ventuno

Rex didn't want to be my pic of the day. Oops

Outside of Yourself

I know beautiful people who think they are nothing and terrible people who think they are the best thing to ever exist.

How do we get such terribly strange perceptions of ourselves? How can we be so totally off?

Seeing people that think they're something they're not worries me. Do I think I'm something I'm not? Probably--at least to some extent. Who doesn't? Do we imagine ourselves as we'd like to be and not as we really are? Do we magnify our faults until the good in us is obliterated in our own eyes? And more importantly, how does this effect us? When we think we're fantastic, does that limit our ability to humble ourselves and learn from others and even from our own mistakes? Perhaps. Perhaps what is more limiting is thinking that we are worth nothing and then not reaching our full potential.

So then, since our own perceptions of ourselves are inevitably flawed, which way is it better to lean toward? I think there should be a balance. But, when in doubt, I would say that if you are prone to build yourself up more than you ought to, maybe think for a second and decide whether what you're doing is really the right thing to do or whether you're sticking to it because of your pride. Pride is one of the most paralyzing emotions humans have. We all need to learn to put it aside a little more often.

And if you are prone to beating yourself up, take a minute to reflect on whether or not you need to be so worried. Maybe this particular thing is out of your hands, or maybe it's in your hands and you failed. You will live to see another day. Chances are, the world is not ending, even if the thing you failed at doing was pushing a button every 108 minutes.

Lastly, no matter who you are, watch this video. I get all teary-eyed every time (despite the fact that Kanye and Miley are in this). If there is one thing that we can all do to make our own lives better and to have a clearer perception of who we are, it is to serve each other and look outside of ourselves.

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." -Matthew 10:39

Was this post a little preachy? I may have gotten a little carried away. It's just that I don't know how you can not be inspired by a song featuring both Lil Wayne and Josh Groban.

Living the Dream

So my experience at the high school has been completely different from my experience at the junior high. For one thing, I haven't gotten five stars on everything I've done, which has been a little discouraging. But, I think I've learned a lot while working at the high school because the first time I taught was just not very awesome and I felt so lame. But the teacher gave me some tips and another opportunity to teach and it went a lot better. So, it was a little humbling, but I think it's good to be teachable and I think I am because I was able to successfully change the things that were not super effective the first time around and make my overall teaching experience better and hopefully got through to the students a little bit better too. It probably helped that the second time I taught (today) was to seniors who are like little adults and pay much better attention.

On a less professional, and I mean WAY less professional, note, me and Mallory have become "boarders." Actually, we probably shouldn't claim the title. At least I shouldn't because I can't even carve yet, but I'm starting to actually enjoy it as opposed to butt sliding down the mountain and going home exhausted, trying to convince myself that it was a good time. (The company is usually the only redeeming quality of the trip.) But anyway, we went twice this week, which is a lot for those of us who usually go once a year AT MOST. It's been PIMP. (I'm starting to talk like Mal, but she's also starting to talk like me so I don't feel too bad about it.) I'm way sore today because I took a couple of retarded tumbles, but it was well worth it. We also had some stimulating conversation with random strangers on the lift, which is always refreshing. There was one fellow who rode with us twice and I'm still debating whether or not that was just a coincidence. But he was a lovely man and shared with us his love for snowboarding. It was inspiring to say the least. One thing I recommend to all snowboarders ever is to bring the pod. Listening to my favorite jams really made the trip ten times more enjoyable... but then again maybe not everyone is as addicted to the magical goodness of the pod as I am. To each his own. To me, my ipod.

venti

Me and Mal went boarding at Brighton again last night and it was SO much fun! We're pretty much pros by now. We met some awesome people on the lifts... specifically a little fellow we like to call New Hampshire. He was lovely.. a little weird.. but mostly lovely. All in all, it was a great trip, but I'm left a little bit beat up today and in need of a good night's sleep.

diciannove

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AARON!!! We started another tradition today after church inspired by Aaron's birthday where we cook a yummy treat and hang out for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun and there were some fantastic pictures taken, but I settled on just two: Big Pimpin' USA and the lovely cookies we made that my mom sent to me for Valentine's Day.

diciotto

Today was yet another successful adventure of the Culturally Obese. We went to India Palace on Center Street in Provo and it was FANTASTIC. High reviews from all of us, although I liked mine the best. Highlights of the trip included: Kate's little behind, the rose, the eight servers we had to help us, the continual water filling, and the naan. Oh, the magical wonders of naan. I couldn't resist putting up this picture because I think it captures the essence of Aaron and Lisa so well. I also wasn't settling for just one picture. This was quite the outing.

diciassette

Last night, Susan and Sammy had an Olympics Opening Ceremonies party. It was a lot of fun and it was good to see Sue and Tyler again. I wasn't quite as excited as Susan, but I enjoyed the opening ceremonies and the company. Go USA!!

sedici

We thought we weren't going to get to make our annual snowboarding trip to Brighton with Mallory's brothers this year because we thought it would be on New Year's but I had to work. But we did it on Thursday instead and it was so much fun! We went with Matt, Mike, Mike's friend Kacee, and Matt's friend Sam... same crew as last year + Sam. It was pretty epic. There were fireworks during our last run and then afterward, we went to dinner at a mexican restaurant I can't remember the name of. But it was SO much fun! Can't wait until next year. I wish I had gotten a shot of the whole group but I spaced it so this will have to do. :)

quindici

I have been terrible at putting my pictures up this week, but don't worry. I took them. So I'm making up for it now. This is from Wednesday. Me and Kelly went in to Los for dinner and Elise was our server. It was good times.

quattordici

I found this valentine on the back of my box of yummy heart nastiness treats and I gave it to Stacey. It's probably one of the ugliest and best valentines I've ever seen so I thought it only fitting to document it.