Obsess much?

So, this week, I am a bit obsessed with the enchanting Rodger's and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music. I've watched it about three times in the last four days. I am sure it will be the topic of my blog for the next few posts. Some may call me obsessed, or crazed, or say I am going through a phase. But I am here to clarify -

I am not obsessed.
I am not crazed.
And I this is most definitely not a phase.

You may now be asking, "What brings about this need to clarify, Jenny?" Well, let me tell you. I've been thinking (imagine that), why am I so prone to becoming passionate about silly things namely, Disneyland, Christmas music, Harry Potter, Sesame Street, and the Sound of Music? I don't know why my stomach does a back flip every time I hear the word "Disneyland." I don't know why I love singing Christmas music all year round. I don't know why children's music fills my soul with joy. I don't know why. But I do know that there is something exquisite that connects me to these things and more. It is almost as if Walt Disney created Disneyland, J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter, and Julie Andrews played Maria all just for me. These wonderful inventions of the imagination fill my soul until it is overflowing, I don't see how there could be anything left for everyone else to enjoy.

If anything else, this realization has helped me understand others' and their seeming "obsessions." Angela Monet said:

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music."

Early morning joggers, non-chocolate-eaters - they aren't crazy, they are just human. They are dancing to their own sweet tune. And that is what makes life so tasty - we all provide our own flavors, our own story, our own song. Our own life. Earl Nightingale said:

"The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us on the path to its fulfillment."

I can shamelessly share my passions with the world for their messages include:

"Follow Your Dreams"
"Good triumphs over evil"
"Joy to the World"
"Find yourself"
"Nothing comes from nothing"
"Dreams do come true"
"Climb every mountain"
"Silent Night"
"Embrace the simple joys of life."

I know that as I embrace my silly passions, each and every one of these statements will become a reality.

And that's what Jenny thinks.

Blind

I've seen the movie, Blindside, three times now, and it never gets old. I enjoy it every time and learn something new at each viewing. This time the term "blindside" particularly stuck out to me. At the beginning of the movie, Leigh Anne describes the roll of the left tackle position in football.

"And the left tackle's job is to protect the quarterback from what he can't see coming.
To protect his blindside."

Now, I have so many blindsides it is unbelievable. I can't always see who's feelings I've affected. I can't always tell when I am singing incorrectly. and I can't always see the consequences of my decisions. But despite all of my blindsides, I know I have a faithful left tackle to protect me. In fact, I have many. I have a friend who protects me from discouragement. I have a friend who protects me from emotional constipation. I have a friend who protects me from sadness and makes me laugh. I have a teacher who protects me from demoralization. I have a mentor that protects me from disappointment. I have an adviser who protects me from perfectionism. I can put a unique face with each one of these descriptions, but truly, all I need is one face to encompass all of the protection I receive from a loving Heavenly Father.

Later in the movie, Leigh Anne says to Michael:

"You're going to take care of me, right?"
And Michael responds:
"I got your back."

I am so grateful that I can go to sleep every night knowing that someone has got my back. I thank God daily for the blessings of teachers, mentors, friends, and family.

And that's what Jenny thinks.

I am a Woman

I grew up with three older brothers. Therefore, being a girl didn't seem so cool to me. When I was younger, I consciously avoided mentioning anything to do with girls especially when my brothers were around. When on the playground, I always wanted to be one of the boys. As I was growing up, I don't think I felt a strong sense of girlness. I still tried to hide any evidence of girly habits. I was proud of the fact that I spent only 5 minutes getting ready each morning (in fact, I liked to mock those girls who spent more than 5 minutes). Once I hit my teens, I realized how far behind I was, but didn't really want to admit that I cared. I don't think I was very proud of becoming a woman. To me, becoming a woman meant caring a lot about how I presented my self, aka wearing jewelry, high heels, make-up, behaving gracefully, and not laughing at obnoxious boy-scout jokes. Why in the world would I want to grow up to be a woman if it meant doing those things?

To this day, I avoid high heels at all costs, I prefer not to wear jewelry (especially the sparkly kind), and I still find hilarity in the occasional boy-scout-like humor. The difference between then and now, is that I understand what womanhood is truly about. It isn't about heels, jewelry, and make up. Womanhood is about giving into our natural abilities and instincts to comfort, uplift, listen, and love.

After the BYU Women's Chorus concert this weekend, a friend told a girl in the choir,

"You women are so powerful."

And that was all he said. He couldn't have said anything truer. In our rehearsal after our concert, we spent the whole time exchanging experiences that our families and friends shared with us. And they also proved that we, women, not only touched audience-members with our musical prowess, but also with our calming spirits. It is so amazing to be a part of Women's Chorus - 180 women, united by a love for music and a love for each other. I am so proud to be to be a woman. I am a woman with an innate ability to love, care, believe, encourage, and uplift. I am a woman with divine powers. I am a woman.

And that's what Jenny thinks.

Fortress - dedicated to Spencer

This blogpost is dedicated to Spencer Thomas Birth. He voiced his concern for my blog - I have neglected it for quite some time. To be honest, I was concerned as well. But, I'm back! Whether you like it or not.

So, in my American Christianity class last week, we randomly began discussing architecture and how each building has a message and a deeper meaning. We began to examine Latter-day Saint temples that we were familiar with. In particular, we looked at the deep architectural meaning of the Salt Lake temple. For those of you who don't know, the mormons endured trial after trial as they moved further and further West. They had to leave multiple homes and relocate after many instances of intense persecution. With that in mind, my professor asked us what the Salt Lake temple reminded us of. After a handful of responses, Professor Fluhman said something like this:

"Buildings don't just happen by accident. The Salt Lake temple is a castle, a fortress. It wasn't going to go anywhere. It says something when you build a castle. It was almost as if the saints were saying, 'We are Mormons. Hear us roar!'
"

This particular statement hit me. Especially as I began to develop this metaphor. In my church, we are taught that our bodies are temples. If our bodies are temples, then according to Professor Fluhman, no human being happens by accident. We all have a purpose here, we all have a statement to make, we all have something only we can do. We have the potential to build ourselves like a castle. But we have a choice. We can choose to be a wasteland of anger, misery, and sadness or we can choose to be a fortress of goodness, happiness, and righteousness. Each act of service, each time we refrain from gossip, each time we support a friend, we are fortifying our own personal castles. As our fortress of righteousness builds up, we have the power to combine against any trial that may come our way. Knowing that I am building my own fortress instills in me a power to keep fighting. I am a castle. I am a fortress. I am Jennifer Anne Marie McKay. Hear me roar!

And that's what Jenny thinks.