Many of us go through life without a second thought. Others are constantly evaluating the efforts that are made in their own lives to make sure they are constantly becoming better. I know of several people that fit into both areas, but haven't really had the opportunity to grasp what life is really all about. At the same time, I know of many that do. Life is full of challenges and opportunities. It's all on how we look at it as to whether we will succeed or not. Recently I went though an experience that I am grateful that I'm still alive (and I've had several of them growing up). My experience brought me to pondering the various aspects of my life and where I currently stand. I would like to share my experience with you...
I was at a pool party with several of my friends. It was a tri-ward party at Bishop Craig's home. Several of us were playing around in the pool. There was a slide and we were going down several ways: frontwards, backwards, in trains, etc. One time there were three of us that were going down. I was the third one up on top to go down the train. As we started to go down, the guy in the middle pushed out and up to get us going. With me being on the top, there was little room, if any, from the top of the slide and being knocked off... Turns out that I got knocked off.
As this started to happen, for some reason I saw everything happening before it did. I knew I had few options if I didn't want to get hurt pretty bad, if not die. If I tried to grab anything, I could potentially do myself in. Knowing that could happen, I guarded my head with both my arms and waited to see what would happen. I ended up falling about 8 1/2 feet and landed on the cement and immediately rolled into the pool. It all happened so fast, that I got right up like nothing happened. Everybody was staring at me, most without saying a word. One of my friends, Ben Baker, asked if I was okay. I told him I was fine, just a little sore. Another friend, Christy Butler, made me get out of the pool. She went and got me ibuprofen and ice. The rest of the night I just talked to a few of my friends. I had the fortunate opportunity to tell my story numerous times along the way.
While I thought nothing of the experience, I listened to advice of others and went to the doctor to get everything checked out. It turns out that I was extremely lucky and nothing happened but swelling and bruising. One of the many miracles that I have had in my life.
After going through this experience, I realized once again that this life is too short to let everything pass by. I have been blessed with so many amazing people in my life that have helped me obtain a life full of joy. I consider these types of situations gifts and riches. With that said, I truly can consider myself one of the richest men in the world. All because of the strength, support and love by those that care for me. Thank you.
Adam
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I haven't written on here in a while so I thought that I would. Life is full of mysteries and opportunities. Sometimes we have control over them and sometimes we do not. My hope is that I will have the strength to overcome the trials that are placed before me, no matter what they may be. I grew up being an optimistic person. But even at that, times do get hard. Finding the strength from within can be easy at times, and other times not. That is part of life. But I do know that if I give what I can, not looking back at the past on dwelling on it, but pressing forward through those experiences with a strength and a faith that things will turn out right, they will.
I have been a fan of quotes growing up as well. Here are a few Inspirational Quotes that i found a while ago:
I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not. ~ Kurt Cobain ~
Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. ~ John Maxwell ~
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~ E. E. Cummings ~
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Walt Emerson ~
I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it. ~ Richard L. Evans ~
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. ~ Anne Frank ~
No day in which you learn something is a complete loss. ~ David Eddings ~
Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try. ~ Mary Kay Ash ~
The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. ~ Voltaire ~
Give it all you've got because you never know if there's going to be a next time. ~ Danielle Ingrum ~
I went to a funeral service for the mother of a neighbor/ward family yesterday. She passed away from terminal cancer. This family was one of the strongest families I've even known! Several months ago, one of the daughters was on an LDS mission in England and passed away. No one expects to go through trials like this. Especially within such a short time frame. But throughout everything, this family has provided an incredible example for so many people. Me included. I just wanted to mention a couple of thoughts/impressions that I gained during the service:
1. The gospel is real!
2. Satan and his followers will never give up, but will ultimately lose.
3. The closer you draw unto the Savior, the easier it is to follow his teachings and to know what's right.
4. Providing service is one of the best ways to draw close to the Savior.
Life doesn't always go as we plan. We will all have trials, and at times will try us to our very core. That's why this quote by Albert Einstein applies so well:
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.
We may not always know why we face trials. But if we can learn from them, pressing forward through them, we will come out a better person in the end.
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2009 ended in a way the best that I knew how, with good friends that I hadn't seen in a while. I was debating where to go and who to hang out with. I texted a few of my good friends and asked them what they were planning on doing. A few of them got back and mentioned a few parties that I already knew about, but wasn't sure if that was really what I wanted to do. Right before I left for a party in Salt Lake with my friend Danny, one of my friends texted me back. Emily was hanging out with a few of my good friends from a long time ago. I mentioned to Danny about it and we stopped in on the way. Great idea!!! I was glad because I was able to hang out with some of my best friends from my early college years!
We ended up talking till 3 or so in the morning. I love doing that because you can get the best conversations and get to know people the best that way. One of my college professors mentioned once about this very thing. He said
You probably wont take very much out of this class when all is said and done. You probably wont take much out of your college education in a matter of speaking. The best experiences and memories you will most likely take from your college experience is from talking to your friends at two in the morning, about absolutely nothing.I agree with this completely. Some of my best times have fallen into this category. Ringing in 2010 added to those memories and started of a great year!
So 2009 came to a close. There are a lot of memories and experiences that I had over the past year. Some were great, and some were not. Some experiences helped me to see myself in new way. My friend made a comment on his Facebook wall last night that I liked, but don't completely agree with. He said:
May 2010 be less sucky than 2009 :) Happy New Year everyone!!!
I agree with is because it proposes thought of 2010 being a better year than the past. It could also focus on 2009 being a bad year, by looking at 2009 being "less sucky". I probably could say that just as much as anyone, but I don't agree. Yes, times can be hard, and yes, they do have their down times. I learned long ago from my mission president something important that I will never forget. At the time, I just found out that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found out on Christmas Day of 2001. A few months prior to that my grandpa on my dad's side passed away from a disease that took him fairly quickly. I was really close to him as well. Missionary work wasn't going that great at the time and I had a companion that was tough to relate to. My mission president said something to this manner (and I'm paraphrasing it because I've altered it to fit my situation several times):
You may not always be able to control the situations around you. (People have their agency to chose). All you can do is the best with what you are given. If you do, things will work out the way they need to. You're family will be blessed because they won't have to worry about you. You will be blessed you will be doing what you should.With that, I realized that things can happen in this life that you may not be prepared for. You may not be able to do everything that you wanted, and you may struggle from time to time. The one thing I do know is that I am determined to live through the experiences for my own good. To become a better person. A better me!
I have a perfect scripture to relate to this. It's in Doctrine and Covenants Section 122: 5-7. I'm just going to quote the last part:
... above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.With the coming of 2010, I plan on making this year the best of my life. I know if I do my best if every way, I will be the person that I should be.
I've always been a fan of Disney movies. From what I remember, I grew up watching every one of them. I have my favorites, but I really liked one of the recent ones that came out: Up. Anyway, my friend found the coolest picture the other day and put it on his Facebook wall. I would like to share it.
