10:00 am Saturday - I was preparing for an opera masterclass. My nerves were slowly rising from my stomach to my chest. I had to do something to prevent my heart from exploding. So naturally, I made a quick playlist. The playlist wasn't extensive. It just included three of my all-time favorite albums. These three never fail to comfort me in a time of need. As I was thinking about these three albums, I realized my brothers' influence on my musical tastes.
Album #1 - Oldest brother, Dave, introduced me to this favorite - Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion
Album #2 - Second oldest brother, John, introduced me to an awesome kids that I love dearly - Justin Roberts, Meltdown
Album #3 - Third oldest brother, Jake, introduced me to my favorite band and another comfort CD - Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Dream Big
I love my brothers so much. It is wonderful to find their influence on me, because I feel blessed to have been influenced by them. I see their influence everywhere - the choices I make, the things I enjoy, the music I listen to, the things I do.
I don't know exactly what I'm trying to say, but I think sometimes we take siblings for granted. And I don't ever want to do that. I will try to never take for granted the influences God has blessed me with.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Rock on
This semester I am taking Geology 101. Despite what you may be thinking, it is actually one of my favorite classes so far. The teacher is great and he makes learning about dirt really exciting. This week we learned about layers. A Mr. Hutton, an old, dead geologist, discovered the geologic principle,
It's true. I am a rock. Life has taken me through landslides, peaceful rivers, volcanoes, and metamorphism. Some experiences help me grow, some wear me down, and some carry me to extraordinary places. Each one of them contribute to my character, my layers. What's on the surface may be deceiving, but with one slight peek beneath the surface, you will discover the layers. Layer upon layer adds brilliance, beauty, and individuality.
Often times, I wish the weathering and erosion would give me a break so I could breathe and enjoy the ride. But no matter how much I wish, trials never go away. And I guess I wouldn't want them to go away. Because it is during those rough times that we grow in experience and beauty. The Grand Canyon is nothing without weathering and erosion. I am nothing without trials and hardships.
I wish that I could peel back all of the layers of the people around me. I want to learn all about their life travels. Where did the volcanoes, rivers, and wind carry them? What caused them to become so beautiful?
Rocks and people all have a story to share. Let's listen and learn.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
"The present is the key to the past."
The layers of rock we see today teach us about the past - what living organisms were on earth, how old the earth is, etc. As I was thinking today, I thought, "I am a rock."It's true. I am a rock. Life has taken me through landslides, peaceful rivers, volcanoes, and metamorphism. Some experiences help me grow, some wear me down, and some carry me to extraordinary places. Each one of them contribute to my character, my layers. What's on the surface may be deceiving, but with one slight peek beneath the surface, you will discover the layers. Layer upon layer adds brilliance, beauty, and individuality.
Often times, I wish the weathering and erosion would give me a break so I could breathe and enjoy the ride. But no matter how much I wish, trials never go away. And I guess I wouldn't want them to go away. Because it is during those rough times that we grow in experience and beauty. The Grand Canyon is nothing without weathering and erosion. I am nothing without trials and hardships.
I wish that I could peel back all of the layers of the people around me. I want to learn all about their life travels. Where did the volcanoes, rivers, and wind carry them? What caused them to become so beautiful?
Rocks and people all have a story to share. Let's listen and learn.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Dumb
I've learned a lot these last few weeks, and I'm trying to catch up my blog with all of my inspirational thoughts. At the BYUSA adventure experience, I truly learned so much. It was ridiculous. In a lesson, the teacher said this:
"I was scared. But the things I experienced... weren't scary at all. I was just being dumb."
One of my greatest flaws is that I kind find fear in almost anything. I fear what people think. I fear that I will have bad health when I grow up. I fear I will run out of gas in the middle of nowhere on the way to Idaho. I fear that I am not trying hard enough. I fear that I will fail. I fear. Period. When I am afraid, it overwhelms my whole body. I hate it. But I am slowly realizing that I could live in fear of everything, but that would be dumb. Plain stupidity. Yes, it is natural to feel afraid, but it is a choice. We can choose to conquer our fears and have faith. The two- fear and faith- cannot coexist. I know I can do hard things. God knows I can do hard things. He has faith in me, I have faith in Him, so I can have faith in myself and my surroundings and forget my fear.
Let's go. Let's forget our fears and move on. Let's jump over the fences of fear and graze in greener pastures. Without fear we can accomplish so much more. We can be who we were truly meant to be - divine human beings.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Let's go. Let's forget our fears and move on. Let's jump over the fences of fear and graze in greener pastures. Without fear we can accomplish so much more. We can be who we were truly meant to be - divine human beings.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Stalactites
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Minnetonka caves with the most amazing group of people - my BYUSA team for this coming year. The caves and the people are both important for this blog post.
Like most other caves, the Minnetonka caves contained hundreds of beautiful formations - stalactites, stalagmites, etc. Despite the chill and dampness of the caves, it was a beautiful to be there. It was amazing to behold a six foot stalactite that had been hundreds of years in the making. My amazement continued as I learned that most of the stairs had been created by men who were paid very little to do a excruciating, life-threatening job in almost pitch black. They sacrificed so much just so thousands could have access to the underground beauties. As we toured the various caves, we approached a stalactite formation that had been vandalized by boy scouts. They had knocked it off and tried to glue it back together to no avail. Another stalactite had a dark, mulchy coloring unlike the creamy, tan colors of the other formations. The guide told us that this is what happened to formations that were smothered in oils from human hands. The stalactite had been contaminated and couldn't grow anymore.
What a contrast. People who chose to preserve and protect and people who chose to vandalize and contaminate the formations. This is similar to our lives. Each day as we interact with different people, we have a choice. A choice to protect and preserve or vandalize and contaminate. Individuals, like rock cave formations, grow slowly, year by year, experience upon experience. It often takes humans so long to grow so little. Each inch of growth - spiritual, emotional, physical, social, etc - is very important. The time it took for us to come this far is easily backtracked. I think that it is important that as we interact with people we choose to preserve and protect their personal growth. Help them grow more. Don't smother them with criticism, negativity, insults, or ignorance. Even the casual remark, brief neglect, or forgotten smile can slow down the growth of our fellow men.
As I thought about this, I glanced at the 27 phenomenal students and the several coordinators surrounding me. My heart grew two sizes as it was filled with gratitude. I had known most of these people only 24 hours, yet they had all made the decision to preserve and protect me. They gave me the benefit of the doubt and loved me despite not knowing me. At that moment, I knew this year would be great. I was surrounded by people who wouldn't smother or vandalize my efforts to grow, they would only enhance my growth.
Let's choose today to uplift all of those who we may meet. Let us preserve them with a simple smile, encouraging words, or a bear hug.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Like most other caves, the Minnetonka caves contained hundreds of beautiful formations - stalactites, stalagmites, etc. Despite the chill and dampness of the caves, it was a beautiful to be there. It was amazing to behold a six foot stalactite that had been hundreds of years in the making. My amazement continued as I learned that most of the stairs had been created by men who were paid very little to do a excruciating, life-threatening job in almost pitch black. They sacrificed so much just so thousands could have access to the underground beauties. As we toured the various caves, we approached a stalactite formation that had been vandalized by boy scouts. They had knocked it off and tried to glue it back together to no avail. Another stalactite had a dark, mulchy coloring unlike the creamy, tan colors of the other formations. The guide told us that this is what happened to formations that were smothered in oils from human hands. The stalactite had been contaminated and couldn't grow anymore.
What a contrast. People who chose to preserve and protect and people who chose to vandalize and contaminate the formations. This is similar to our lives. Each day as we interact with different people, we have a choice. A choice to protect and preserve or vandalize and contaminate. Individuals, like rock cave formations, grow slowly, year by year, experience upon experience. It often takes humans so long to grow so little. Each inch of growth - spiritual, emotional, physical, social, etc - is very important. The time it took for us to come this far is easily backtracked. I think that it is important that as we interact with people we choose to preserve and protect their personal growth. Help them grow more. Don't smother them with criticism, negativity, insults, or ignorance. Even the casual remark, brief neglect, or forgotten smile can slow down the growth of our fellow men.
As I thought about this, I glanced at the 27 phenomenal students and the several coordinators surrounding me. My heart grew two sizes as it was filled with gratitude. I had known most of these people only 24 hours, yet they had all made the decision to preserve and protect me. They gave me the benefit of the doubt and loved me despite not knowing me. At that moment, I knew this year would be great. I was surrounded by people who wouldn't smother or vandalize my efforts to grow, they would only enhance my growth.
Let's choose today to uplift all of those who we may meet. Let us preserve them with a simple smile, encouraging words, or a bear hug.
And that's what Jenny thinks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)