DON'T PANIC

*Disclaimer*

I am starting this blog so I can express myself. I could continue writing notes on facebook, but when I write stuff on facebook, I feel like I am only looking for comments or “likes.” Starting a blog motivates me to write for me and it is also a type of journal for myself as well. Although I hope those who read my blog enjoy it, it is first and foremost for myself. Sorry, but that’s the way it has to be.

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I left my beloved P-town on Tuesday. But before I was able to leave for the weekend, a woman stopped me in the student center, surrounded by six children (I assumed they were grandchildren). She seemed stressed and with a frazzled look on her face, asked me if I could direct her daughter to the visitor parking on BYU campus. I spent the next ten minutes on the phone with her daughter directing her to BYU. I was so glad I could help. It only lightened her burdens, but mine as well. And it didn’t matter that I had knocked my schedule back an extra ten minutes, I was able to serve someone and guide them to where they wanted to be.

This weekend I also watched “A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.” It was hilarious. Seriously, I’m surprised I didn’t pee my pants…. Despite the hilarity, it sparked my thinking. Arthur was given one simple book that could tell them what to do in any situation, and on the back was written “Don’t Panic.”

I am particularly grateful for guides this week. I have been blessed with parents to help me make decisions, the examples of my friends that teach me to do the best things, and a religion that is a guiding light in my life. We can find guides wherever we go - people, places, books, quotes, movies, belief. Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to do everything by ourselves? Like the hitchhiker’s guide says,"Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly hugely mindbogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space, LISTEN!"

Space is big. Life is big. And the influence we have on each other is big. I am so grateful for the wonderful guides and influences in my life. I hope I can remember to help and guide everyone I know to becoming their greatest selves, because really, that’s what we are here for. If I can’t do direct my friends in some monumental way, the least I can do is remind them, “Don’t Panic.” We are all here for each other, and I am grateful for that.

Now if only someone could guide me towards which team to cheer for this Saturday… maybe I will wear purple...?

And that’s what Jenny thinks.

Newsflash

Last night, my roommate, Neoma, and I indulged ourselves in a “single ladies” themed night as our other roommates frolicked about with persons of the opposite gender. We began by doing our homework, but the real party started when we warmed up the oven, baked us some pizza rolls and dished ourselves an extra-healthy portion of Brownie and Nut icecream from the creamery. We learned all about “the perfect man” in none other than the classic Hillary Duff chick flick, “The Perfect Man.”

For me, it was just a fluffy chick flick (that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it) until Hillary Duff’s wise love interest said this,

“Newsflash: EVERYONE’S SCARED. That’s no reason to run away.”

It hit me. In an odd sort of way, I have lived by this quote the last week or two. Until recently, I hated college social life. I always wanted to go home, and never really had any reason to stay in Provo except that I should stay in Provo. My very wise mother finally told me “You can’t live like you are stuck there. You have to live like you chose to be there, because you did.” I realized that each weekend I went home to Salt Lake, I was running away. I wasn’t physically stuck in Provo, but my mentality was stuck in a fearful, discouraged state. It was easy to runaway, so I did.

Each time we are faced with a challenge, we mustn’t stay still. We have to act. I know that we will never be placed in a demanding situation where we don’t have the strength to get out. The only way to conquer a challenge is to face it head on. We have all sorts of weapons to help us – laughter, smiles, faith, friends, family, chocolate, etc.

I am officially unstuck. I have enjoyed meeting new people and look forward to meeting more. I took the initiative to be myself and reach out. Instead of declining all of my offers to socialize at BYU, I accepted and embraced every one (despite my desperate need to do homework). Now that I have become unstuck, I hope I can help unstuck others. I am known for speaking my mind. So although I am usually the only one expressing my discouraged attitudes, I know there are others out there that feel the same way. This goes out to you. This blog also goes out to all y’all that helped me conquer this challenge. Thank You.

And that’s what Jenny thinks.