That's a question I've been asking myself a lot lately. How much do I want it? Am I willing to do what it takes?
Education has always been really important to me. I've always known that, and I've always said that. But have I acted on that? Eh, probably not.
I can honestly say that I've worked REALLY hard on my school. But, more so in the last-minute-procrastination kind of way. Not the dedicated-on-top-of-things way.
If my education is so important to me, why don't I act like it's important to me?
Am I willing to put aside the distractions of social medias and sacrifice the less important things like movies, books for the most important?
Guys, school starts in less than three weeks and I still have to finish up my summer courses. Yikes.
I am bouncing between excited and utterly freaked out. Excited because I love to learn and I go to the best school on the planet. No debate. Freaked out because I am easily distracted and un-dedicated.
So, I making a commitment to myself. As school is starting, I will put aside my distractions. I will be dedicated. I am wiling to do what it takes. Because I want it that bad.
I'm so stressed out for school and it hasn't even began. Oh man. The stress of balancing out my education, work, trying to make a difference in the world, exercising, spending time with friends and family, my religion, adventure. *takes a deep breath*
How I am going to do it, I don't know. All I can do is put a smile on my face, work as hard as I can and trust in the Lord and he will help me make it through. :)
I chose this path. Am I going to stay on it? I'm going to work my butt off to stay on this path. Nothing can stand in my way.
What do you want? How much do you want it? Are you willing to do what it takes to get it?
You are capable of achieving your dreams, you wants. You are. You are stronger that you know. Don't ever doubt it.
You may or may not believe in God. But I do, and I'm telling you, that he will help you. Sure he throws trials at you, but if you just trust in him, it'll be for the best.
Together we can all make our lives the best. The only person holding us back is ourselves.
I wish you the best in everything! Whatever you are facing, I know you can do it. :) Put a smile on and just embrace the ups and the downs. :)
I sometimes wonder if I should even be ALLOWED to read books....?? Like seriously though.
I have such a vivid imagination that books become my life. I jump into the pages of a book. (have you ever read Inkheart? Man. If that were real.....*swoon*) I mistake happenings in the books I read for real life happenings. I'm like....did I?....Nah...I am such a confused person. Moving on.
I'm also a really picky reader. REALLY picky reader. Or maybe I just have book hangovers? Probably that. It takes me a couple months to find a new book and then get sucked into the pages.
Hey you. Look at this quote, "Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be digested thoroughly." (Mo from Inkheart) AMEN. Yeah. I love that.
Okay but anyways. I really love books. Like a lot.
When I was younger I had piles of books that I was "going-to-read" but really I just liked saying I was going to read them. Instead I would pull out the science books and get lost in the wonder of our world. My desk is currently covered in books that I want to read. Man. My list of books never ends does it? If I didn't have to work or go to school and I could survive on books or get payed to read book, than WHOA, I would. :)
But man, books are so good for you! Ya know when you sit around watching tv all day (not that I or anyone else has ever done that). It's like "Hey. I just cut my life in half by watching this show, and then that guy died....and why did I watch this?? and my brain just fried, I think I'm going to go eat some potato chips."
But when you read a book!! Your brain is getting bigger and stronger and you're prolonging your life! You feel alive! Like you have actually been doing something, rather than staring at a screen watching images flash by. You are absorbing the words, and devouring the book. Like food for your brain. ^_^
There is this quote, by some person named L.M. Montgomery,
"I am simply a book drunkard. Books have the same irresistible temptation that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them."
I'm a book drunkard.
And just because we all could add some more books to our to-read-list, here are my favorite books! (I'm pretty sure you've read them, or heard of them, because they are rather popular books)
Anyways. I really like those books. But I don't only read fantasy. Trust me. I have such a long list of books I want to read, maybe when I'm old and sippin' prune juice I'll read them.
What are your favorite books? I'm always looking for good books to read. I'd love to hear! :)
<3/ Wes
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
- Stephen R. Covey
wan·der·lust
[won-der-luhst]
noun
astrong,innatedesiretoroveortravelabout.
^^^That's my new favorite word. It describes me perfectly.
I may have mentioned in previous posts about my longing to travel, to not just travel and see the world from the window of a car, to not just walk through stuffy museums, to not just take pictures with scenic backgrounds, to not just look at animals through a glass window, to not just go on a drive up the mountains, but to truly EXPERIENCE the world.
To climb the highest mountains.
To watch many sunsets.
To surf in the cold waters of the ocean.
To swim with the creatures of the sea.
To swing in the trees with monkey's.
To stare in the face of a lion.
To soar off the highest cliffs.
To climb rocks.
To take on walks on the beach.
To make new friends.
To wander in the streets of ancient cities.
To walk through the halls of the castles of kings.
To fall through the sky.
To sleep under the stars.
To gaze up at the tallest trees.
The explore in cold caves.
To change someones life.
To dance with children.
To be in two places at once.
To swim under waterfalls.
To hike to great places.
To feel the wind on my face.
To explore that scenic background.
To get lost.
To wander.
I could go on for forever. I don't want to justsee the world, I want to experience it. I need to.
This past week I watched fireworks explode above me, while laying on a cliff.
I watched lightning explode in the sky around me, the wind blowing on my face, raindrops falling on my hands, while sitting on top of a cliff.
Discovered petroglyphs and imagined what it would be like to be and Indian. Got chills to know that I was standing where an Indian warrior once stood.
July snowball fights in the desert.
Drove through the deserts where the pioneers once trekked through.
All that and so much more.
It was amazing. It felt good. Like that hungry beast inside of me was released. :)
In this world where every thing seems to cost an arm and a leg, it seems like the wildest dream to want to experience it all. But there is a way; To make the most out of what you have now.
This weekend when saying nightly prayers with my family, my uncle said, "Thank you for all the things that give us purpose and meaning in our lives."
It hit me hard. Because no matter what, there is always purpose in your life, it's there. There is always meaningful things in your life. All you have to do is make it grow.
Take what God gave you. Times that by 50. Make the most out of everything that he has given you.
I have places to see. People to meet. Mountains to climb. I'm struck with wanderlust. My adventures await me.
I've always tried to be one of those people who saw the good in everything, and the beauty everywhere and in everything. I try to be optimistic. Sometimes I fail and hate life. Life is just really hard. It doesn't make sense. But, it's so much better when you forget the bad things in life and dwell on the positive. There is always 10 times more good things than bad. Just because you have a bad day, doesn't mean you have a bad life. Count the good times. I bet they crush the bad times. Add it up all the good and you have a good life. Because, you REALLY do have a good life.
I'm just SO GRATEFUL. Grateful for everything. We have to have hard times, otherwise, the good times wouldn't be so great. I think our trials in fact make our life better. Because we learn so much from them and appreciate all the good in life so much more.
I think perfect should not be a word. Honestly, nothing is perfect. I'm sure not. Always strive to be your best, not perfect. What would life be if we were all perfect? Our flaws make us who we are. You are flawsome.
Life is pretty great. Regardless of my imperfect body, life, whatever.
I'm kinda, not so great at posting, and when I do, it's lamesauce. Anyhow.
MY CACTUS BLOOMED! I've had Fredricko for about 5 years! *is proud* and I opened my window one day to see this weird green, hard, oval lump growing out of my cactus! I watched it over the next week bloom into this beautiful, as big as the cactus flower! I'm sad I didn't snap a lot of pictures of it, especially when it was HUGE. dang it. #Foreveralonewithmyplants
Elevation.....I can't stop thinking about it. I wear my elevation E1 band every day, to remind me to be awesome, and to live a meaningful life. xD Just a few random pictures. (NOTE: I did not take these pictures, credit goes to Sanneke, Elevation, and whoever else. Thanks for not being lazy like me and actually taking pictures! I'm also on my laptop so I don't have all my pictures with everyone. dang it.)
CINNAMON ROLL HUG!! Man. I love these guys!!
(Left to Right) Me, I look ridiculous *eye roll*, my brotha from anotha motha, good friend/twin, and I'm his body guard. hah. Love these guys xD
Faking the HAKA! haha We're so cool. I love this girl. :)
The girls of Pod1 and our awesome pod leader, Heather. :) I was so lucky to end up in a pod with some of my besties. :)
Yeah, that's me. Yeah, I look ridiculous. Hah. Yeah, that stuff under my eyes....it's sharpie......yeah...it gave me a near migraine. But it was worth it. xD
This picture....is interesting and awkward. Hah. I competed in the Williamsburger (which is like a triathlon, but instead of biking, you do climbing and single rope ascension.). I REALLY did not want to do it. But I did, and everyone signed me for support. :D I came in third. Second in running. First in climbing. First in ascension. (36 SECONDS!!) annnd I didn't finish the swim.....I'm getting swimming lessons. Yup. Anywho. I'm soooo happy with third. xD
Home sweet Home. My canyon. My Home. :) I love this place SO much. :)))))))
Exploring...I never knew that island (where the picture was taken) was there....and I'd driven past it how many times?? CRAAAZY. And it's full of buffalo and little red baby buffalo and it's gorgeous. :D I love the earth.
Hiking. <3333 This has gotta be one of my favorite hikes. It's so beautiful.
I also see this lovely creature on that hike. Every time. hah.
(it's a rattlesnake, in case you didn't know)
How I feel when having to do something....Kinda. hah. This makes me laugh xD
Summer sunsets. *smile*
My lake! (This was taken out of the car, thus the bad quality.) I love this place so much! Sometimes it's as if it were glass, some times it's a deep ocean blue, and most times, it's a beautiful aqua color. My favorite. Can't wait to go splash in it this weekend and throughout the summer! Yay, whoot! xD
Photo album for my missionary brother! It's taken me about a year to get it done! (life is just too crazy and busy, it's quite pathetic though) Well, it's ALMOST done. :) I have such a love/hate relationship with designing. hah. Here's just a little sneak peak!
Imagine Dragons. I love them so much. I especially love that some of them are Mormon. I love that it's awesome, good music. xD This is my favorite, it's just so...happy(:
Anyways. That's my life lately. Great, isn't it? I just think life is great no matter what. xD I've been doing cross country, and I'm going to start up tennis again, and I'm DYING to go climbing, every second of every day. The weather is SO nice. A little hot. But nice and sunny.
Last night at around 11 pm I ran outside to lay on the grass and watch the lighting light up the sky and the thunder shake the ground. The air smelt of rain and a few small drops landed on my face. The trees were blowing. Leaves blew across the road. Storms are one of my favorite things. I love 'em. *smile* I love the earth, so very much.
On that lovely note, watch this....
Always remember, you are infinite. Anything is possible. Life is good. No. Matter. What. You are loved. Embrace life. All of it. Smile. Be happy. Be you. :)
Why hello there human. It's been a while. LIFE IS SO CRAZY!
I have had SO many epiphanies and wonderful experiences and things to share! I have a bunch of things to post. Brace yourselves.
Please allow me to share a random epiphany I had the other day while cleaning someones house (what I have to do to earn some adventuring money. It's WORTH IT).
So life has been really...crazy busy! I had recently had a conversation with my grandma, I told her how busy I was and she responded that it was good to be busy because it kept you off the street and what not. (I would like to add that it also keeps you off the couch). It hit me. I had always thought that being busy was bad, that it's not right to be rushing about life hectically. But it's not good to be sitting on the couch hating life, eating potato chips and frosting either! I realized that they are two kinds of buys,
1) The kind where you are constantly running about, rushing through life, hurrying, constantly racing to the next moment. Life doesn't seem really enjoyable. Maybe you're super busy. You are spending so much time doing things. And maybe you procrastinate on the things that you need to do, and then have to rush to get them done. Does life seem enjoyable? You're not really getting things done (or maybe you are), but do you have time to do other things? The things that you really want? Are you happy? TRULY happy? Not just going about the motions of life.....really LIVING. Being ALIVE? Are you getting the most out of Every. Second. of the day? Not really. You're just going about the motions of life, rushing, you have next to no time, doing things because you have to, you're so busy, but....you're not getting much out of life.
2) The other kind where your life is filled with balance. Of course it's not perfect. (in my opinion, perfect shouldn't be a word because nothing is perfect *rolls eyes*) but there is meaning in your life. You're not just doing things because you have to. You're not just going about motions of life. You are ALIVE. You are truly LIVING. Your life is filled (maybe even busy) with the things you want to be doing, the things that will make you a better person (school, exercise, etc), you have to do hard things but it's WORTH IT. You're busy but HAPPY. Sure, you're not always happy (no one wants to be a barbie or a ken doll. Jus' sayin'), but life is like that, you have ups and downs, but it's all WORTH IT.
Make life meaningful. Make every second count. Take chances. Just do it. Embrace the ups and downs.
When I look back on my life, I want to be able to say, "It was WORTH IT."
I dunno if that made sense. I guess it's kinda hard to put into words the things I think up in my thinker-uper.
I'm trying to be the good kind of busy. Fill my life with meaningful things. Keep busy with good things so that I'm not just wandering around munching on food and wasting time on electronics. I'm trying to fill my time with lots of exercise, time for family, time for learning, time for work, and so much more. Will it be easy? Heck no.
But since I'm starting up summer classes with Williamsburg next week, I don't want my life to be crazy hectic like it was last semester, and I don't want it to fly past and at the end of the day wonder what I did and where all my time went, and I STILL WANT A SUMMER! So I'm doing some serious balancing of my life. It's great. :)
