Why do you do?

What do you do, when you don't know what to do? What do you do while you wait?

Why is it that we think and worry more when it's late at night or when we are tired (or both)?

Human

Anyone ever wish that they weren't human? That you weren't the natural man? That you could do everything perfect and right, amidst the knowledge that difficulty and struggle in all things is what makes us stronger and grow?

Ever felt like you just can't get anything right? Is that just something that happens to slap you in the face and make you realize that you need to work harder?

Will there be a day when we can say that we are pretty much perfect?

Why is it that we are so prone to observe others and not ourselves? To pick out others faults and not our own?

What makes cool and not cool? What is it within us that determines what we think is acceptable and what isn't?

What is it that makes us worry and over-think things? Why does being tired make us more prone to do so?

What gives people the right to judge others? Why do we all do it?

What makes others think they can belittle or demean others? Do we all have a superiority complex? Is Satan becoming more clever?

Why do we worry so much about what others say or think about us?

Why are some people always smiling no matter what? Why can't we all do that?

Why do we sometimes understand how things should be and have the drive and motivation but don't fully follow through?

Why is that we all can ask why questions all day long and not realize what we do know?

Why is it that we can't understand what something done or said means to someone else or how it affects someone else? Wouldn't it be easier to be able to read minds?

One day we will all get it right. One day we will understand the meaning and reason behind it all. One day we will realize that forgetting ourselves is more important. One day we will completely rely on our Redeemer.



"From the outside looking in you can never understand it...from the inside looking out we can never explain it."

One day..

One day...

I won't be quick to judge.

I won't be so insensitive.

I won't be so tired all of the time.

I will be what I want to be.

I will be what someone amazing deserves.

I will care more for other than myself.

I will be an amazing student.

I will let people know how amazing they are and how much they mean to me.

I will learn to think and consider the consequences before I speak.

I will be successful.

I will know what I want to do with my life.

I will overcome the natural man.

I won't cause others grief.

I will be like my Savior.

I will use time wisely.

I won't worry about and over analyze everything.

I will be a real example of the believers.

I won't worry about what others think.

I will see everyone as a child of God.

I will see only peoples good qualities and not their faults.

I won't dwell on my own faults.

I won't dwell on the mistakes of the past.

I will be the gentleman that I want to be.

I will respect myself for doing my best, day in and day out.

I will live what I write, say, think, and know.

I will express my appreciation to all those who have blessed my life.

I will live/be what I have been taught.

I will constantly have a smile on my face.

I will not let fear get in my way.

I will put the Lord before everything else.

I will be who I am meant to be!




One day, this will be me..


Mosiah 2:41
   "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end, they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."


"And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them... And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God.."  3 Nephi 4: 31,33

One day I will get things right..

A lot of the time I tell myself, "One day you will get things right.." That can be taken as either a negative or positive view depending on how you look at life.  Sometimes school slaps you in the face, family and friends laugh at you, dating can be confusing, you lose a sporting event, and you get stressed out about your future.  Its our choice to determine what our reaction will be.

President Packer recently said "Understand that you are not perfect, but that you are moving along that road."  This is something that I try to remind myself of.  I am not perfect, I can give you a huge list of why I am not, but I am moving along that road, learning and growing from each and every day.  Sometimes I move along that road like a snail, and at other times I am in a dead sprint, but I am moving along that road at all times.

I've talked to some people about how much our attitude makes a difference.  We can think, act, and be positive and life will be happy and fruitful.  Or we can think, act, or be negative and be depressed and lonely.  It is up to us what our life is like.  Our situations and circumstances don't make us who we, its how we react to them that determines who we are.

We all know that things have a way of working out.  Rely on the Lord and they will work out for your benefit.

"Change your thoughts and you'll change your world"

"Your future is as bright as your FAITH" - President Monson

"If you don't like something, change it, if your can't change it, change the way you think about it"

"You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it"

"A river a mile wide 1 inch deep dries up faster than a river 1 inch wide a mile deep. Don't spread yourself too thin else you risk disappointment and things unfulfilled."

"Treat everyone like they're struggling with something, because half the time you'll be right."

Sometimes its about forgetting ourselves...

Sometimes I need an escape/fresh air

When I need fresh air I go for a run.  Tonight I pushed myself a little hard.  12 miles later, I'm sore, but feeling good.  


Sometimes this song hits home..


You know though, nothin' come easy
You gotta try real, real hard
I tried hard but I guess I gotta try harder

I tried so hard, can't seem to get away from misery
Man, I tried so hard but always be a victim of these streets
It ain't my fault ?cause I tried to get away but trouble follows me
And still I try so hard hopin? one day you'll come and rescue me

But until then I'll be posted up right here rain, sleet, hail, snow
But until then I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin? dough

First let me explain that I'm just a black man
And I come from the darkside
So I'm havin? a hard time stayin' on track man
My mind be racin' and I don't even know what I'm chasin? yet
Been in and out of relationships
I'm startin' to see that it's me where the complication's at

But I'm layin' back prayin' that you get that piece of mind of me
I thought I was right but really I'm wrong
Then again I was too blind to see
I was in the fast lane chasin? my dream
And then it seemed when the fame and cash came they just got me

Goin' crazy, lately I been so faded tryna erase it
But I just can't cause the drama just grows greater
And I been in so many collisions by puttin? ** off till later

I tried so hard, can't seem to get away from misery
Man, I tried so hard but always be a victim of these streets
It ain't my fault ?cause I tried to get away but trouble follows me
And still I try so hard hopin? one day you'll come and rescue me

But until then I'll be posted up right here rain, sleet, hail, snow
But until then I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin? dough

It's like I'm takin? five steps forward and ten steps back
Tryin? get ahead of the game but I can't seem to get it on track
And I keep runnin? away the ones that say they love me the most

How could I create the distance when it's supposed to be close?

And uh I just don't know but I be out here fightin? demons
And it's like the curse that I can't shake this part of Cleveland
And Lord would you help me?
And stop this pain I keep inflinctin? on my family

Hustlin? and gamblin?, drinkin' and scramblin'
And losin? sight of what I supposed to be handlin'
It's hard to manage ?cause every day?s a challenge
And man, I'm slippin? can't lose my balance, I?m tryin? not to panic

Even more often this song hits home.. 


Woke up in London yesterday 
Found myself in the city near Piccadilly 
Don't really know how I got here 
I got some pictures on my phone 

New names and numbers that I don't know 
Address to places like Abbey Road 
Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want 
We're young enough to say 

Oh this has gotta be the good life 
This has gotta be the good life 
This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 
Like this city is on fire tonight 
This could really be a good life 
A good, good life 

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh 

To my friends in New York, I say hello 
My friends in L.A. they don't know 
Where I've been for the past few years or so 
Paris to China to Col-or-ado 

Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out 
Sometimes there's bull** that don't work now 
We are god of stories but please tell me-e-e-e 
What there is to complain about 

When you're happy like a fool 
Let it take you over 
When everything is out 
You gotta take it in 
Oh this has gotta be the good life 
This has gotta be the good life 
This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 
Like this city is on fire tonight 
This could really be a good life 
A good, good life 

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
A good good life Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Hopelessly 
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss 
Hopelessly 
I feel like the window closes oh so quick 
Hopelessly 
I'm taking a mental picture of you now 
'Cuz hopelessly 
The hope is we have so much to feel good about

Oh this has gotta be the good life 
This has gotta be the good life 
This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 
Like this city is on fire tonight 
This could really be a good life 
A good, good life 



I really like this song.. ( I may think about it in a 
different way than you do)



Mile upon mile got no direction,
We're all playing the same game.
We're all looking for redemption,
Just afraid to say the name.

So caught up now in pretending,
That what we're seekin' is the truth.
I'm just looking for a happy ending,
All I'm looking for is you.

You came upon me wave on wave,
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me wave on wave.

I wondered out into the water,
And I thought that I might drown.
I dunno what I was after,
I just know I was going down.

That's when she found me,
I'm not afraid anymore.
she said"You know I always had you baby,
Just waitin for you to find what you were looking for.

You came upon me wave on wave,
You're the reason I'm still here.
Am I the one you were sent to save,
When you came upon me wave on wave.

Wave on wave.
Wave on wave.

And you came upon me wave on wave,
You're the reason I'm still here.
Am I the one you were sent to save,
when you came upon me wave on wave.
The clouds broke and the angels cried,
You ain't gotta walk alone,
That's why he put me in your way, 
And you came upon me wave on wave.

...

Don't know what to say, and just felt like saying something so here's a couple quotes I really like and try to live by.

Courage is being scared to death.. but saddling up anyways.  

“We should never assume, we should let them know” – Thomas S. Monson

“Come what may, and love it” – Joseph B. Wirthlin (This is a big one)

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

-Gandhi

"Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"Men are building too many walls and not enough bridges"

-JCDecaux

"If life gets too hard to stand, kneel."

- Gordon B. Hinckley

"Be one who nurtures and builds. Be one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them." - Marvin J. Ashton

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."

Life is an adventure, make the most of it!

For When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong

One of my roommates gave a really good lesson today in Sunday School.  I thought I'd just share the scripture and a thought because it impacted me, possibly because of certain situations.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 

         9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

        10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

It's the trials and hard times in our lives that help us to grow and to progress.  If we don't fight against it, whine, complain, and ask why?, but embrace those times as learning moments, then we are truly progressing.  Lately I've noticed that when I do those things, that life is hard and I feel bad for myself.  But when i realize that its for my good in one way or another, that is when life becomes more meaningful.  This is how we become closer to our Savior, to feel of His love, and to be His disciples.  I still have a lot to learn when it comes to this, but I know that through the power of Christ, that my weaknesses may become strong.  I will now and continue to glory in my infirmities, thrive during times of trial, and thank the Lord for His goodness.  This just sorta hit home today.

This also goes well with one of my favorite scriptures while I was on my mission.  Everyone knows it, but it had a special meaning for me during those two years and still today. 

Ether 12:27

       27  And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

A wise friend relayed a quote to me - "Pray not to calm the waters, rather pray to strengthen the boat"

A couple of quotes from my New Testament class that I liked..

Look at the Stars

I decry the great waste of time that people put into watching inane television.  I am not anti-sports.  I enjoy watching a good football game or a good basketball game.  But I see so many men who become absolutely obsessed with sports.  I believe their lives would be enriched if, instead of sitting on the sofa and watching a game that will be forgotten tomorrow, they would read and think and ponder.

They would be blessed if they were to go out into the dark of night, look at the stars, and ponder their place in the eternal plan of the Almighty.

President Gordon B. Hinckley