Power in not Procrastinating

I usually tend to put off things until I absolutely have to do them.  It probably sounds familiar to anyone who has ever had homework.  This week I have been pounded with end of term projects and assignments, most of them are due on Monday.  Knowing myself, I started to dread Sunday night when I would be up late trying to get everything done.  I made a goal to have my Sunday completely free and get all my project done before that day so I could spend time with my wife and family.

On Tuesday I decided to take on my information systems 303 final project.  I finished 4 hours later feeling accomplished and relieved.  I focused big time during those 4 hours, no Facebook, no Instagram, and no TV.  I just did it and it was awesome!  Now I just have to tackle the MCOM 320 final project and I will be free.  I realized that not procrastinating and following a plan makes you free in the future.  If I can get everything done today I will be free on Friday and Saturday to do other things that I enjoy, instead of doing those things now and dreading my final projects.

Buy Experiences, Not Things

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/buy-experiences/381132/


I read an interesting article this week that explained how buying experiences can make us happier than buying things.  The article also talks about how a wandering mind is not a happy one, if the mind has experiences it can think back on it is happier.  Now money is not essential for happiness, and not all experiences have to be bought.  I do agree with the article though.  Going and maybe paying for an activity with friends or family can be more satisfying than buying something.  Buying things can bring temporary happiness, but I feel like experiences bring happiness for the rest of our lives.

My wife often talk and remember our honeymoon, and other vacations and activities we have done.  Thinking back on past experiences and talking about them with others brings back memories and happiness.  I do however like to buy new things, and I am very happy with my purchase of a new phone, that happiness fades away soon though.  So let us seek out activities and experiences we can have with others, it will make us happier for years to come.


Have a great week everyone!

Google Hangouts (Remote Meeting)

So this last week my group and I had the great opportunity to have a remote meeting.  We had to start the meeting pretty late around 10 pm since not everyone was available until that time.  There was one member in our group that could not connect for about 10 minutes so we then started the meeting even later than planned.  Once we were all connected we were able to communicate pretty well without many difficulties.  The connection was good and we were able to plan out the rest of our group project we had due this week.

It was very cool to be able to video chat on Google hangouts.  We were able to video chat while working on Google Docs and see exactly what everyone else was doing.  It was as if we were all in the same room.  We were able to complete everything we had wanted to complete that night.  It is still easier to work together when we are physically in the same room, but it was very convenient to have a remote meeting from our own homes.

Music and Hobbies

This last weekend I was able to attend my little brother's concert at the Velour on Saturday night.  While i was watching him and his band I realized how much I miss playing guitar and bass.  I taught guitar and bass lessons for quite awhile and recently I quit to pursue other jobs.  I miss playing and making music and I forgot how happy it makes me.

I feel like many of us forget about our old hobbies we had while growing up and we feel like we have out grown them.  I used to love to yo-yo of all things and I haven't touched a yo-yo for the longest time.  We should all reflect on older hobbies and consider rekindling those activities.  The chances are that they will make us happy.

So this week I'm gonna pick up my guitar and look for my old yo-yo just be a kid again.  Happiness can be found in the simplest things.  If it made us happy then it'll probably bring joy to us now and bring back memories of when all we had to worry about was getting to school on time.

Have a great week everyone!!!  

When life hits you hard you've got to "Goat" back up

This week I stumbled upon this video of this crazy goat who knocks down his other little goat friend.  This video may be humorous and the little goats make some cute noises, but there are lessons to be learned.  In the video you can notice that the black goat that is knocked down immediately gets back up as if nothing had happened.

Many times in life we get knocked down by our own little crazy baby goats.  Maybe we didn't get the score we had wanted on a test, the job that we wanted, the major we applied for, and the list goes on.  Maybe life just doesn't seem fair.  In any circumstance we can, and our better off, if we can just get back up as fast as possible and not let life get the best of us.  If we lay down and think about how awful everything is, it will be harder to get back up and make things better.

May we all follow the example of the little black goat and get up as fast as possible.  Maybe even laugh at ourselves a little and brush it off.  We will be happier if we can do this.

Have a great week everyone!

Rolls and Life Lessons

This week my wife and I made a goal to make dinner at home more often.   So last night we decided to make barbecued chicken with rolls.  We let the rolls rise for a lot longer than we were supposed to (as you can probably tell by the picture).  I put the rolls in and hoped that they would turn out well.  Twenty minutes later we took out the giant rolls and they were so delicious.  They were super big but so moist and cooked to perfection.

Sometimes we expect the worst to happen if we feel like we didn't do everything perfectly.  The attitude of expecting the worst can happen and having a bad attitude about things can be detrimental.  The outcomes at times can be the worst possible option that could've happened, but that does not mean we should always be negative down if something doesn't go our way.

My goal this week is to have a better outlook at life and be positive even if I'm in a situation where I don't think the outcome will be positive.  Having a negative outlook will never help the situation.  It is easier to have a negative expectation, but if we can have a positive outlook we will truly be happier.

Tests....

This week I had a test for my history of creativity class.  This class will cover my civilization credit for my generals.  It is an interesting class and I enjoy the lectures.  This week the test covered about 8 different chapters and 8 powerpoints all with 40 to 50 slides each.  What did I do?  I sat down at the library and memorized for hours on end.

While taking the test I was excited that I had prepared well.  I knew everything on the test and I'm confident I will receive a good score (the tests are graded later).  While walking out of the testing center back to my car, I didn't feel too accomplished.  I really didn't learn the material I had just memorized a lot of facts and then brain dumped.  In the end I will do well in the class, but I don't know if I will be able to say if I've learned much.

I realize that this general education class offers good information.  I just want a desire to actually learn the material and not just memorize it.  My goal is to find how the content in this class can apply to me.  If I am able to do that I will be able to have a greater desire to learn the material.  If anyone has an idea to foster a desire to learn a subject that one has no desire to learn please let me know!

Technology and Mount Timpanogos

This last week while driving to school I looked at Mount Timpanogos and saw a beautiful sun rise. I quickly picked up my iPhone and took a picture.  I didn't have time to zoom in so later that day I opened the photo, cropped it, focused it, and tilted the photo in a matter of seconds.  This would not be possible 5 years ago.  It amazes me how technology affects our everyday lives.

I feel it imperative that everyone is educated in today's technology.  Computer skills are essential in almost every and any field that exists today.  Many people are still not educated in such skills and even though they may be experienced in their specific fields they will fall behind.  The fact that someone can use a computer makes them capable of many things.

I want to be able to always be on top of the latest technology because I know it will help me in whatever field I decide to study.  Technology helps us do our jobs more efficiently only if we know how to utilize it.  Let us all be on top of technology and keep learning how to use it more efficiently.  Let the computer do the work for you.

Staying Physically Active

This past week I had the opportunity to go to the BYU vs. San Diego basketball game.  It had been awhile since I had the chance to attend one.  Before the game everyone gets really pumped and even the audience can feel some sort of adrenaline rushing through their blood.  It reminded me of playing Lacrosse in high school and feeling so pumped before a game.  

I have been trying to stay physically active through school and work.  It gets harder and harder with all of the added responsibilities.  I want to be able to get that same adrenaline rush as I used to before a Lacrosse game and be passionate about the game.  I have been road biking a lot lately and I even bike 30 to 50 miles a week.  I just don't get that same rush as playing a sport on a team.  

For this summer I want to find some sort of Men's league for lacrosse or for some other sport.  I feel that when I'm on a team I find more motivation to stay fit and stay active.  For the next school year I want to join a intramural team as well.  

73 Reasons

I'm sorry if this blog post is sappy but I truly feel overwhelmed with love.  This week my wife, Katie, has her birthday on Friday and then Valentine's day is on Saturday.  I thought about what I should do for her.  I feel like she has all the material things she needs and wants.  So I decided to write her a letter entitled, "100 Reason why I love Katie."

As I first started to write these reasons I really pondered about why I love Katie so much.  I learned a lot about our relationship by pondering about these things.  I realized how much Katie has sacrificed for our marriage and relationship.  For example she is working full time while I finish school.  She could be in California with her family, but she is with me.

I kept writing all of these reasons and I stopped at 73 because the page was full and I couldn't format it to have 100.  So I guess I will write the last 27 reasons and give it to her for our anniversary.

I learned that love and relationships are about trust, and sacrifice.  I want to focus more on giving in our relationship and do things to constantly remind Katie how much I really do love her.  After all is said and done, as long as I'm with Katie I will be happy.

I love you Katie, happy Birthday/Valentine's!!!

Taking Advantage of all Opportunities

This week I attended an Econ 110 TA review session.  During the review we went over the last test we had taken.  A lot of concepts started to click during the review that I hadn't fully comprehended before.  After the review I was mad at myself for not taking advantage of the TA lab.  If I would have gone to the TA with questions I could've done better on the test.  I thought about all of the other missed opportunities I had not taken advantage of and how I would be better off if I had taken them.

We all have many opportunities as citizens of America, students of BYU, and as human beings.  Many times we do not take advantages that we may have out of laziness.  We are very lucky to be where we are at this time, and we need to take advantage of every opportunity.  Some people have very little to no opportunity due to their circumstance.

I am going to take advantage of future opportunities whether it be something small like a TA lab or something bigger like attending college.  By doing this I know I will be better off in the future and better able to serve those around me.  Let us all take advantage of every opportunity!

Note Taking

This week I have learned a lot about the importance of note taking. This week I took my first midterms of the semester. After I walked out of my Econ 110 test I realized that I need to start taking better notes during class. I did well on the test, but I know if I could've taken better notes I could've done better. There was one question that didn't have to do with Econ at all. The answer was simply something the professor said about topographical maps.

I am still trying to figure if it is better to take notes on my computer or on actual paper. Some of my professors give out their power point slides.  I usually download them and type notes on each slide. For the majority of my classes though I have no slides and it is hard to figure out in what way I should take notes.  In my opinion it depends on the class and the professor's style of teaching. 

My goals include to find out the best way to take notes for each of my classes. I also would like to find out what type of notes work best for me. I already have a good idea about how I like to take notes. I need to just be more dedicated to taking good notes and reviewing my notes after class. 

Future Responsibilities

Last Sunday during at church I learned about the responsibilities of a father and a parent in general.  I may not be a father yet, but I can do things now in order to prepare to be a father.  I started to think about the other future responsibilities that I will have in the future and what I can do now to prepare for them.  One day I will be an employee, a father, and attain many other responsibilities as I progress through life.  I wondered what I can do now in order to prepare myself for these responsibilities.

The characteristics of Christ came to mind.  These attributes include; faith, hope, charity, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, and obedience.  Some of you may recognize these attributes from Preach my Gospel.  These attributes however can be applied to more than just the religious aspect of our lives.  Any employer would love an employee who exemplified even two or three of these attributes.  The gospel give us guidance in every aspect of our lives.  I'm not trying to make this post preachy, but I truly believe these attributes can help us in every way possible.

I want to exemplify every one of these attributes in order to prepare myself for future and present responsibilities.  I personally need to work on humility and patience right now.  I want to apply these two principles in my work, and in family life.  I tend to lose my patience and can be proud at times.  This week I will work on those things a prepare myself to become a better future me.

Balance In All Things

This week I learned the importance of time management and keeping balance through many of my roles as a person.  Many of us have different roles or jobs we need to fulfill throughout our days.  I, for example, am a husband, a scout leader,  an employee, and a student (among many other things).  I realized this week how hard it is to fulfill all of this roles completely.  

I wasn't able to make it to scouts because I was working.  My wife works full time as nurse, and somehow whenever she is actually home I have to do homework or I am on campus working on group projects. These roles cross each other almost everyday.  

I have tried to manage my time in such a way that I can fulfill these roles.  I feel like I plan my time well, but I fail at executing that plan.  It come down to should I do homework now?  or watch Netflix and do it tomorrow.  More often than not I tend to choose Netflix or something else and end up having to do homework when my wife is home.  This week I will be better at using my time wisely,  sticking to my plan, and balancing my life.  

Week One of "What I Learned"

Another semester at BYU has started and the learning begins.  I often wonder if I am taking certain classes so that I can learn, or so it will fill a requirement.  The answer for me is probably a little of both.  I take different subjects for different reasons.  I have been compliant with doing the bare minimum in order to get an "A" regardless of my level of learning.  My goal this semester is to learn as much as possible from every class no matter the subject.

I am currently in a effective study and learning course this semester at BYU.  The primary reason I am taking this class is so that I can keep my scholarship.  The first two days proved to me that I can learn a lot from taking this class.  I learned that I tend to cram for tests and forget the information shortly after.  I do not forget all the information, but my retention is lacking.  I learned that in order to truly learn the material I need to study it consistently throughout the semester.  By doing this I won't need to cram for tests, and I will be able to retain the information covered for a longer time.

I learned that I procrastinate and that I am lazy when it comes to studying for classes I am not really interested in.  Only 5 days have past and I have completed one assignment and two readings.  I have a long way to go in order to catch up with all my work.  The worst thing about this situation is that yesterday I did not do one thing.  I worked, got home, and watched Netflix with my wife until bedtime.  I will be able to complete all my readings and assignments this weekend, but it will be crammed.  I learned that I need to motivate myself in order to get my work done in a timely matter.