Seattle

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Seattle to see a young woman I taught on my mission and her husband be sealed in the temple. It was defintely a weekend to remember!

Thursday morning we (Aubree Healey and I) left early, and braved the 14 hr drive up with my friend Darrin and his wife Anna (Darrin happens to be a brother to the groom), and had them drop us off in at our hotel that night.

Friday, we woke up early, rented a car, and went to see the city.

The funny thing about Aubree is that while we were mission companions we discovered that God put the same brain in two bodies. We're constantly thinking the same thing at the same time, and saying the same phrases. It's amazing, and made for cruising around Downtown Seattle, very exciting. I even had my first oyster shooter. Something I care to never do again.

We also found out that Rent was on tour with 2 original cast members (Roger and Mark, in case you cared), so we of course had to go see it! However, we both managed to forget our cameras during that portion of the evening. One time when having the same brain doesn't come in handy.

Saturday was the big day for Leslie and Devin. We went early and spent some time in the temple on our own before the actual wedding. The whole experience was the most rewarding, spiritual experience I've ever had. They love each other so much, and now they're able to have a family that will last for eternity. It was a really special moment, that can't be compared with anything I've ever felt.

That night we went up with the family and partied it up at the reception. We had an early flight and my friend Rachel was taking us to the airport on Sunday, so we left early, and met up with her. Spent the whole night chatting, got very little sleep, and then flew back for Salt Lake at 7am. And I even saw Mt. Ranier peeking out of the clouds while I was on the plane. It was the perfect end to a fabulous trip! :)

But it's Hard!

So this year started off just like any other- with a whole slew of resolutions I never really intended to keep. Of course there was the standard lose a million pounds, eat healthier, keep my room clean, read my scriptures everyday blah blah, but among a few others I also wanted to reteach myself the piano. As time went on I of course I just acted like I never made them, and continued on with my old habits. Until...

I went to the LDS Church's support group for black members (It's kind of like a mormon-baptist conglomeration and I'm a huge fan of clapping and dancing while belting out "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." So I go.), and the speaker there was an LDS inspirational comedian by the name of John Bytheway (That is his real last name). His whole talk was about gardening, and he correlated it with our lives. In the talk he said something that's stuck with me. He said "Weeds grow all on their own, they don't need any assistance. But to have a beautiful garden we have to work hard to cultivate the plants we want to be there." He related that to habits that we have. Bad habits exist all on their own. We don't need help wanting more chocolate, sleeping in, or wanting to be lazy. We don't have to work at those. But what we do have to work at is the opposite: being active and productive throughout each day.

So I left the evening having gleened some new info. I thought about that a lot, and decided on the habits that I wanted to cultivate, and the ones that I wanted to weed out. It pretty much seemed like it had come back to my New Year's resolutions. Oh good. I made out my list (only mentally) and then left it alone. Until....

Memorial Day weekend when I went to Bear Lake. I spent a lot of time in the back seat with my friend Randy. We weren't really friends prior to that, but when you're crammed in the backseat together for a while, it just kind of happens. Anyway! On our way home Randy somehow came in contact with a piece of gum, and was chewing it. So in our silence I asked a question

Me: Randy, what's you're biggest pet peeve?
Randy: People who quit things because "it's hard," Yours?
Me: People chewing gum.
Randy: I hate you.

While my purpose of the conversation was to tell Randy that gum chewing drove me insane I afterward realized what he said. His pet peeve was people who quit things because they're hard. I quit all kinds of things because they're hard! Heck, that's why I don't do new years resolutions. I make them because I feel obligated, but I never intend to follow through! That would require change....and effort! Heaven forbid!

So I stewed on that for a couple of weeks, and then in one of my pondering states the thought of "it's too hard" collided with "weeding out bad habits" and WHAMO! A light bulb went on. I decided to make a change.

I've started running. I am a self-professed anti-runner. I've considered making a facebook group about it. Not really. But you get the point. I decided, why not do something you hate? Especially if it's good for you. I can only grow from it. So I went and bought a fabulous pair of running shoes, as well as some shorts. And I love it. I've also started to play the piano. My fingers kill me during the whole process, and all songs are half the speed that they're supposed to be played at, but I can do both hands together!

I've never felt better in my life. The victory of overcoming fears, and bad attitudes is the biggest adrenaline rush of my life! So to all those who hate something so much, but know that you need to do it: Do it! One of the Presidents of the church used to have a poster on his wall that said DOn't quIT. Lots of things in life are hard, and most of 'em you just have to hit head on, and never give up. Even if it's too hard.