Gratitude, The Secret to Happiness

Today is Thanksgiving and so I have been reflecting on what I am personally thankful for.

-I have been blessed with a loving and supportive family, and I am indeed grateful for all they do: My wonderful parents, siblings, one niece, six nephews, uncles and aunts and many awesome cousins and grandparents (my grandmother Darlene who I share a name with, and my other grandparents who have passed on). I am eternally grateful for their faithfulness and that I am sealed with them.

-I am grateful for the opportunity I have to get an education at a wonderful university. I truly hope to "go forth to serve" when I graduate this coming April.

-I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have a testimony of its truthfulness and of the messages of hope and eternal happiness I have learned through being a member of this church. My testimony of the gospel, of The Book of Mormon--another testament of Jesus Christ, and of God and Jesus Christ have carried me through some of the darkest times in my life, and they also allow me to appreciate the good times even more fully.

-I am grateful for the beauty of the earth, for God's creations both large and small. There have been so many times where I see a sunset that takes my breath away, or notice the clouds and the shadows they make against the mountains where I live. Some people think it is weird that I can just stare out my window and look at the mountains, but I am in awe over their beauty, power, and majesty. Perhaps this is a bit overstated, but it is one thing in life that is so precious to me.

-I am grateful for my health, and for all the changes I've made in my life this past year that have enabled me to live more fully and with more peace and joy.

*I could go on and on with what I am grateful for, but I think I mentioned the most important ones here. Since I woke up this morning the words to a children's hymn "My Heavenly Father Loves Me,"have been going through my head and they relate to this post perfectly.

"Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue, blue sky, Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by. Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by our lilac tree… I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings. He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things. He gave me my life my mind my heart; I thank him reverently, for all his creations, of which I’m a part. Yes I know Heavenly Father loves me."

-May this day and every day we take time to thank Heavenly Father for all the gifts He has given.

Stand

Rascal Flatts is one of my favorite bands. I love their songs. I can't remember when I first heard their song "Stand," but it has remained one song that I listen to when I am down and need some inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm8711y6ILU&feature=related (This is a link to the music video on youtube. It is awesome!

Here are the words:

You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

[Chorus:]
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand

Life's like a novel
With the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon
With only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on

[Repeat Chorus]

Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place

It's Complicated

When I was in junior high I loved Avril lavigne's song "Complicated." and most appreciated the first line of the chorus, "Why do you have to make things so complicated?" I have been saying that to myself for years, and recently the thought has constantly been on my mind--among many other things. I have been going through a rough time lately, perhaps because school is really beginning to get stressful and since there are only a few weeks left and too many projects, papers and tests to think about; I have become overwhelmed--which really shouldn't come as a big surprise to me or to anyone who knows me. Still, sometimes I wish I wouldn't worry about everything as much as I do . . . make things more complex than they actually need to be.

I guess I really need to get some perspective on life right now. I need to remember how far I have come and how blessed I am. Although my life is not perfect--as it never will be--I am generally doing ok. Although I have difficult days I am trying to remember that everyone has those kind of days. Maybe this fact seems obvious to most people, but for most of my life I truly believed that perfection was possible. This belief has been a source of great stress and frustration over the years. In the past six years or so I have been actively trying to fight against my perfectionism, because it truly has hindered my growth in many ways. I know perfectionism can make life more difficult than it should be--it is one of my stumbling blocks that I will probably struggle with my whole life.

I know I need to be more patient with myself and with life in general right now. Sometimes I wish that life could be more simple and easy to navigate, and maybe it is. It is likely that I am complicating things so that I feel more pressure, stress, and frustration about life than is really necessary. I need to remember why I named this blog "The Inevitable Dawn." It was because I have a testimony of the fact that despite all the darkness in life the dawn will inevitably come. I know this to be true . . . so I need this to be a comfort to my soul.