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!