when you're studying and when you're done (but leave a little wiggle room).  Call up old friends.

This goes for more than just finals week.  It's for life.  I have to plan out what I'm doing.  Know when you're going to bed, when you're waking up, and what you're doing each day.  Not having a schedule is bad  not productive.  Also, get enough sleep.  I need a solid seven hours.  But if I get too much sleep then I am tired the next day and can't get out of bed (I think that's normal but I'm not sure).

Now that you know my sleep schedule, I'll tell you what to do for a solid study break.  Go to the temple, go for a walk, buy a gift for someone, write a letter, clean out your email, find a good book, cook yummy food, exercise, go to a sporting event (I like baseball), watch mindless t.v. (or something educational.  you pick).  When I am hitting a wall and at my wit's end, I call an old friend I haven't talked to for a while.  It is my favorite pastime I think.

But before you do any of these things, I need to earn it! You need to work hard in order to play hard (refer to my previous blog post about how to do that if you are confused).

In life, we need breaks!  But only when we work hard for them.  And we need other people in order to keep our sanity.  I think that's the point of this pointless post.

Here's a pretty picture, because we all need some annual weekly daily hourly inspiration.

snapshots

Sometimes we share moments that we want to freeze in time.  To hold a Polaroid photo of that feeling in our hands and remember it in its entirety even as it yellows and fades.  They are moments of epiphany, moments of joy, and moments of beauty.  When you hug your firstborn tight to your chest and breath in that feeling of love, anxiety, and peace all at the same time while standing in a dimly lit hospital room.  Or that second of delight when reach the summit of a long-awaited hike.  Often they are simple moments of togetherness-- when your family is all tucked tight in their beds while a gentle snow falls beyond the window.  I myself have moments such as these, and all contain the company and companionship of those I love.

Tonight I was reminded of those moments as I watched The Book Thief with my friend/roommate/blessing Kait.  It is late at night on the day before my last final, and probably the last place I should be is a movie theater.  But there we were, and there our hearts were changed.  There was beauty on the screen-- in color, speech, music, scenery, wardrobe, expression-- it was seemingly flawless in its simplicity.  The masterpiece brought us the fresh perspective we needed.  And that's my raving review of The Book Thief.  Do yourself a favor, and see it.

Being happy and other virtues

This is how you become the best you can be, which will undoubtably bring happiness.  

For example: Something you're passionate about is life.  So become immensely interested in it, and continue to let that interest grow.  Look around you and see the beauty of the world.  Keep your head up and see the people around you.  Lift them, and allow them to lift you.  Foster life-long relationships with others, and don't let petty things keep you from holding fast to those friendships.  Call your family members, both close and estranged, and ask them how they are doing.  Learn about other cultures and develop a respect for them.  Eat good food and go on long walks.  Find yourself in the mountains with good people and a good view.  Read books, and then read some more books, so that you can have more insight to things around you.  Look down from the tops of man-made skyscrapers God's peaks and canyons.  Admire the beautiful artwork and architecture around us, and immerse yourself with beautiful melodies and music that move the soul. 

These are just a few ways to show that you appreciate this life you've been given.  Be grateful.

And doing this doesn't ensure that there will be no bad days or hard times, but it does make those times less bad and less hard.  It gives you things to be grateful for even in moments of distress and sorrow.

self•ish

College is the prime time for being selfish.  It is the most self-absorbed period of everyone's lives, when they are on their own with no one else to look out for.  If I wanted to, I could spend all day without even talking to another person.  I don't have to look at anyone, talk to anyone, and especially help anyone.  I have my own worries, my own schedule, and my own issues to take care of.

However, it is also the perfect time to serve others. Because we are on our own and surrounded by so many people, we are given countless opportunities to lift others up.  Everyone is going through hard times; everyone has troubles and stresses.  It's not hard to look around and find someone in need, whether it be a roommate, classmate, ward member, etc.

This being said, it's the times when we are consumed with ourselves that we are the most UNhappy.  When I'm caught up in my outfit, watching episode after episode of netflix and just sitting in my own comfort, I am indifferent and quite unhappy.  But when I'm stressed about class and trying my best and I'm staying out late and waking up early and surrounded by people but also have time to myself and I'm going to the gym and doing my visiting teaching and looking for the good in each day and learning from the bad; that's when I'm happiest.  When I'm working hard.

These make for the best days.

I've discovered the secret to life

I guess that this is not the secret to every life-- but it is the secret to a happy life.

It's so simple that I think it goes over most people's heads, and maybe that's why it's taken me so long to figure it out.  It'll probably take me even longer to implement in my life.

The secret is to be happy with where you're at.  I know it sounds too simple-- but anyone can paint something simple to to look complicated.  The truly difficult and artful thing is to make something complicated become simple.

Being at college it is easy to sit back and observe others that are making mistakes (I guess that's easy to do pretty much anywhere, but I've noticed it in particular here at BYU.  I think this is because everyone is vulnerable and away from home).

I have friends that never seem to be happy.  Whether we are at a game, a dance, or just relaxing as friends; they can not feel content.  The grass is always greener, or the Instagram picture always looks better.  Truly happy people are content, with both who they are and where they are.  Not to say that we shouldn't all work for progression; but it is important that we are happy where we are.

--Obviously Passenger is on the same page as me.  Listen to the "Let Her Go" lyrics.  I rest my case.--

And now a warm welcome to this coming winter.  May we make it a good one.  

Work Hard, Play Hard (and a happy Wednesday)

My new philosophy (drum roll please...)

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD.

So I had probably heard this saying .2 million times in my life.  But now it finally rings true!  I realize that in order to do all of the things that I want to do, I first need to do all of the things that I need to do.  For example, Monday I spent a good five hours in the third floor activity room doing nothing but straight up homework (but of course I did have some episodes of Psych playing in the background).  I finished all of my math homework, studied for my Conflict Resolution test, researched for my Issues Paper, and wrote my Islamic and Judaism Survey paper.  It was rough but productive!  And after, what did I do? (cue the lively background music)

I played hard!  I went shopping, worked out, got some good food, and relaxed for a while.  Then I went to bed EARLY.  Weird.  I know.  It was the absolute best.  I will do the same this week, so that this weekend I will be a free woman.  Happy Wednesday y'all!