Mission? Whatever happened to that idea?

So I am still planning on going, although I may have lost some of the initial momentum of the goal setting process, but I am still on the high road!  I have been keeping to my budget and I have increased in my testimony.

I am not so much keeping to my exercise plan, although that will be more important when I go home for the holidays; currently I have been doing a lot of exercise just as a result of being a college student, but as I go home and no longer have the necessity to walk to classes and up and down stairs, I will need to re-implement my exercise plan.

I have been practicing the piano, and working with harder material, and it has been quite frustrating but I must stick it out. It will be worth it.

Overall It has created a sub-thread of self improvement in my life, while it is not at the forefront of my brain constantly, it still affects my decisions.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

As this semester comes to a close in the next couple weeks I have come to wonder, what have I really gained from the experience.  At first I was inclined to believe that I had acquired very little from specific classes such as my I-comm class due to the revamping of the system and the chaos of transition and change.  However, after filling out my evaluation in which I was responsible for documenting what it was I really did in I-comm,  I realized I have gained far more than I had initially realized.

• I have learned the basic workings of an Advertising agency.
• I have acquired real skills and real experience to put on a resume.
• I have increased in confidence and credibility.
• My networking has increased (although I would do better if I would actually carry around my buisiness cards.)
• My social media and marketing knowledge has increased.
• My awareness of the world in general has changed and grown.

I am sure I have learned more, but that is what comes to mind.  I feel as though I have learned much, but I could have learned more.  (Isn't that the way of things)  I have this desire to throw myself at projects but my projects are winding down, so that would be less than effective.  Thus I must begin, once again, to look to the future, by assessing my current goals and reevaluating my direction.  I AM SO READY FOR THIS!!!

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Fun and Games

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This Week for Thanksgiving I spent the week with my family in Utah.  My sister just had a baby (her fourth) and they are all so adorable!  I was afraid Benny (now three) was going to grow up before I got to see him again (a little paranoia) and I was glad to see that he hasn't changed too drastically.

I loved the food and my family and I played lots of games and watched movies.  My little brother played video games and I realized, I don't really have the patience for them so much anymore... weird what age and responsibilities can do to a person.

Today Carly, My mother, and I all went shopping leisurely for her "birthday adventure" my mom gave her some money and she could spend it how she wanted...personally the best part was looking at all the odds and ends.  I found some really cool things at the dollar store haha.  I was really proud of myself however, I had my visa in my pocket and didn't purchase a thing even though I had money...but not for odds and ends.

I am currently going through a stage of self discovery.  I am learning some things about myself that In ways would have been nice to know a while back.  In others, however it is just nice to know them now.

This Thanksgiving season inclines me to make a list of things I am grateful for:

• My Savior, Jesus Christ
• The Atonement
• The Scriptures
• Prayer
• My Family
• My Friends & Room mates
• My Schooling
• My Talents
• My Singing Voice
• My Piano Playing
• My Knitting
• My Limited Sewing knowlege
• My Cooking
• My Writing
• My Drawing
• Literacy
• Food to Eat
• Home to Shelter me From Frigid Idaho Winters
• Blankets
• Sweaters, and other things to keep me warm.
• Clean water to Drink
• Warm Water to Wash in
• Computers
• Books

I'm one of those people!

What I learned this semester, the most valuable lesson I gained, was about my self worth.

I learned that my entire life I have been suffering from serious self image issues and didn't even know it.
It has affected my behavior in negative ways for as long as I can remember.

I remember in high school, everyone saying that the cute girls think they're fat and...blah blah blah.
I remember thinking "that is so true...but that doesn't apply to me because I really am fat."

I have realized however, that although it wouldn't be unhealthy to lose weight, I am not "Fat" or ugly or...whatever.

I've realized that I may not look good in a bikini, but who cares?  I look really good in jeans and a nice shirt.

This realization had to come from me.  I learned about my own self worth and now I am able to begin recovery.

A bad image is like a drug... addictive, judgement impairing, damaging and resolvable.
The cure is the same...first you have to acknowledge you have a problem and then....fix it!

I am really amazed at what a good perspective can do to a person's life!

En Español!!!!

Yo quiero escribir en español. Por que? No sé en realmente.  Me gusta la langua de español mucho! Y la langua francaís tambien.  Yo quiero aprender la langua de francaís mucho… para todo del tiempo que poder acordarse. 

Hoy es una día muy bien! Porque yo no tengo que completar mucho tarea! Pero yo tengo mucho tarea antes de la vacacion yo creo. QUE TRISTE!!!! 

Lo siento para los errores de escribir, es mi primero en español!

Gracias!!!

Goals...why are they so difficult!

So I've only been working on my goal for a week and already I have not met up to my own expectations...

I haven't kept to my preset sleeping patterns

I haven't done....several of my check list goals

I guess i just have to take comfort in the progress I have made, In reading my scriptures and praying more fervently

Having a different spirit about me

and being more sensitive about the influences around me

I guess it only makes sense that i wouldn't change overnight...

Analyzing like an Analyzer

I just read an article in commarts.com about Singing like a Singer, by Wendy Richmond, a visual designer and writer, about how she attempted to sing along with one of her favorite songs like she was actually a singer, and she learned things that had never before occurred to her, in the many times prior, listening to this song.

I find that any time you try to change your perspective, you learn new things.  If you are upset with a room mate, sibling, spouse, or co-worker, but then genuinely try to see things from their point of view, you learn a little bit of how their brain works. You learn their motivations and desires.

The more you learn, the more varied your perspective is. It's like "the cow principle" in Econ:

Once you see the cow you will always see the cow (your perspective is changed forever).

Now you can choose to ignore it, and look at what looks like a fence behind the cow once you have seen it, but you know the cow is there.
Similarly with advertising, once you know the principle you can't help but look at commercials and think, "they're using this principle."  One example for me is fast food logos. Many of them are red due to color theory: red psychologically and subconsciously makes people hungrier.
Or with statistics, once you learn basic principles you become more wary of ambiguous statistics.
Or with music once you know what a final cadence sounds like you are apt to notice when it is used.

Basically this principle applies to every aspect of life.  Perspective is everything!

Extra! Extra! .....extra what?

As I study Indonesia it is really interesting how often it gets hit by natural disasters.  I see: floods, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions. As I think of the poverty goals, I think "no wonder so many are in poverty"  they are plagued by natural disasters!

Floods deplete fresh water stores and volcanoes get ash into the water, even though it makes the soil more fertile, it burns the crops already existent, and earthquakes destroy buildings and other structures.

It also causes panic, and forces populaces out of the work places for a time period.

I wonder what could be done...

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A Slightly Unsettling Notion....Every Time

I have once again realized that I am in almost no way prepared for "the real world."

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This concept has frightened me since I was younger, but as the time nears I find that although I continue to acquire new skills, I am altogether unqualified for anything I might attempt.

I don't have the knowledge to enter any new fields.

(I thought that is what college was supposed to prepare you for.)

I suppose I shall have to work harder outside of my regular courses to find the experiences that will prepare me for "life in the jungles of reality."

Just a little bit, just a little bit of....progress

SO TODAY IS THE DAY AFTER MY ORIGINAL MOTIVATION TO GO ON A MISSION

(http://0.tqn.com/d/lds/1/G/6/O/1/missionary_fund_sm.jpg)

Last night I went to bed earlier than I otherwise would, but still relatively late.

I changed my desktop background to spiritual pictures.

read more scriptures

kept the health code a little more.

and prayed more

I read in Leviticus yesterday (I'm taking an Old Testament class) and I was learning about the sacrifices and especially about their Kosher laws.  Its a little bit difficult to follow, but as I read it occurred to me that perhaps because they didn't have all the technologies we do today, it was a law to protect them physically.  All the animals that they were not allowed to eat, are more prone to disease or giving viruses, and without the proper treatment with modern sciences they were unsafe.  This is further evidence that as we obey God's law we will be blessed.  He protected them and now gives us laws to protect us.

I hope they call me on a mission!

I have decided that I am going to prepare to go on a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

I am so excited!

I've started keeping a schedule,

I made a budget

I played the piano (they need piano players sometimes)

researched the qualifications,

I already have my wisdom teeth out ;)

(mind you I can't even go for another two years)

I believe, however, that deciding to prepare for a mission could possibly be the best decision I have made yet!

I shall keep posting about my progress!

(wish me luck!)

WHEN WILL I EVER USE THIS?!?!

It is amazing how relevant my major is in my life!  I get to utilize skills I learn just fiddling with my computer, using Power Points, making videos, news breifs, and other skills.

Right now I am really excited about what I am learning in my Developing World class.
I am learning about Indonesia specifically, and how development affects it.  We are learning about world poverty and what different cultures are trying to do about it.

We are focusing on current events and I am learning about the floods that are currently engulfing the nation.

I am also learning about the procedures of an advertising agency as I put it into practice in the I-comm agency.  We are working on a campaign for the Police and the School Library.

So, basically my life is crazy but I am enjoying it thoroughly. (Once my head stops spinning.)