Rollercoasters

I love rollercoasters...riding them and the rush of it all -- so great. I grew up in Florida around theme parks and Disney World, so I'm a rollercoaster junkie, basically.

Rollercoasters are not so fun when they occur in your actual life, however--as I feel has been the case with the last few days of my life. I feel like the adversary has been throwing all his tricks at me--it was finals weekend, school kicked my butt. I didn't get a scholarship I was hoping for. On top of that I was sick and now my voice is low and my nose is sore and red and quite unattractive from blowing it so much. In addition, I was in a bit of "funk"--I wasn't myself, and I wasn't very nice to the people that I love the most. I missed my best friend's birthday party (Happy Birthday Camille!--sorry!), I was throwing a pity party for myself most of the weekend, and I couldn't even stand to be around myself!

Today, however, brought a bit of an epiphone. I had a call from a close friend who was having real problems that made mine seem ridiculous in comparison! In that 15-minute span that I stepped outside of my own little world, I realized how lucky and blessed I really am! And, I realized the source that all of this was coming from. About a week or so ago I made some "resolutions"--just little goals to improve things in my life. Now in hindsight I can see that OF COURSE things have been going wrong and crazy for me...it's the times that I'm trying to improve and do what's right that the adversary tries to convince me how bad off I am. Luckily, I caught it before he got me too good.

So, I am writing this all not as a vote for sympathy--it's actually for the opposite! I just wanted to say how blessed I truly realize I am. I have an amazing family, people and friends in my life who I love and love me, a healthy body (usually!), many talents, an opportunity to get a great education, financial stability to at least get by, and most importantly a solid testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that, folks, is what matters. So, from here on out, I will whine no more! I am determined to be better and look outside myself and try to do some good in this world--or Provo at least :)

And just to end--here's a quote from one of my favorite people, who was happier than anyone I know:

Of course there are times of sorrow. Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. But the Lord has told us to lift our hearts and rejoice. I see so many people . . . who seem never to see the sunshine, but who constantly walk with storms under cloudy skies. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.
Spare yourselves from the indulgence of self-pity. It is always self-defeating. Subdue the negative and emphasize the positive. ("Ten Gifts from the Lord," Ensign, November 1985, p. 86.)

-President Gordon B. Hinckley