Half Marathon Journey #1

For the past few years I have been so set on becoming a runner, but I haven't been pushing for it. Obviously I have been hoping for the running fairy to come give me magic running shoes that make me the best runner ever. I hate to break this to you, but that fairy doesn't exist... No matter how much I want her to.

I have been trying so hard to be a runner. I follow programs, I run when I don't want to, then I give up. Either I don't focus on the end goal, I get too frustrated, I injure my knees, or I just don't want to run. However, the other day I found a program for very beginner runners. It is easy on your joints, and it's super slow paced (which, as much as I hate to say it, is what will keep me doing it)! So I started today. I walked for 10 minutes. I know it isn't a lot, but I am starting.

Why am I sharing this with the world? Because it will keep me motivated (Yes, this means that I will be sharing info with you. Yes, I actually will, more than I have in the past. :D). I want to run a half marathon so that I can prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. I CAN do hard things.

Nasty Air

I just wanted to share this picture with the world. This picture was taken by one of my coworkers. It is a picture of a good air quality day versus a bad air quality day (aka yesterday)! I couldn't believe it. I think it's time to go on a vacation to get rid of this nasty stuff! YUCK!

NeW yEaRNeW yEaR!!!!

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe that it is already 2013! Can you? So with a new year comes new resolutions. For the past few years my resolution has been to date... I know, I can hardly contain my laughter as well. I haven't really taken my resolutions very seriously, obviously. However, this year I really want to be better. I decided to ponder what resolutions would be the best for me at this time. Here are the goals I have set for myself this year. 

1- Run a half marathon. I have said this in previous posts, but this is something I WILL do this year. I want to be healthier, and I want to enjoy running. This will happen. To accomplish this, I will get on the treadmill at least 4 times a week and slowly build up to run everyday.

2- I want to build a stronger relationship with my Father in Heaven. That means that I will be taking my scripture study more seriously. I learn so much when I search the scriptures. I have better days when I invite the spirit into my life through prayer and scripture study. I will read my scriptures daily, and pray more often.

3- I want to save money. This year I am cutting back on going out to eat, going to the movies, etc. One of my biggest goals in life is to study in England, and I will have the opportunity to do so next year(2014). That means I need to save for it so I can pay for it. Another reason is I want to pay off as much as my student debt as I can before I get my degree.

4- Last, but definitely not least, I want to be a better person all around. I want to be nicer to all those people I come in contact with, family or strangers. I want to be the type of person that doesn't have to think about how to serve or who to serve. I want to be the type of person that just does it. I want to be more positive than I already am. I just want to be a good person.

I know that this list is probably a cliche of every new year's resolution, but I truly believe that I need to accomplish these things. I also know that I can accomplish these things. They will be a challenge, but what is the point of making goals if they aren't a challenge? 

I hope that at the end of this year I can honestly say that I am better because of this list. I want to be able to look back and see that the year 2013 was a growing year for me, that I accomplished a lot, and I want to be able to view this year as a great success.

"Begin today. Declare out loud to the Universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and are willing to learn through joy." -Sarah Ban Breathnach

"Start wherever you are and start small." -Rita Baily

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect."

How To Be Happy

Hello readers! I have something that I have been wanting to write, but it's not coming together. So I will work on it and give it to you soon. 

In my psychology class, we talked about being happy. We were given a list of 5 things that, if applied in our lives, would make us happy. Do you want to know what they are? Here they are!


HOW TO BE HAPPY:
1- Accept painful emotions. This means that you are alive. If you can't learn to feel pain, you will not learn to feel happiness.

2- Spend time with those you love.  You'll feel their love.

3- Exercise. Endorphins! 

4- Express Gratitude. Even if you don't have everything, you'll realize that you have a LOT. Maybe even more than you need.

5- Simplify. Find time for yourself.

We were asked to try one of these things this week. I decided to express gratitude. Each night, I wrote down five things that I am grateful for. You know what, it has worked. 

I challenge you to try it. Let me know how it goes! Good Luck! :)


"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." -Frederick Koenig

Remember

Today this post is all for me. This week I have forgotten who (and what) I am. This frustrates me more than anyone can know. So this week, I need to be uplifted. I need to remind myself that I am worth more than I know. I need to remind myself that I am better than the world could ever make me. I am a daughter of God! I can do great things. I am better than the world, but I need to prove it! Here are some quotes that always help remind me that I can do great things. 

"Be loyal to the royal within you." -Harold B. Lee

"You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable... it's your choice." -Gordon B. Hinckley 

"Wonderful, glorious things are in store for you if only you will believe, obey, and endure." -Thomas S. Monson

"Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out." -Gordon B. Hinckley

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place." -Ezra Taft Benson

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until Heaven; But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." -Jeffrey R. Holland

FALL!

Hello! It is Friday once again. That means it is blog time once again. Don't you feel special that I am writing to you for a third week in a row? Well, you should!

This week has been cold! I love it! It has felt like fall (that's the best time of the year, don't ya know!). Because it feels like fall, I am getting SO excited for fall. Let me tell you why.

1- Fall looks like this...

(I don't own this picture. If you click on it, it will take you to where I found it.)

... At least for a little while. If you don't believe me, go take a drive through the canyons in October. Delightful, isn't it?

2- Halloween! To me, this is a great holiday. It gives me an excuse to watch sappy kid movies like Hocus Pocus. I'll be honest with you, that IS my favorite Halloween movie. Oh, I can't forget handing out the candy. I adore that part of this holiday because I get to see all the cute kids in costumes. 

3- Hot chocolate. YUM! It is great to come home from school or work and sip on a steaming cup of cocoa while doing homework or reading. Doesn't that sound relaxing?

4- Fashion! I delight in wearing boots, hats, scarfs, and sweaters! I think they are all so cute and cozy!

5- Thanksgiving! Everything about this holiday makes me walk on air! Being around family, sharing our gratitude, smelling the lovely smells, pumpkin pie, and, of course, the tradition of watching A Christmas Story to get us excited for Christmas!

Those are just a few things I am looking forward to in the next couple of months. I can't wait! 

Have a great week, readers!  

PS What are you most looking forward to about fall?

Smile :)

Hello, my fellow readers! 

First off, I apologize for the strange looking blog today. I was trying to change things up a little bit. I changed the colors, changed the background, saved my cute blog, opened it up in a new window, and my background wasn't the one I saved. Ugh! And I can't get blogger to save my background no matter how hard I try. :( So, I guess we will all have to deal with it for a while.

Lately I have been trying to be a better person. I know, I thought I was perfect too! HA! Just kidding. My last post, I gave you a challenge, well, I gave you a few, but we are going to focus on one. I wanted you to smile at a stranger. Did you do it? I hope you did. Just so you are aware, when I give people challenges, I do them too. So, I went to school the first day after that post smiling (probably creepily, but I don't know for sure). Do you know want to know what happened? People didn't look at me. Do you know how hard it is to smile when there is no one around to share it with? However, I persisted. Every day I go to school I smile at random strangers. Lately, I have noticed a lot more people smiling back at me. Maybe I'll start a new trend. Yep! Ha ha! Because I am smiling more people also talk to me more. WOW! To be honest with you, I love it! Happy people are great people! Yes, people still give me strange looks when they see a big smile coming at them, but it's worth it to see someone smile back who wasn't smiling before. My dear readers, if you have not taken this challenge, I beg you to please try it. It makes life more enjoyable to smile. If you don't believe me, test it. I expect a full page report on my blog my midnight next Friday. Okay, not really, but I do want you to try it. Maybe you won't change a whole school, nor a whole class, but maybe you can change a person's day. I know that it is very cliche, but it does happen. It's changed mine. 

(I do not own this image, I found it on Pintrest.)