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.