Roses in December

Ok, so technically it is not December but it is starting to get cold and I am stuck in the middle of the semester.  I believe the old saying goes something like "We have memories in June so we can have roses in December." Don't quote me on that.  The memories you make during the summer have to last you the whole fall semester.  It is nice to remember that at one point you had a life.  During the semester it can be hard to mix things up.  I am stuck in a routine of school and work.  So it is fun to think back on the fun you had.

What: Making memories with close friends and loved ones can really help you though mundane times.  I made many great memories over the summer.  I took an awesome trip to New York City with two of my friends where we stayed in Manhattan with my older sister.  That trip and the experiences that came with it are bright beautiful "roses" I can have during October. Other roses that I have in my memories are my friends weddings.  Two of my best friends sealed the deal this summer and I was privileged to be a groomsman in both.  The first wedding took place in Seattle, Washington.  I have been to Seattle a few times now and each time I fall more and more in love with the city.  I felt like during this trip I was able to get a full experience of the lifestyle.  We spent a lot of time downtown exploring the market and shops. The wedding itself was great as well.  The reception was in an old barn in the woods. Great vibe out there. And to top it off there were dip in dots!  The next wedding was in Vegas.  Which to to honest is a young adults play ground.  Not that we did anything immoral, but we did have a ton of fun going out on the town.  A final rose that I remember was a trip to Jackson Hole and the Grand Teaton National Park.  In contrast to the other trips this one was much more calming and beautiful.  Hiking around and swimming in the freezing lakes of the National Park was awesome.  This rose is one that I think of when I need to relax.

Now What:  Always remember the times that you had.  Create roses so that you may have them in December.  I am also a believer that roses can be made at anytime of the year.  I think the saying implies that as well.  Take the roses I have made and continue to add to them.

Hard Things

The hard thing about doing hard things is just that, they are hard.  This past week I feel I have had many experiences about conquering difficult tasks.  Every time I am faced with something that is hard my first thought is how can I make this easier? Or how can I avoid this thing all together?  And in many cases there is no answer to either of those questions.  I, like everyone in this world can not avoid the hard things that come my way.  I always remember one of my fathers favorite saying, one that he told me time and time again while growing up.  He said, "I do hard things or things I don't want to do every day."  There is more and more truth to that statement as I grow up.  This blog is a perfect example.  I don't find myself dying each week to write this thing.  I know I have to do it in order to receive a grade that I am happy with though.  I have learned that we face things that we don't want to do, and we do them so we can do the things that we do want to do.

Moving forward I will work on my attitude towards such things.  Starting is often the hardest part, but once we start it is more times than not easier than we thought it would be.  I will also except that the journey of life is not bliss.  There are times when we have to push through the things that we don't want to do, so we may enjoy the things that we do want to do.

Organization

I am learning more and more about the consequences of disorganization.  This past week I forgot about deadlines, lost my keys a dozen times, and crammed to finish last minute assignments.  I learned much about what not to do when it comes to being organized.  The last straw that made me realize that something needs to change is when I forgot to do this very blog.  And so, from now on I am turning over a new leaf and will vow to be more organized. Organization I believe is a key to reaching ones full potential.  Something that we all want.

First, I will write down all my assignments and their respected due dates in my phone.  And later go back and schedule when I will do each assignment and how much time it will take me.  This will help me be on task and avoid cramming assignments in the wee hours of the night

Second, I will keep my room clean!  That is what I blame on my lost keys.  When my room is clean it can be more of a safe haven where I can be more productive.  I remember back on my mission the importance my Mission President would place on clean apartments.  I believe that a clean living space has many unseen benefits.  And of course I would avoid losing my keys and wallet.

Fantasy Football Lessons

My friends and I are in a fantasy football league.  This is our first year that we have created a league and it has been a great experience so far.  It has created friendly rivalries and banter between everyone.  This past week I was playing against my friend Duffy.  My team was heavily favored to win.  I figured since I was such a heavy favorite, I would mix up my line up and go with a more risky roster.  For those that are not familiar with Fantasy Football, it is a game where you earn points based on player stats.  At the beginning of the football season each participant drafts a team of pro football players.  Then each week you choose with players you think will get the most stats.  So this particular week I went with players who usually don't score as much, but ones who I thought potential would.  And this is where I learned my lesson for the week.  Duffy's team went off!  I had the worst lost of the year so far!  The risky players that I choose were busts.  I learned that it is not a good idea to take things off.  And that principle can be applied to more than just fantasy football.  Sometimes we get relaxed when we think the path is easy and can get tripped up.  I know now that even if the way seems easy I should still try my best.  Moving forward in Fantasy Football and in life, I will be more cautions of the easy way.  And always try my best.