Collaborative Lens

So today two of my great friends M and N are helping me write this post. It's gonna get interesting :) so prepare yourselves accordingly.

Here's the preliminary list of things they said they are thankful for today:

• Professors that end the semester early, sing carols in the morning, have you take your final in class the week before finals, and that bear their testimony the last day of class.
• "I get to go home in a week"
• babies "They're beautiful!" "I used to hate them..."
• Wherever You Will Go (the version by Charlene Soraia)

So back to regular flow. I am really excited that semester is over (minus finals) and that I survived. I honestly thought my first year of college would ruin my life. (Sometimes I feel like I worry so much that I create drama in my head) Anyways, the world didn't end so life's good. I learned a lot, made good friends, and held down a job.

Ok, new subject. Here is N. Hello! I hope that your lives are going awesome, because mine certainly is! I get to go home to see my wonderful family in just a little over a week...all I have to do is survive finals. So one of the things that totally made my semester was the awesome friends that I've made. They are funny, sweet, and let me invade their apartments pretty much whenever. I am super grateful to them for giving me a social life and for being their amazing selves! Hmm...basically I am terrible about coming up with things to write about so I think that I'll end on that note and defer to M :)

That's me! I'm M, and I like to be happy.  I like when others are happy too.  So be happy! Cause it makes the world a happier place.  I'm way excited to go home in a week, because I love my family.  But, it's bittersweet to leave the people I've gotten to know here.  I've made so many good friends and I'm sad that some of them won't be returning next semester.  One thing my Book of Mormon professor said today really struck me. He invited us all to a class reunion, 10000 years from now.  He wanted us all to be there.  While it doesn't seem like a big deal, I found it really neat, because people come into our lives all the time. Some interactions with others last an instance, while others last a lifetime.  I hope we can cherish the moments we have with others.  I know that someday we will meet again, and I hope that when we do, we can have a fine time catching up and sharing stories.  I'm grateful for the wonderful, beautiful people I have met this semester, and while some are going their separate ways, I'm grateful for the experiences that we've all had together.

So on this happy note I'm going to cuddle up with my quilt and call it a night. Remember to find good in everything around you this week!

-M

Catch Up Lens

So I'm super lame. I haven't posted since the 16th. So today's post is all the things beautiful in life since then (or at least as many as I can remember).

1. Making vanishing rolls and Oreo balls with my next door neighbors.
2. Baking bread/rolls.
3. Spending time with my family.
4. Having a bed to sleep in.
5. My car hasn't had problems despite how much I've been traveling.
6. I'm learning new things in all my classes.
7. My roommate and I hung up Christmas lights in our apartment.
8. I have a good job and a good bus.
9. The bus is generally on time.
10. My former roommate got married in the temple. She and her husband were radiant at their reception.
11. That my FHE bro gets to go to the beautiful country of Costa Rica. ;)
12. Three of my favorite college friends are on my calendar in stick figure form. 
13. My self-made quilt keeps me warm.
14. I'm caught up on all my payments.
15. I have awesome visiting teachers.
16. Playing guitar with my friends.

So basically this is a really short list. But it'll do for now. I'd love to hear what YOU find beautiful.

-M

Roommates Lens

I'm a slacker. It has been so long since I've posted. I will say that I have been extremely busy but I don't know if that counts like a legitimate excuse. Anywho, moving on. Lately I've been really grateful for awesome roommates.

I don't want to brag (actually I do) but I have the greatest roommates. Sadly one is getting married and moving out (sad that she's moving, not that she's getting married. That part is happy) but I've still loved having her as a roommate. The reason I like them so much is because of the qualities they emanate. We could all learn from them ;)

To distinguish we'll call them M1 and M2 (were M&M&M in this apartment). M1 is very studious. Not in a weird anti-social way, but in a way that shows she cares about getting an education. She's also diligent about learning new things, even if it means teaching herself. I admire her ethic. M1 is also very willing to serve and serious about her religion. She's willing to stand up for her beliefs and not be swayed by the opinions of others if they are contrary to her morals. She's always got a smile or a hello for those she knows and is a great comic relief.

M2 is a doll. She is so kind and selfless. She is truly a wonder-woman in my eyes. Somehow she has managed to stay on top of school while planning a wedding. She understands the importance of education but also of preparing for marriage as well. She is so mature and a great example to me. M2 always looks for the good in life and in people.

M1 and M2 help me gain perspective on life and help me figure out this weird stage of life. I'm so fortunate to have them as friends and examples. They are both truly beautiful inside and out.

That may have sounded gushy but you can just deal with that ;) They needed recognition. I hope you can all look for the good examples in your life and see their qualities that help make you a better person.

-M3

Aesthetic Lens

I don't know why it was so striking this week, but my Humanities class really struck a chord. I think the arts are so important because they are really cathartic for some people and have the ability to touch and teach us in a way nothing else can. This week we focused on adaptations and it was really fascinating.

One of the most striking things about adaptations is how impressible the first medium we experience a piece in is. For instance, you read a book and love it. They create a movie based on the book but the book will always be your favorite. The book is what got you attached and will be what continually holds your interest. This concept doesn't always hold true, but it is interesting how frequently it does. This started making me think of how often this idea holds true to life in general. For instance, our first experience with religion is often the one that makes the greatest impression on our morals and concept of God. Or when you make a friend and later gain more friends, the first friend often is the one we're closest to. Disagree all you want, but I see these kind of things all the time.

The idea that art is cathartic or therapeutic also stuck out to me. One of the best examples we viewed was the song Hurt by Nine Inch Nails redone by Johnny Cash. The song is really deep and sad. It was meant to be that way, I'm sure, but despite the sadness it conveys an incredible message. This was particularly poignant when we listened to Johnny Cash's version. If you know anything about the man, you know he had a pretty screwed up life. He had lots of family struggles as well as drug addictions. As he performed his rendition of this song you could really feel his pain and remorse, how much he wished things had turned out differently, how hard his life really was despite the celebrity "glamor". To preview this song click here.

Never underestimate the power of art. You never know when it will find you and make a lasting impression on you. 

-M

Optimist vs Realist Lens

So I've been hearing two sides of an interesting debate lately: is it better to be an optimist or a realist. The realists argue that it is pointless to be overly positive because the world isn't perfect, but also pointless to be pessimist 'cause the world doesn't entirely suck. You just need to see things as they really are. The optimists argue that it can't hurt to be a little extra positive. It's kind of the whole life is meant to be enjoyed not just endured concept. I'm not sure who I side with but I would love to share some great experiences ;) (of course).

During church yesterday this guy shared how he felt lately that, for whatever reason, his life was just really good and he was able to find the good in every day, even when his roommates couldn't. It sounded a little silly at first, but then I thought, well, that's kind of what I'm sellin' on my blog: every day can be beautiful. There is always something good that we kind find about life, even when it is really really hard. So I quickly grew to agree with him, and even though I probably can't face each day as perky-like as he probably can, it doesn't hurt to complain less and enjoy what is good in life more.

I had a realist story to share but I'm kind of tired and forgot. But I think it was along the lines of: I was complaining and my friend gently reminded me that I was wrong and how the situation really was. It wasn't necessarily a pep-talk, but it certainly made me reframe my thinking.

So moral of the story is that we could all do well to change our outlook on life a little. Shift your thinking until you can see the good in each day. I think a clearer outlook helps us see the beauty of life easier.

much love always
-M

Holiday Lens

I don't know what it is, but holidays seem to put us in better moods (generally speaking). Something about celebrations makes us more willing to give, more willing to be kind, and more willing to be outgoing. I love it :) You make think this is only around Christmas but it's not. I think that is what makes holidays special; it is the few times a year when we can just enjoy different aspects of life.

For example (there is always an example), yesterday was Halloween and boy was it fun. Quite a few people dressed up in amazing costumes (as seen here) and a majority of my professors brought us candy! They didn't have to, they chose to because they wanted to lighten the mood and make the day fun. I think they are champions. 

Another great observation from the day was the Jamba Juice in the Wilkinson Center. First of all, the glass panels surrounding the counter were lined with Harry Potter books in many different languages. Second, they covered the lights with blue paper and hung stars and candles from the ceiling. Third, they had this giant coloring page attached to the front of their counter. Fourth, when they took your order they gave you a list of Harry Potter characters and you picked one for the name of your order (ie they called my order as Luna Lovegood). Best experience there ever. The festiveness of it put me in such a good mood.

Point being, every day should be a holiday ;) Just kidding, that would ruin the specialness of them. But I do believe we could all do a better job of treating each day like the best day ever. It would make life so much more enjoyable.

-M

Patience Lens

I've slowly been learning the beauty of patience. It's hard because I'm such a "get it done now" type of person generally and that is not how things generally work out. I think the Lord keeps trying to remind me of my patience problem, giving me opportunities to learn.

For instance, when I was deciding on a college I wanted a decision made October of my senior year. My answer didn't come until March. Let me tell you, that was a rough time because I wanted to make plans (ie schedule, housing, etc) but couldn't because I couldn't decide where the best fit was for me. After a long wait and a great trial of patience I got my answer and things fell into place.

Last night my patience was tried as I attempted to sign up for classes. That headache certainly taught me to step back, breath, and stop acting like delays were the end of the world. (a surprisingly common problem)

I could bore you with more stories but I'll save it. You probably wouldn't have the patience to sit through many more of them anyways ;) Anyways, keep calm and soldier on. Be happy and don't freak out. You are loved. Results are worth the wait.

-M

Different Lens

So I generally try to present my most neutral opinions on here because I want people to be willing to consider them without getting offended all over the place. But today I'd like to venture out into the religious sphere for a moment.

One of my favorite quotes is from Johnny Depp: "There are four questions of value in life... What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love."

I think that is an interesting insight into the nature of love and the nature of our spirits. I do believe each of us has a spirit and that our spirits will go to Heaven when we die. I believe we were created by a divine father who loved us enough to give us life and a way back to him. We exist because he loves us with a love so deep and incomprehensible.

In this modern society I think the concept of love is taken so lightly some times that it has lost its significance for some. Does this mean I think you shouldn't tell your friends and family that you love them all the time? No. Do. That is important. But I think to really show people we love them it has to be deeper. Like the quote said, love is what we live and die for. It is what we should hold sacred. We need to treat it as such.

Something I found interesting in a recent culture lesson in my Chinese class is that most people in China won't vocally tell each other they love each other very often. Their love is expressed through their actions and sacrifices. I think we could all do well by following their example of love through action. Because honestly, which is more valuable: telling something "I love you," or serving them in some way to make their life easier. Service is an expression of love and I think it will beat out vocalizing your love most of the time. 

I think we could all use a little more love. Because if we just love everyone we don't have to worry about the burdens of jealousy, guilt, hatred, etc.

Love much,
M

Culture Lens

When it comes to experiencing art I'd like to believe that I'm willing to try anything once. Tonight I got to check something off the list: opera. Real, Italian, Mozart-composed opera. And let me tell you, it was an extraordinary culture experience.

The program from Cosi fan Tutte.

I kind of ended up going on accident but I'm totally glad I went. Originally I was going for a Humanities class project but the project got cancelled after I had already purchased a ticket. I could have given up the ticket but I was sort of interested in really experiencing an opera. 

The name of the program I attended is Cosi fan Tutte. It was composed by Mozart, performed by BYU vocal performance students. 

I didn't really know what to expect going in because I didn't want prejudices to cloud my experience. It began with this beautiful introduction by the orchestra and then shortly thereafter the action began.

The performance was truly beautiful in its own way. The comedic plot, extraordinarily talented actors, and exceptional orchestra pulled together to create an amazing experience for me. It had me laughing nearly the whole time. No, I probably wouldn't frequent the opera, but I would definitely go see another. There is something unique about the superfluous, gaudy nature of opera that is quite intriguing. 

I guess the moral of the story is don't judge a book (or an art form) by its cover (or prejudices). Have an open mind as you learn to appreciate the talents of others and their expressions of emotion. There is so much beauty, so much to stand in awe of if we're willing to embrace culture

-M

PS If anyone is interested in seeing this show they still have some performances that you should definitely check out. To learn more about the plot of Cosi fan Tutte click here.

Alive Lens

Oh my lands I haven't written in 5 days! Must'a been up to no good. Actually not really. My life has been pretty uneventful.

Today I'd like to discuss the beauty of being alive. Think about it, when is the last time you stepped back and really thought about how glad you were that you were alive and breathing? Now that you're thinking about it and are fully aware of the fact that you're not dead, here are some great quotes:

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

-Marcus Aurelius

I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.

-Joseph Campbell

You are either alive and proud or you are dead, and when you are dead, you can't care anyway.

-Steven Biko

Every day is a good day to be alive, whether the sun's shining or not.

-Marty Robbins

Moral of the story kiddies: we are so intricate and full of purpose that we simply cannot be ignorant of it. By being alive we automatically take on the mantle of potential. I believe we all have great works to accomplish in whatever form and we need to be grateful that we are here, alive, able to rise to the challenge of life.

The reason I bring this topic up is because I think it something we're more aware of when we get sick (like I was). Nothing is so precious as life and health as when we're not feeling full of life or healthy. I've personally never had a near-death-experience but I'm sure they also make you critically aware of the fact that you are alive.

Take home lesson: appreciate your life today. Be happy you are you and that you are here at this time. Remember this even when it gets hard. For as the great Dr. Seuss said, " Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!"

-M 

*quotes courtesy of Brainy Quotes

Busy Lens

I feel like people often complain that they just need a break. They need time to relax and recuperate. Have these people actually had these imagined hiatuses? Or have they just been doing it wrong? Not sure, but I've decided it's better to have things to do than nothing. I think there are many benefits and that people just need to find balance.

For example (there is always an example) today at work I had things to do or people to talk to basically the entire time, and you know what, something magical happened: work FLEW by. By the time my replacement J. came in I was completely surprised to see him. Normally I'm counting down the minutes, but since I had things to do I didn't have any time to complain to myself how bored I was. Having nothing to do does not equal time to relax. Having nothing to do means you're wasting time. It seems like there is always something more to do and doing things helps the time go by faster. (I guess that could be a good or bad thing) 

I think someone is going to need to remind me of this post in a few months when Winter semester starts, but it is a blessing to be busy. I thank the Lord for having meaningful things to do each day. Because the more we seek to keep ourselves busily involved in good, productive things the more good opportunities we will receive. At least that's what I've found; the best opportunities come at the busiest moments.

Granted, being busy is only good if it is busy in meaningful work. Busying oneself with social media, online games, or other things that could prevent us from seeing the big picture is not good. One of my favorite quotes is, "Don't let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." -President Monson. So stay busy, but prioritize your life and involve yourself in good things. I think this will make life more meaningful.

-M

Got a thought to share or whatever else? Shoot me an email at summer15@studentbody.byu.edu

Weather and Encouragement Lens

I'm going to jump around topics today a bit because I can never make up my mind what to write about.

First, the weather. I've been wanting to write about this for a while but kept putting it off. Today it rained and it felt wonderful! It is always amazing to me what effect weather can have on one's mood. Rainy days seem to be generally productive, and indeed today was.

One of my favorite parts of the day is walking from the MOA to my 8 o'clock class. I have nothing better to do on that daily walk except observe, and I get to observe the most wonderful things. I can see how the sun hits the mountain peaks. I can see how the clouds hug the mountain. I can see how the leaves fall or when they change colors. I can breath in fresh air and enjoy my surroundings. I'm not saying we have the most beautiful campus in the world, but I sure love my view each morning.

Ok part two, encouragement. We all love it, and when properly placed it can be duly sincere and reassuring. I don't know if I've expressed my gratitude for this individual before or not, but I have an awesome Chinese TA. He's really good at what he does and is super encouraging to all his students. He'll never criticize without noting something good first. Today for instance I went to get help for the oral test that is coming up that I was feeling completely not confident for. I hate any form of performance in front of small groups (especially for a grade) and I haven't had a ton of practice of simply conversing for a good length of time. The TA didn't dismiss my concerns as silly, he simply tried his best to help me practice conversation until I felt more confident. It is amazing how well placed encouragement can increase confidence. I'm thankful for people that have this gift. Suffice it to say that I am now feeling a lot better about my midterm this week.

Thing to work on: learn how to sincerely encourage others.

-M

Key Moment Lens

I think one of the profound things about being a human is our ability to experience key moments of clarity, sometimes even epiphanies. These sweet moments can be life-altering or simply reassuring. I thought this was particularly prevalent in light of the excitement over the LDS Church's recent announcement about lowering the acceptable missionary age for both men and women. I'm not saying THAT affected me, but I think a lot of people can relate to that right now.

For me, my moment of clarity came at the Major fair today. I've been an open-major as of late because I didn't want to commit to a major that I wasn't absolutely thrilled with. I began taking the Management school pre-reqs because that is where I've been leaning and so far I have loved the class I'm taking (my next one starts in a week and a half). With this encouragement, I went to the major fair today to check out the Management booth. You'll never guess what happened. As I was standing near the booth the representatives were switching shifts and the new guy happened to be a Global Supply Chain emphasis in the Management school. He told me all about the major, what types of people fit it well, and the potential job opportunities associated with it. My mind was blown. It was exactly what I've been looking for. It will be hard, yes, but most definitely a good fit. Just talking to the guy about it made me excited! I'm so grateful for the people that are put in our paths to tell us where we should be headed. 

This post is kind of short, so I'd love to hear about your moments of clarity. They're pretty spectacular. 

-M

Update Lens

Goodness, I have not posted in a long-ish time. As such, I'm simply going to bombard you with another list of things I happen to be thankful for.

1. General Conference
2. People that say the right thing at the right time.
3. Opportunities.
4. Friends/Acquaintances.
5. Car rides.
6. A working car.
7. Good teachers/professors.
8. A planner.
9. Friendly, helpful people at the Writing Center that will help me set up an appointment.
10. Quilts/blankets.
11. Knowledge of who I am.
12. The feeling you get when you finish an assignment (especially if it was tedious).
13. Clean dishes.
14. Good food.
15. The Ryde.
16. Having a variety of music at my fingertips.
17. Having a laptop that doesn't constantly malfunction.
18. Being able to know/have a good relationship with both sets of grandparents.
19. Being healthy.
20. Never forgetting my keys to my apartment. (knock on wood)
21. For not passing out during Chinese AND remembering the dialogue.
22. Driving safely to and from my parents' house.
23. Having a bed to sleep in.
24. Funny hedgehog pictures that make me smile :)

Phew, good to get that off my chest ;) What are you thankful for today?

-M

Perspective Lens

Today as I was walking around campus I noticed some things that were bothering me and I immaturely thought how I would post it on Facebook later. Then when I got home I realized I had forgotten what had bothered me. It mad me realize how pointless it is to get caught up in petty things. Because in the long run none of it will matter. I guess it's all about perspective.

Speaking of perspective, I love those pleasant moments when your perspective changes for the better, like when you meet someone new or experience a new piece of art. I think adopting a new perspective is a sign of maturity and growth in a person, showing they are capable of seeing outside themselves, even if only fleetingly.

One of the biggest game changers for me actually happened last year but I think it's still relevant. I went to Taiwan to work at English summer camps/service camps. It was so humbling to be in a new country and introduced to its culture. Asian culture specifically is so different from our individualistic society that I learned about the effectiveness of humility, team work, and generosity. I felt inside myself that I came back an entirely different person from when I left. My soul had somehow aged because I learned to see outside myself.

On a more relatable scale, since I have come to college I've been going through that whole new-situation, new-self thing and as such have met a lot of people that have helped shape the new me. Probably one of my favorite things in the entire world is talking one-on-one with someone and learning about who they are. I hope I don't sound like I creep but I love breaking down a person to their elements, ie their background, what experiences have shaped them, and what they want to become. I've been fortunate enough to have some deep conversations with people that expose who they really are. Generally when this has happened, I gain a new respect for the individual and have the ability to see them in a different light. I can then see the person in context and it is humbling. It's far too easy to make assumptions about people until we see where they've been. When we know where someone has been it becomes difficult to disdain that trial-worn individual.

In case you were wondering where this commentary came from, I talked to a kid on the bus from my ward today who is also in my Chinese class and I was humbled a bit. He was not what I was expecting at all and I was pleasantly surprised by my new companion. It was exciting to see how much we had in common and our conversation lasted until we had to part ways off the bus. It was a nice reminder to me that people simply cannot be defined by our first impressions, because first impressions are fleeting and trivial while a person is much more complex deep inside.

Ok kiddies, go forth and see the world from a different angle.

-M

Feeling Good Lens

No the title is not referencing Michael Buble's version of that fabulous song. I have made some feel good observations today that I wanted to share.

One of the things I noticed today was the sky/skyline as I was waiting for the bus. After my Humanities class I was laying out in front of the art museum because it was 20 minutes before the bus would arrive when I noticed how incredibly blue the sky was. I'm sure it is often this vivid, but having the moment to slow down and appreciate was beautiful. It was so striking against the rugged mountain peaks. And don't even get me started about the foliage. I so badly wanted my camera at that moment but sadly I've gotten out of the habit of taking it everywhere. Anyways, seeing this scene was so calming and strangely invigorating (is that possible?)

This morning I woke up at 5 so I could do laundry before school but the laundromat was fighting with me so I couldn't. But despite that, the walk to and from the laundromat was awesome! Totally worth being awake at 5 AM. There were stars shining and it was chill enough make me appreciate my hoody, but not so cold that I was uncomfortable. I kind of wanted to stay out there... but then I realized how creepy that would be and went back inside my apartment. By the time I got settle back in my room I had 30 minutes to do whatever so I laid on my bed and listened to Mat Kearney on my ipod. It was so relaxing and made it not as hard to finally get out of bed to get ready for the day.

Yesterday after church I made rolls from scratch for the first time. It was a lot of fun and so gratifying to see the results of my labor. The rolls didn't turn out horrible like I was expecting. I took them to a potluck and they were gone in like 10 minutes... haha. It made me feel good that people appreciated them so much. Maybe that's just my vanity messing with my head, but whatever. It also made me happy to see how much effort everyone else put into their dishes. It was a way fun activity and very delicious.

Now my nerdy moment: I make a list of homework that I need to accomplish each day in my planner so I don't miss anything. Every time I cross something off the list I do a little happy dance on the inside because that means I'm one step closer to successfully closing my day. It means I've made progress. Same thing happens when I clean something in my apartment. Like when I do my dishes or hang up my clothes. Goodness I feel like I'm getting old. Is it normal to get excited about completing these things? Not sure. Oh well.

Anyways, I'd love to hear what makes YOU feel good. And if you don't know, figure it out :)

-M

Confidence Lens

I think I felt like writing today because I needed self assurance. I needed to put it on "paper". The topic up for discussion is confidence. Coming to college has been an incredible test of confidence and I'm still not sure if I'm passing.

I don't get homesick really so moving out wasn't too much of a shocking experience. I fortunately can take care of myself so I had confidence in my abilities to cook, do my laundry, clean my room, etc. I was fairly confident I could handle my classes because learning is something I enjoy and I feel like that's half the battle when it comes to doing well at school.

Now we come to my weakness: social and self confidence. That one is tough. I'll be honest and human in saying I don't have great self confidence. I am glaringly aware of my shortcomings and weaknesses and am daily reminded of them. I generally don't let them affect me because, honestly, there are more pressing matters in a day. But idle moments are my enemy, as are social gatherings. Quite moments of reflection can easily turn negative, and unless I am hosting a social gathering I am absolutely terrified of them. I'm not skilled at meeting people and convincing them that I'm worth talking to. I generally get that "why are you here?" look.

Self-confident (in a non-cocky way) people, I appreciate you, especially those who reach out to the struggling people like me. I have a friend A. who is really good at being including and is not ashamed of being herself. I want to be more like her. I want to have confidence in every step, an aura of   approachability, and a contagious personality. I want to be confident.

Anyone that is successful at this: tips for the rest of us?

-M

Positive Influence Lens

Walking through campus this morning felt so nice. The weather was cool and it was slightly overcast. I almost wrote about that. But it would've been an exceedingly short post. So now that we know how great weather is sometimes we'll move on.

The matter of greater importance today is the effect of happy people on other people. Sometimes a good aura is all it takes to change the mood. I personally don't possess this quality, but I appreciate it in others. I'll share a couple examples.

Example 1: Friend D. I happened to run into my friend D. (the one who plays guitar) today as I was buying eggs to make brownies. Today has been kind of stressful 'cause I had class and staff meeting and a test and the bus wasn't running normal schedule. So to just be around someone who was positive and funny brightened my mood. I'm sure it wasn't even intentional, he's just that kind of kid.

Example 2: RA friend. I filled in for a coworker for a couple hours today so she could attend the football game she had tickets for. The problem is everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong right after I took over for her. I was so stressed out. But then my friend K. (who is a resident assistant) stopped by the office and talked with me. She let me vent my frustrations and offered helpful encouragement. She also got my mind off how stressed I was with jokes and interesting stories. I don't think K.realized what a relief it was to have her there, but it certainly calmed my nerves and I was extremely grateful.

Example 3: Roommate. My roommate M. without fail makes every day not so bad. She is just naturally witty and funny. Whenever something is stressful she can magically make the situation less stressful. I always tell her she's one of my favorite people, but I think she thinks I'm not serious... 

I'm sure everyone could come up with tons of examples of people like this. So to you people that help the rest of us make it through the day: thank you. You're exceptional. Keep being you and please impart your wisdom with us compulsively stressed out people. Much love.

-M

Eclectic Lens

I couldn't pin down one reason to be grateful today so I've compiled a mash-up of reasons to be happy today:

1. I did well on my first Chinese exam.
2. I understood what was going on in my Physics lab.
3. I was able to help people at work.
4. I have a wonderful boss who makes work enjoyable.
5. "Hold Onto My Heart" by Graham Colton.
6. I have my guitar to play whenever I want.
7. I can sing around my apartment and no one objects.
8. My visiting teachers visited me tonight and they are really nice.
9. I got to talk to my good friend on the phone for an hour yesterday.
10. The Lord answers my prayers.
11. I have the opportunity to learn Chinese.
12. I had milk for my cereal.
13. I tried something new for dinner and it was delicious. 
14. The internet is working today!
15. I have the best roommates in the world.
16. The bus drivers are on time every day and are friendly.
17. I received an awesome compliment. 
18. I printed out the Physics review sheet correctly.
19. I have a bed.
20. The neighbors haven't been screaming/stomping at 11 PM (or later).
21. I was able to play piano yesterday and learned something new.
22. My car was working today and I'm not out of gas yet.

So yeah, life is good. I think sometimes writing down why is a good reminder. I could have gone on a lot longer, but I figure you all get the idea ;)

-M

Patience Lens

Self discipline. Patience. Things highly desirable but hard to achieve. I will admit my greatest weakness is my patience. I am severely impatient, though not often vocally. I love humbling experiences that remind me the benefits of patience, because they remind me why it is worth striving for.

My best (or favorite) example of this has been my experience with guitar. I taught myself when I was about 15 years old to play guitar. I am nowhere near pro and my technique isn't great, but I can manage to entertain myself. Starting from scratch and learning a new instrument isn't easy. I had to practice a lot, push through much trial and error, and force myself to deal with sore fingers. (ha pathetic complaints of an inexperienced musician right?) 

Though I've since had several performance opportunities, I am very humbled by each one. Each reminds me of my inferiority and how much patience and diligence I need to perform decently. Performing also teaches you the patience that is required when you mess up during a performance and must still continue.

Last night I had another excellent humbling experience. My FHE brother D. brought his guitar and was playing/singing for a while. His skill level and knowledge of guitar and music in general far exceeded mine and I was just in awe of his talent. Being the cool kid he is, he requested that I break out my guitar and play too. One thing you must realize about me is that I am bad at impromptu performances and I hate playing in front of small groups. These two things absolutely terrify me. Somehow he convinced me to play and we ended up having a lot of fun. He taught me a lot, which was, again, humbling and exciting. I love to learn :) Each time he wanted to try to teach me something new I tried to politely refuse because I am slow at picking up music, but he forced me to patiently learn things and I found I was able to learn faster when I kept a more open mind and trusted that he would be able to teach in a way that I could understand.

So basically moral of the story is be patient, be humble, surround yourself with good influences and never skip out on opportunities that you are given. Ok kids? Sweet :)

-M

Respect Lens

Today I observed something really touching that I just wanted to share. This morning was the dedication of the Brigham City, UT temple and my ward was one of the lucky ones that was able to witness it. Prior to the dedicatory prayer there were several speakers, one being President Packer*. The touching moment was during President Packer's talk; Elder Nelson** humorously interacted with President Packer at the beginning of the talk and then humbly paid attention to him through the remainder. Why I find this so touching was because you could strongly sense the amount of gratitude and respect Elder Nelson felt towards President Packer. You could tell he admired him and desired to be like him. He looked as a student would towards a wise mentor.

I think in our modern society respect has become a multi-layered term that is increasingly decaying (yes I know that's an oxymoron). People aggressively exercise their right to disagree. The younger generation convinces themselves that their knowledge of technology makes them somehow superior. Immediate needs of the individual take precedence over common courtesy and general welfare.

It would do us all some good to take some pointers from Elder Nelson as we continue our journey through life. 

Lesson 1: Respect those of superior age, status or wisdom. The older-than-you generations have learned a thing or two in their lifetimes and have worked hard to earn the respect of the younger generations. Whether you agree with those of superior status or not (ie government officials, school officials, law-enforcement officials, church officials, etc), they have their rank for a reason and it is better to treat them with respect and work WITH them rather than complain about your disagreements. Those with greater wisdom generally know what they're talking about a bit more than the common person, and as such we must seek to understand them and how they've gained their wisdom.

Lesson 2: Humble yourself. This goes hand and hand with the previous appeal. Getting along with others in life often requires that we humble ourselves. We must understand that we don't know it all, we can't do it all, and we haven't been everywhere. We aren't God. Treating others as equals/superiors will enrich our life experiences greater than closing our hearts/minds to those we think are inferior.

Lesson 3: True respect requires a little love. This is probably the hardest lesson to embrace, but you can't entirely respect someone that you haven't learned to appreciate (and I dare say love). You don't have to agree with everything someone says or does, but you need to gain a little perspective and see others for their merits. I am a firm believer that there is good in everyone. Even if it is really deep deep down.

Go forth in humility. Much love always.

-M


*President Packer is the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
**Elder Nelson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
More info on both men at lds.org

Friends Lens

The great thing about starting at a new school is the chance to meet new people and reinvent yourself. That's probably why I was excited to go to Jr. High, High School, and now College. I'm not defined as the person I was anymore. I have the chance to be a new me and let everyone else do the same.

So anyways, the point of this post isn't to revel in my new identity, it is to discuss my new concept of friendship. Friendship is such a broad thing and I feel like my definition of it keeps changing. So Mr. Webster, here is my version of a "friend": a person who can coexist with you (both immediately close and long distance) on relatively good terms. This probably sounds general and contrary to the purpose of having friends, but my current experiences have led me to believe this is now fact.

For instance, my roommates and I don't see each other frequently, but we live immediately close to each other and are on very good terms with one another. No, we don't know each others' entire lives and secrets and opinions, etc, but that doesn't matter. We are still friends.

My friend T. is also down at college with me and I only see her when we go to swing club together. (that has been twice thus far) Yes, we spent a month with each other in a foreign country so we know a lot about each other, but what is more important is that when we see each other we enjoy each other's company because we can coexist well. We relate to each other well, and it doesn't matter if it's been a few months or a couple weeks since we've seen each other, our relationship remains.

Another friend, A., moved to another country so our friendship is most definitely long distance. Despite the distance, every time I hear from her it makes me happy. We are on good terms (and will remain so) even though we don't hang out on the weekends.

I guess my point is that in high school (and younger) the common understanding is that you generally fit in somewhere. You had a group, or a go-to friend, or something else that defined your friendships. Friends were the ones you could hang out with on the weekends. They were the ones that new your life and you knew there's. (this is all hypothetical based on observed popular belief of course) Most of my friends no longer live near me (well, not many did before, but that's beside the fact). We're all heading in different directions waiting to see what life hands us. But in the end, our common enjoyment of one another will keep us together, even if that means long distance.

A second, subtle point I was kind of trying to make too is that not everyone you meet, not every acquaintance qualifies as a friend. To be on relatively good terms with someone, you must have gotten to know them enough to know you CAN coexist on good terms.

It's late and I think my logic is no longer making sense. And maybe it never did. I'll try again tomorrow with a different topic. Maybe after I've recovered from my Swing high and attended the temple dedication tomorrow I'll be mellow enough to be coherent.

Peace. Love. Good thoughts. Be grateful for what you have and who you have. Good night!

-M

Recognition Lens

Today my supervisor and I had a great discussion about being in the right place at the right time and our conversation just brought to my attention so many instances of how I've been blessed for being exactly where I needed to be. So, obviously, this is the topic for discussion.

I suppose a little background information would be helpful here to understand how this conversation came about. It started last night when my Chinese professor emailed the class to say Thursday's class was cancelled so we could study on our own for the test we have on Friday. I read this as "wahoo you get to sleep in tomorrow!", until of course I realized that I should be responsible and still use the time to study. I still slept in a little this morning, but I also got up early enough that I could go get help from one of the TAs before I had to go to work.Turns out going in this morning was incredibly helpful and helped me learn a thing or two that I wouldn't have learned if I had stayed home and slept. Then on my way out I saw a professor who had his hands full that was about to try and exit a door so I offered to open it for him. It ended up being a man from the Chinese Flagship program who I met last year. He remembered me and asked me about how my experience with Chinese  was going. He told me I was on the right track to get into the flagship program (which was super exciting!) Thus, this good morning left me in a good mood when I got to work and left me wanting to tell my supervisor about my good experience. This led into my experience in Taiwan and then into our discussion about "right place, right time." [sorry for the long explanation]

Ok so now that we have that out of the way, I just wanted to talk about how beneficial it is to be in the right place at the right moment. My  personal experience with this has taught me one important thing: there are no accidents. If I'm doing what I should and acting on promptings I get in my heart, the Lord can provide so many incredible opportunities. To demonstrate this I have two semi-lengthy stories that you can choose to read or ignore. [and fair warning, they primarily center around my experience with Chinese, so if you're sick of hearing it then skip]

 My first tale begins my 8th grade year when I found out I was required to take a foreign language class for a program I was involved with in my Jr. High. That year they were beginning a Mandarin Chinese course (in addition to the Spanish and French programs they already had). Being myself, I chose Mandarin because it sounded the most interesting to me, and my dad said I couldn't go wrong learning it since it was becoming such a high-demand business language. Thus began my journey learning Chinese. I ended up in a class with a teacher who was a Taiwanese native but had moved to America some years before and married an American. She was an excellent teacher who made the language and culture so intriguing to me. Being a stupid Jr. High kid/High school, I didn't take Mandarin as seriously as I should have the 3 years I had classes.
Some time went by and I didn't think much about it, until one Saturday when I happened to be cleaning a church building with a counselor from my school (who was also my neighbor) and she asked if I had heard about the program that was interested in taking American students to Taiwan for a summer program. I said I hadn't heard but that I was certainly interested. A month or so went by and I found out I was nominated by a school counselor to apply to the program. After a grueling process I was accepted into the program along with 11 other students from Utah.That month spent in Taiwan was incredibly memorable and taught me so much about Taiwanese culture as well as leadership. How I was fortunate to end up there, I have no idea. Someone on the other side must love me a lot. I just happened to have a record of liking Chinese and Asian culture, and happened to be on good terms with my counselor, and happened to be what the program directors were looking for. [gosh I sound like I'm bragging] But it was honestly a miracle that I will forever be grateful for.

My second experience started somewhere around the beginning, or just before, my senior year. I had some cousins who knew I was interested in Chinese and told me about the Chinese Flagship program that BYU was a part of. I was really interested, as were my parents. So my dad set up an appointment with one of the faculty member that was a part of the program so we could learn more about it and how to get involved. Going to the appointment really got me excited about the program and in learning Chinese more fluently. The people we met with invited me to their high-school/Flagship event so I could learn more about the program and how to get involved. I had such a good experience and it solidified my interest in the Flagship program. Because of my interest in the program, BYU was one of four colleges that I applied to. Now that I'm here I am so glad. Everything has worked out so well for me and I've been able to meet a lot of great people and learn a lot of valuable information. 

So moral of the story is this: come what may and go with it. Do what you feel is right and take every opportunity that is handed to you, because you never know if it will lead you to bigger and better opportunities.

-M

Painful Lens

Before you are quick to assume that the title of this post implied a painful experience, know that it was meant to imply good pain. The "doing it til it hurts" kind of pain, which is the topic up for discussion today.

I only have two examples to bring up but I love hearing about people's passions so shoot me a comment or email if you have an experience you'd like to share!

Example #1: Playing guitar. Last night I just had the biggest urge to bring out my guitar and play for a while, so I did. I don't even remember how long I played, all I know is that by the end my fingers were on fire. They're still a little sore even today. But I LOVE this pain. It makes me so happy. It's kind of like my fingers telling me: you just worked hard and it paid off. I'm not spectacular at playing, but it is something that makes me happy. If I hadn't learned to look beyond the pain I probably wouldn't love it so much. But there is some weird relationship that occurs when you do something til it hurts. You become attached in some unexplainable way. You reach the point of pain and push through because you simply must. I don't know how else to explain it.

Example #2: Practicing Chinese. Since my Chinese class began 3 or 4 weeks ago I've committed myself to memorizing as many characters as I can. It's ambitious and it is hard. It requires lots and lots and lots of focused time spent studying the stroke order of each character and repeating the words over and over. When I finish practicing it is generally because I can't stand doing it any more. My hands cramp and I am mentally exhausted. But the next day I'm right back at it, hoping that today will be the day I'll get ___ down. (insert any character that I'm currently studying) It is tedious work but so rewarding. The more I practice the cleaner my characters become and the faster I get at writing them. It feels great! 

So basically, I just hope that pain is not discouraging when learning something new or practicing something old. I believe that is the determining factor of whether you truly love something, and we all need something to love.

-M

Helpful Lens

Today I wanted to discuss the beauty of good help, because if you think about it, good help is one of the best things you can receive. It's like a sensible present. Ha, 'cause we all want those. Well, now you do. Read along and change your perspective.

The first helpful acts I would like to point out are those performed by the lovely TAs that exist in my Chinese and Physics classes. In both classes I learn so much from the TAs to the point that I'm convinced I wouldn't pass the classes otherwise. My Chinese TA actually teaches the class 3 of the 5 days each week and teaches in such a way that is easy to understand and easy to follow. And he's patient with my/my class' confusion. My Physics TAs bring the concepts to life and show real-life application that proves that it is not a useless class. And at the end of the labs everything just seems to make more sense. They are also patient and willing to explain things in an understandable way. Yay for good TAs :)

Good help has also manifest itself to me in the form of great roommates. Both of my roommates are good about keeping our apartment organized so we always have a good environment. This is helpful because when we all work on the little things then no individual has to feel the burden of keeping the apartment in order which can prevent a good study environment from existing. Another way they are helpful is that they are both willing to just talk life out. I can confide in them or vent and they are great companions. I'm super appreciative of them.

I dare you to believe this: having a busy schedule is super helpful. When I have a full day I find I get more things done because I have to be better about managing my time. When my day is empty I procrastinate more or just forget to do things altogether. Keeping busy keeps me on track.

Last, and most important, the most beautiful help is spiritual help. Nothing compares to knowing a prayer from your heart has been answered, whether that means a quiet reassurance in your heart or a physical manifestation. Both are welcome and appreciated. I would never make it through each day without this help.

I hope everyone becomes more aware of the help they are given every day in whatever form it manifests itself.

-M

Untitled Lens

I couldn't come up with a good title for today's post... Lame, I know.

Moving on, between today and yesterday I encountered a random mish-mash of things that I would like to put up for discussion. So here we go :)

Beaut #1: Swing dancing/socializing. I went swing dancing on Saturday night and it was a blast. It was fun for a couple of reasons. First, you go and just dance till you drop. People ACTUALLY go there to dance and socialize, so that's what happens. I met a lot of great people and learned quite a bit about Lindy Hop and Charleston (styles of swing dance in case you didn't know, and click on the names for visual examples). Second, you don't have to be good to enjoy yourself. You can just try your best and go with the flow. The people I met were super patient and willing to take the time to teach me so we could both have more fun. Yay for patient people.

Beaut #2: Good analogies. Today was regional conference for my YSA stake and *Elder Oaks was one of the speakers. He gave this excellent analogy of being single in a family ward to joining a star gazing club. It was so hilarious, super accurate, and really got his point across well. The reason I include this is because it reminds me of how Jesus would teach in parables to make his teachees understand hard things in an easy way. I think it is commendable when people can do this. I know from experience that it is not easy, that it is definitely an art.

Beaut #3: Team work. Later today I had a dinner with all my co-workers. It was super yummy and here's why: everyone pitched in to make it excellent. We all brought something we were good at making so we ended up with a big, yummy, diverse meal. **Note, good analogy for life coming up** So just like pretty much most aspects of life, we can't go it alone. Things generally require the effort of individuals putting forth their best selves towards a common goal. True, situations don't generally have fairy tale endings, but I think the individual effort is often overlooked. We can't possibly ever understand what lengths people go to to accomplish things, whether that be school work, service, or whatever else. (geez this paragraph probably didn't make any sense) Ok since I've stopped making sense to anyone but myself I'm going to move on.

So just a reminder, life is beautiful; life is magical; life is impossible to plan, and that's ok. If anyone is actually reading this and has a comment, shoot them to me at summer15@studentbody.byu.edu. Tell me about what you find beautiful.

-M

A-Ha! Lens

What is better then the moment when you realize: A-Ha, that's it! Something connects, the stars align, whatever and suddenly things become clear. It can be kind of magical. An epiphany can manifest itself in both big ideas and small moments of recognition. I appreciate these moments.

So you may be wondering what inspired this post (what led to my a-ha!). It was actually due to this essay I'm writing for my Humanities class. As part of the essay I have to discuss the 5 stages of creativity as they pertain to the creation of a ballet piece titled Homecoming. The fourth creative stage is called A-Ha!, the moment when the concept or idea you've been studying out finally comes together. So as I thought about it, I realized I have these sort of experiences all the time, though not in spectacular ways.

Moment of realization number 1: Chinese class
I've been looking for a practice partner for several weeks now but didn't want to ask anyone because I'm incredibly shy at school (I know that's hard to believe) and didn't want to hastily ask someone that would turn out to be a bad practice partner (that comment was not meant to be rude). So anyways, today I suddenly realized that this girl who I generally sit by in class is a great practice partner. She's good at telling me when I've messed up and is good at accepting critiques I give her as well. This whole time I've been observing everyone in the class, trying to judge who would be the most beneficial to me when the best partner I could get was sitting right next to me.

Moment of realization number 2: Making pretzels
I've been wanting to make pretzels for a long time because they are tasty and not terribly hard to make. Or so I thought. Try as I might I could not get the dough to do what I wanted it to. They were probably some of the ugliest pretzels ever. I was so ashamed I wouldn't even take a picture. So as I tentatively took a bite of one I realized that they weren't so bad. I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover. As this basically translates to anything, we shouldn't always judge things based on first impressions because we are human and don't know everything.

I would put a third realization but that's all I've got right now. But you know what, it's ok because from those two moments alone I learned a lot. And that is good enough for me. 

So look for your A-Ha! moments constantly. They're beautiful. :)

-M

Sound Lens

As you may have noticed, I try to incorporate whatever I plan on blogging about into my title. I noticed today though that my titles probably only ever make sense to me. Oh well. Today's object of admiration is film scores.

The most emotion-provoking part of an entire movie is generally the part that most people don't consciously notice, if it is done well. Film scores, according to WordIQ.com, is " the background music in a film, generally specially written for the film and often used to heighten emotions provoked by the imagery on the screen or by the dialogue." (just in case anyone was confused)

Currently on my Pandora account film scores are my poison of choice. This is mainly because I can play them at work or while I do homework and they are not too distracting. They can range from beautiful and flowing to intense and heavy. No matter the tone of the piece I can still enjoy it.

Some particular film scores I've been diggin':
-Any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
-Any of the Harry Potter movies
-The Hunger Games
-Select pieces from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movies

**Click on the names for examples. PS sorry the videos aren't the greatest**

And my current favorite composer: Hans Zimmer. Hands down. Any day. He is a champion. I love how he can clearly create a certain tone and atmosphere for each score he composes. He can lead you into a state of relative calm or a sense of heightened emotion so effortlessly. (this isn't to say that composing is easy, he just makes it look easy)

Like I mentioned earlier, a film score, when done well, is not noticed by an audience in the way the acting or scenery is. It should blend into the aesthetic experience the audience is having, adding to it, not distracting from it.

So I hope today's post has been enlightening and that you now all become addicted to film scores. You're welcome.

-M

Learning Lens

Dear blog space, I'll admit it now. School is pretty awesome. I truly enjoy learning in my classes. I find myself not asking the question, "when will I ever use this in life?" Who cares? Learning for the sake of learning is almost as awesome as learning for a purpose. So my beautiful thing that I would like to share today is the beauty of the Mandarin Chinese. To explain this random topic I would like to note that I am currently enrolled in a Chinese 101 class here at my excellent university and have the class every day of the week (so it's kind of on my mind a lot).

I don't know how exactly to describe it except there is something magical about creating a neat character on a page. Some weird aesthetic experience occurs as you trace again and again the lines in exact stroke order to form a character. If I allow myself study time, I can become insanely focused on the task of practicing characters; so focused in fact that I get hand cramps but still continue writing because I simply MUST master the character before me. Look at these, for instance, and try to tell me that is not art:

我 , 愛 , 說 (I, love, and say respectively) I find the calligraphy to be especially wonderful. It is so graceful and flowing, so stylistic.

Another aspect of Mandarin that I find can be beautiful is the oral part of the language. No, I do not believe that every accent of Chinese is the most harmonious, but neither is every accent of English (like really, compare British English to American English. One obviously sounds better and it isn't American English). So as I was saying, the spoken language can be very awe-inspiring to listen to. I'll be the first to admit I can't imitate it very well, but when a fluent speaker starts pouring out the tones, and rhythm, and pronunciation of each word, it is musical. Now before you start saying "ok Meredith, when was the last time you honestly listened to a consistent flow of Chinese for a length of time?" I should add that I spent a month in Taiwan last summer and attended church meetings there. So I was able to listen to entire blocks of church in this lovely language, plus whatever I could sneak listening to as I was out and about. Thus, I can honestly say it is musical to me.

Not only is the language beautiful but some of their music is pretty fun to listen to/sing as well. I highly recommend you look up some Chinese music some time and have your mind blown.

I won't ramble any longer, but I hope I've piqued your interest in Mandarin Chinese. 再見!

-M

New Concept

So basically life happened and I haven't blogged in... well... a really long time. And I decided I kind of missed it. So here I am. Back on my digital diary of sort. But this time I wont be posting my artwork. Sadly I don't create much of it anymore. My days of

are somewhat over. Picnik closed for one, and for two I quite honestly just don't have enough time to dork around like I used to. But though my days of dedication to creating art are currently escaping me, I'd still like to take time to comment on the art that surrounds me. Hopefully I can add images now and then to share the beauty of what I see, but if not, I'll leave it to the imagination to appreciate what the world has to offer. I've taken on a new lens. One that is a result of being apart of a technologically advanced/dependent generation. One that is determined to seek the good, the beautiful, the inspiring. To make the monotonous days of college and work more interesting and full of purpose. Cheers to a new beginning!

I find it very fitting that today is the day I choose to start seeking the beautiful and inspiring. On this solemn day for our country I had the most excellent opportunity to witness part of a ceremony honoring those who died on 9-11-01 and the soldiers involved in the fight for freedom. I assume it was also honoring the many police men/women and firefighters and civilians who assisted in safety and recovery. [To those who died I wish you the greatest mansions in heaven. To those who survived I wish the rest of your eternities to be blessed and peaceful] Anyways, I was able to find a few professional pictures on BYU's website of the event and I wanted to share them because they really struck me. So here they are:

 What I found particularly beautiful about these was the show of patriotism and brotherhood. I think our country is lacking both. People become divided about so many things that it makes me wonder what keeps us together sometimes. But then I see things like this and it gives me hope that humanity isn't completely lost. (get used to me using slightly over-dramatic phrases like that) And not only was it touching to watch these dear soldiers, but to see the reaction of the student body. During ceremonial parts (ie presentation of the folded flag and roses, honorary firing of guns, etc) many students would pause, look towards the flag and observe silently. I feel like we often have too many places to be, too fast, for a variety of reasons, but when we take a moment to pause and reflect we can see that life isn't about being the one who gets the most done. Life is about making your own contribution to the history of the world in whatever small way you can and improving yourself. In a dying person's last moment they probably aren't lamenting that they didn't do the laundry, dishes, study for 6 hours, and actively participate in multiple clubs. They are probably concerned about the state of their soul, wondering who they could have helped more, hoping their life meant something.

I think we should take the chance to look inward a little and see if we are contributing to the beauty of the earth or idly letting it waste away. Just something to think about.


-M