Being Positive

Today's devotional speaker was Jeff Wilks.  I absolutely loved his talk.  I felt so inspired and uplifted.  I feel that this subject is one of my favorites.  Who doesn't love being around someone who is positive all the time?  It reminded me of my prose and poetry coach.  She is so genuinely happy for people when they do well. I remember going to her house after a competition.  She got so excited about me taking first place.  I loved the way she treated me and everyone else. After Jeff Wilks talk, I want to be more like her.  What a great message to convey.   

Switched My Priorities...

So after I watched the whole first season of Jane by Design, I really did swear off of TV shows.  They are not good for me.  Then my roommate got hooked on another one....which means I did by default.  Sadly, I know there is more than one season (unlike Jane by Design) which means I'll watch until I get caught up.  I can't believe that my self-control is completely lost when it comes to TV shows.  After one show, I am completely caught in their trap.  So I know TV shows are not good for me.  I just need a happy conclusion, or I keep watching.

Scripts...

Yesterday I realized I was following a script that I learned from a movie.  A guy in my ward was dressed up in his army stuff.  I immediately felt like saluting him.  Now, some of you may feel like saluting every time you see a man dressed in his army clothes.  I usually do not.  I am pretty sure I got it from watching Captain America.  Captain America is one of my favorite super heroes.  What does he do every time he is talking to someone in army clothes?  Salute them.  Immediately as I had the urge to salute my friend, I imagined Captain America saluting someone.  Interesting that in such a small aspect of my life, my mind had written a script for me to follow from all the media I saw about the army.

Fire? Or Ice?

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

-Robert Frost

I recently read a talk by Elder Holland.  The title of the talk was "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacrifice".  He references this poem.  In this talk he quoted the first four lines.  Ever since I read it, I constantly think of this poem.  I finally looked it up.  Now, I love this poem.  I think it captures a little bit of human nature.  I think this poem was good for me because it helped me reflect on my passions and emotions.  As I self-evaluated I decided I want to be neither ice or fire.  

What have we done?!?

My roommate convinced me to go get Oreo with her.  I quickly agreed.  I mean who says no to free cookies (especially Cool Mint Oreos).  I mean who hasn't seen the commercials?  Twist, Lick, and Dunk.  Anyway, we bought the Oreos.  So the bag also promises happiness and inexplicable joy.  I mean look at that bag.  Happiness.  Anyway, I realized that every time I looked at the bag (which we put in a horrible spot...right in the middle of the desk).  I knew that the advertisement conveyed the message it wanted to.  I gave in.  Every time. Even now as I admit my wrongdoings I continue to put Oreos in my mouth.  Now we are ending the end of the bag.  I quickly realize that there is two things that dawn on me.  One of them is good...the other one not so good.  I can't eat anymore if I don't have any left.  The store is within two minutes (walking distance) of my house.  Rats.

Speed Racer!

I love the movie Speed Racer.  I watched it yesterday while making a cake with my brother.  Although I love this movie, it is kind of scary for a PG movie.  I think we often think that PG automatically means that it is okay for older children; however, I think that we still need to be more selective with our movies.  Also this movie has a lot of violence for a PG movie.  I think the main reason they were able to put this much violence in a PG movie is that they made it more cartoon-ish.  Making something cartoon doesn't change the fact that it still influences us.  Last night I had more violent dreams than I usually do (weird...I know).  I think that it comes directly from this movie.   On the flip side, after I watch this movie I also want to fight cartels and crime by doing the right thing.  So does the good outweigh the bad?  This movie I think overall has a neutral affect on me.  Because I don't think that I am more violent in nature because of it, but at the same time I don't think that I am better at fighting cartels and crimes. 

Jane By Design

I recently finished watching the first season of Jane By Design on Netflix.  I feel this is the first real TV show I have watched.  I grew up in a home where our TV had only 5-7 channels depending on the weather.  Three of the channels were always fuzzy and two were PBS.  So basically I never watched TV.  I never really got why people were so into TV shows. Although I have watched some episodes of Monk and Psych, I didn't think these counted because they just always solve cases and there was very little underlying plot.  So when I watched Jane By Design I got absolutely hooked.  I watched multiple episodes in a row needing to "just watch one more".  I figured out why, because they never resolve the tension or problem.  They always leave something hanging so you have to watch more.  I think that although most people can deal with this well, I don't. I just "binge" watch. I just want to keep watching until everything is resolved.  I think it is important to realize that before you get addicted to a TV show.  Also Jane By Design is not something I suggest for others.  Not because I didn't like it, but it doesn't have a second season.