Finding Advice

I believe there is a big difference between the kinds of advice we receive.  We are all surrounded by friends, family, and strangers who are willing to give us their two cents on just about anything.  I think we have become so used to people giving us unwanted advice that we have trained ourselves to instantly disregard it.  What I have learned this week through an experience with my uncle has changed my outlook on the subject.  My Uncle is a very well respected partner of a law firm in Salt Lake City.  I have always respected him for his accomplishments but have never thought to ask him about them.  This past Sunday while having dinner at his house I decided to dig in a little bit.  I learned a lot about what kind of law he practices and also why he choose that route.  I learned about his work interests, and his passions.  We discussed what gives him satisfaction and accomplishment in what he does.  The interesting thing about our conversation is I took away many things that I want to apply personally.  I don't recall ever asking him for direct advise, but throughout our conversation I was able to find the advice he was giving.  Whether he was giving that advice on purpose or not it does not matter.  When we seek for advice we can find it.  Returning to my earlier statement about blocking out others advice.  I am sure I did not block it out because it was bad, but rather because I did not want it.  Moving forward I will try my best to always be seeking what it is I can learn from others.  Others, especially those I love, can give me knowledge.  I don't have to live by what their advice to me is, but I can still appreciate it.  There is something to be learned from everyone you come in contact with.

The Hidden Value of Parents

A favorite past time of mine is listening to podcasts.  I love learning about others' experiences different than my own.  I think there are great lessons to be learned from those around us.  I have a few channels that I subscribe to, and listen to on a consistent basis.  Earlier this week as I was walking to and from school I was listening to one of my favorite channels called The Moth.  The Moth is a podcast which travels the country, and asks people to share a particular true experience based on the topic for the show.  This episodes topic was on fathers.  And as I was walking home, in the pouring rain might I add, I was extremely moved by one of the guest's personal accounts on the subject.  The guest told the story of her early childhood, and the struggles of growing up in the war torn country of Afghanistan.  Her father who held a political office was often missing during this dangerous time, as he was wanted for treason by the over throwing party.  Although, she was a young child she always knew the dangers that threatened her and her family.  Fast forward a few years and she is now living in America with her family after her father got them out of the country, on fake papers.  The forgery of their papers eventually comes to light to the US government and the family finds themselves in immigration court.  The storyteller is a young teenager at this time and is the only one who speaks fluent english in her family, and so she acts as the translator during court.  She tells how the judge was very angry at her father for coming into the country illegally, and that is something not tolerated in America.  The judge then orders that they all be sent back to Afghanistan.  Her father who could understand what his future for him and his family would be asked to address the judge.  His request was granted.  Her father stood before the judge and began to unbutton his shirt, revealing a large scar on his torso.  In broken english he explained that he received the scar as he was being tortured.  He then exposed his back to the judge, which had three more wounds from gunshots.  Then he showed the judge the back of his legs which had been burned.  While this is happening the mans family, including the storyteller, where in shock!  She never knew that the reason her father was missing was because he was being held and tortured in prison.  Her father then begged to send him back if needs be, but please don't send back my family.  The judge left the courtroom with out saying a word.  He later came back, no longer dressed in his gown, holding official US papers.  The judge hugged her father and let him stamp his, and his families, new US citizenship documents.

This story had a powerful impact on me.  I learned that although my father was never tortured I know he would have been for me and my family.  I also accept that there are things that I will never know that my parents have done for me.  I move forward with a greater desire to show gratitude for my parents.  I know that for all their actions that I do know, there are just as many that I have no idea about.  I know that my parents aren't perfect and that's ok.  I also know that if I could see behind the scenes I would realize they are closer to perfection that I thought.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

This past week I have learned about the challenges of adapting to new plans.  On the last night of the add drop deadline I was on my computer still figuring out my class schedule.  I had two routes to choose from and I was having a hard time deciding.  During my time of consolation I began to think about how it is hard when there is no apparent right choice.  Many of the choices we make in our lives seem to have a right and a wrong decision. I could see myself making either of these choices and being satisfied with both.  I spent lots of time praying for guidance and working things out on my own.  And either choice I looked at still seemed right. I learned that when it comes to these choices in life the important thing is how you react to the choice that you made.  I don't think in the remainder of my life the choice I made that night will have as much impact as I thought it would then.  The impact will come from how I reacted after the choice was made.  At 11:57pm I made my final choice on classes and my major.  It was not an easy one to make but I believe it can be the right one.  From what I have learned I will now go forward this semester with a optimistic outlook on what it is I am doing.  I know that I can be satisfied with my decision if I work hard and make the most of it.  I know that down the road of life I will be faced with many decisions to which there is not wrong answer.  I now know that I can put my best foot forward and make the most out of any situation.

Getting the Blog Started.

This past week has been very stressful and disheartening.  I have never felt the pressure at the start of a new semester quite like this one.  I need to figure out what I am going to do for my major and make important plans for the rest of my life.  I have learned, or have at least tried to learn more about myself.  This has been quite the process.  Choosing my major has always been something that others have told me I have plenty of time to do.  I have heard dozens of times that my passion for a career will come to me.  The truth is that neither of those pieces of good natured advice have come to pass in my experience.  And now I have my back against the wall.  I have learned that my problem is there are many different career paths that I would enjoy doing.  And with so many options there comes my worry of making the wrong choice.  What if I would enjoy being in the medical field more than the business world?  Or what if serving in the military would bring me the most satisfaction?  I battle back and forth everyday on what it is I want to do.  Looking back I should have found my passion and stuck with it regardless.