Create Bold New Paths

Todays Focus: BE BOLD & CREATE NEW PATHS

There have been times in my life where it was easy to be bold, those times happened when I knew without a doubt what I was standing for. When our confidence in life waivers I find it's harder to find that courage to be bold.

This summer I had the most amazing opportunity to work as an EFY counselor. EFY is a youth camp for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Youth ages 14 to 18 come for a week to be spiritually uplifted, strengthen their testimony of the gospel, meet kids who are striving for the same things in life, and realize that living the gospel is cool. I went to EFY every summer from when I was 14 to 17 and had "Being a Counselor" on the top of my bucket list.

Going into my first week as a counselor, no matter how much I had looked forward to the opportunity, I was terrified. I was scared that my kids wouldn't like me, that I would say the wrong things, that I wouldn't click with anyone, or that I down right wouldn't be able do it. But, the Lord prepares us for the tasks that are put in front of us, I know that without a doubt. The second I walked on to campus, terrified and all, I knew that was where I needed to be.

The next month flew by, I cannot think of a time in my life where I learned so much. I learned what it really meant to love, and love everyone. I learned how to rely completely on our Heavenly Father and to do and say the things we are prompted to. And, I learned that with His help, I can do hard things!

I was bold.

Since then, it's been back to the real world. Real worries, cares, concerns instantly found their way into my mind. I am a college graduate without a plan in the world and this scares me. I don't know exactly where I need to be or what I need to be doing, none of the plans or ideas have given me that "Ahah" moment.

But I realized that maybe that moment wont come until I legitimately take that step in the dark or that leap off a cliff. I realize I need to move.

Literally.

So I'm being bold and creating a new path for myself... by moving to Utah next week. I know, I know. Utah is never somewhere I thought I would be going. Paris, Venice, Bangladesh sound more like it but this is a means to an end.

Heres the plan: Fly into Utah on Tuesday, Stay with aunt and uncle until the 1st, Rock my second interview with this job I really want in SLC (while using public transportation due to not having a car...yet), Move into my new apartment in Provo, Become the best of buds with my new roomies, If I get the job I'll do a happy dance and eat tons of ice cream, If I don't get the job I'll skip the happy dance and eat tons of ice cream anyways... and then job hunt in Provo, Save up mucho bucks, Either buy a car/move into SLC/or travel to unknown lands.

And there you have it. Wish me luck!

laugh/dance for no reason

Yesterdays purpose was: LAUGH OUT LOUD
and todays was: DANCE FOR NO REASON

Both of these are pretty self explanatory but I had kind of a hard time with both of them. I'm not the type of person that really wants to stand out at all, I completely fine with sitting back and letting others have the attention. Therefore I've never wanted to be the type of person that laughs all the time or feels the need to bust out in random dance moves that make people feel uncomfortable. But after thinking about it a bit, these are not prompting me to try and pretend like I'm a wild and crazy person, they are to make me realize that life is fun. 

If I feel the need to laugh, I should laugh. If I feel the need to bust out a crazy dance move, I should dance. Not for attention but for me. Plus both being expressions of happiness and joy, lift my heart just a little bit each time. 

Here's a little something that makes me laugh

... and here's a little something that makes me want to dance

embrace authenticity

Todays focus: EMBRACE AUTHENTICITY

Now, no judging, but I have to look up the word 'authenticity' in the dictionary to understand a little bit  more. In there it says that authenticity is something that is genuine, something that is not a copy or fake. 

There are not many things in life that are truly authentic, things throughout time have progressed and developed to the state that they are now. Take technology for example, back in the day people had to write letters to each other that were delivered on foot which could take months just to say hello. Whereas now we have the happenings of other people's lives in our faces all the time with email, cell phones, and social media. 

But I think this focus was perfect for a Sunday, because what is more authentic than our Savior, Jesus Christ? In a world where authenticity is hard to find, I know that he can be our rock and our foundation. 

Just the other day, my roommates were talking a woman who had attempted to restore an old painting of Jesus Christ. I don't know what she was thinking when she did it, but it went horribly wrong and turned into, what is now called, the monkey Jesus. 

Now, people all over the world are making fun and making light of this painting. But, to me, it's just sad. Why must we feel like everything needs to be made new and improved. Though the original painting was damaged and worn, it was absolutely beautiful. 

I think that's what is meant by embracing authenticity. It's being appreciative of the wonderful things people before us have left behind, it is recognizing the genuine efforts of the people around us, and it's stopping for just a minute, without the hustle and bustle of today's world, and being thankful for all the beauty around us.  

celebrate life

I know I've posted this picture before but I absolutely love it. The other day my friend James was trying to describe me and the word "hippie" didnt quite do me justice so he settled on "free spirit"... 

and I kinda like it. :)

So, in order to live up to the expectations that have now been placed upon me I've decided to follow this How To. It's like the epitome of good advice. 

And its the perfect time to start thinking a little bit differently. 

I'm at a point in my life where I feel like I have no clue about what's to come, I graduate in April, finish up classes in June (maybe August) and then ... who knows what. There's a quote I found on Pinterest the other day that says: "When nothing is certain, anything is possible."

I'm going to figure out what's my possible. 

Today's focus was: CELEBRATE LIFE

You know what I did to celebrate life? I slept in, skipped class, decorated my walls with pictures and Cambodian scarves, read a book on the beach and made Oreo Truffles :)

Maybe not exactly what they had in mind... but then again maybe it was. Life is about loving where you're at and making the day-to-day monotony interesting. Therefore... HAPPY ALOHA FRIDAY! lets all forget our responsibilities and have some FUN.

Here's a little jam to get the weekend started.  

(Wait until you get to 1:45... so awesome!)