Change

So I've been slacking off a bit and I apologize. I've been thinking about what to write about in here for a while and I finally got it.

There's a word that has always had a bitter sweet meaning to me. What's the word?

Change.

Change can be good, but it can also be bad, or sad.

I've had to deal with a lot of change and it's been from both aspects of it. But what's really changed me as a person has been change in friendships.

Friends in my life are something that I put at the top of my list of things that I value. I love my friends with all my heart. But sometimes I love them too much to notice that something's not right. With one friend I had, I was too forgiving. Too blind to see that every time I forgave them for something was just another chance for them to hurt me again. It wasn't till the point that I was left in tears crying to another friend who was trying to help me through this that I realized what I had to do. I had to change my friendship with them to a non existent one for the better. Was it hard? Oh yes. Imagine the awkwardness of having to be in the same room as them knowing that they are staring at you. Imagine being on the same sports team as that person and having the same leadership position as them so you are forced to talk to them. Imagine sitting right in front of that person in a class and knowing that they're staring at the back of your head. Can you imagine all that? Yeah, I had to go through that as part of my process of change and it was hard, so hard. But was it worth it? Definitely, because a lot of good things came out of it. I was able to get a new best friend and see what a true friendship is, I got to spend more time with what I love doing and with a group of people that I love a lot, and I was able to change the person that I am into an even better one.

Change isn't easy friends, but it's possible.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Well, I don't have much to say, so I've decided to put pictures of motivational sayings that I've found over time. Enjoy.

Stuck in the Slumps...

"I'm sorry to say so
But, sadly, it's true
That bang-ups
And hang-ups
Can happen to you

You can get all hung up
In a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a lurch

You'll come down from the lurch
With an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then
That you'll be in a slump

And when you're in a slump,
You're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
Is not easily done."

Words that are true indeed Dr. Seuss. Being in a slump, does things to you. It messes with your head and emotions and makes you feel like a person that you are not. But sometimes people are put in slumps, but not voluntarily. I'm sorry to say that there are people out there who enjoy and work at putting people in the slumps for pure fun. I know. I've dealt with a couple.

But those people don't get what they're actually doing to a person when they do all that mean stuff. They don't realize all the damage they're causing. What's a solution for it? Ignore them, as much as it may hurt you on the inside. This of course isn't an easy task. I'm still learning to cope with it.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me? False. Words can hurt. Sometimes they can hurt as much as knives can, but you've gotta try to keep your head up.

Don't give up in the slump, know why? Cause I'm there too. I'm trying to take my own advice, but it's easier said than done.

For Those Maybe in Need of Some Comfort

As I'm typing this, it is almost 2am. I couldn't sleep because I had something on my mind. So what do I do? Blog about it.

There's a quote that I was taught once upon a time in band that goes a little something like this:

"Sometimes life throws a curve ball at you out of nowhere. This is normal. It's life. Life happens and it happens to everyone. The only thing that is different is that for every person, there is a different reaction. The way that you react to sudden situations make you the person that you are."

I love this quote because it's true. Life happens to everyone, but everyone takes a different approach to the situation at hand.

Next to life happening, you will also be put through trials to test your strength in every way. And now I have yet another quote from Da Fatha. He told us this at the end of a rehearsal that we had been struggling through.

"It's hard, I know this is hard and I want to tell you with all my heart that this will be the hardest thing that you will ever do. But that's just a big old fat lie. I'm sorry to say that this is NOT the hardest thing that you will ever do. There are things out in this big scary world that scare even grown people like me. So what do we do? We face them and do the best we can and stay strong."

Challenges and trials aren't put in our lives to just be a background decoration. They are put there so we can look them in the eye and say "Hey, you're going down. You don't scare me. I'm strong. Bring it on." But no battle is easy if it's fought alone. The solution? Anyone around you that loves you. Friends, family... They love you for who you are and would love to help you. The only thing you need to do is ask.

"Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me! When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on"

Everyone needs someone to lean on, and I've got good news for you guys.
Need a friend? Call me :) I'll listen to you and try to help you out as best I can. I just don't want anyone trying to face a battle alone.

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor :)

"Those Small Acts of Kindness..."

"I have a theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go."

-Rachel Joy Scott, First victim of the Columbine High School Shooting

I first heard about this girl my freshman year of high school in a school wide assembly where they introduced a little something called "Rachel's Challenge." To put it simply, it was a way to change the world (or school) for the positive by doing small acts of kindness.

When this assembly was over, everyone was all "I want to do it! I want to change people for the better!" and signed a banner saying that they accepted the challenge. a couple weeks later, Rachel's challenge was forgotten in the minds of many.

At times, I forgot about that challenge, but it wasn't until I was on the opposite side of it that I understood that I needed to continue the challenge even if no one else wanted to follow in my footsteps.

It wasn't easy, but I sure felt a lot better about putting a smile on someone else's face, and before I knew it, they were doing the same for me and they made all the difference.

What I'm trying to say here is, be careful with your words. Some of them can be twisted and changed into something that you never meant to say and can hurt someone deeply. 

Then again, words can be fantastic too! I don't know of many people who frown upon a simple "Hi! How's your day been!" or "Hey, I just want you to know you're a fantastic person and you mean a lot to me"

Those small little words can make someone's life change

Reminiscing on Memories...

I have a confession. I have a box.

Not just any box, but a "memory box"

In this memory box, I like to put things that have at some point in my life meant something to me.

Well, I was looking through my box (actually, I have more than one) and was surprised at how much actual stuff I had in there.

Corsage and Fancy straw from Prom

Lifeguard whistles from Seven Peaks

My Alphabet Book from Kindergarten when I was learning to write

Rubber bands from when I had braces

Script to our 5th grade performance of "A Christmas Carol"

Memorial Day Performance Poppies

Almost every program from every Band concert at Timpview

Graduation Programs from 6th and 12th grade

My First Personal Progress book

Pamphlets, tickets and letters from PHP II

Itinerary's from Band Tours...

EVERY single copy of the Thunderbolt from the years I was at Timpview

Tickets from many movie outings, one of which from my first date

And MANY Other things 

What I learned from all these things in my box is that the things that you do, make you what you are. 

For me, I'm a Music playing-lifeguarding-newspaper reading- band trip goer-brace face- graduate AND I'm a Mormon :)

So, make your memories while you're young so you have crazy stories to tell your kids and theirs in the future when you're old and wrinkly.

Once Upon a Time, I went to a parade...

Well, it's been 7 months since I last performed in a parade and... I miss it. Sure I hated the running and celebrating during band rehearsals, but the one quote that always stood out to me during a parade was:

"There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best."
-Joe DiMaggio

As a little kid, my favorite part of the parade (next to seeing the fire truck and inflatable balloons) was seeing the marching bands performing down the street. Dressed in their weird looking clothes playing strange things, but whatever they were doing, looked and sounded cool.

Yesterday I had the privilege of going to the Orem Summerfest parade with Alumni and with Dr. Fullmer and his wife. Definitely the COLDEST and WINDIEST parade we had been to in a while.

We weren't interested in seeing the creepy clowns in firefighter outfits, or seeing the hairy creature Sasquatch thing from Harley Davidson on a motorcycle. No. We were there to see one thing.

The Timpview Marching Band

And see them we did :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEjMxqrZH1g

Never Judge a Book by It's Cover

As I was looking around the internet as I always do, I came across this video and decided to click on it. I suggest you do too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vbIvmlFDcaM#!

As the video came to a close, I realized I had some tears coming down my face, but they were tears of joy! It's videos like this that send out a message to everyone, but you are they the chooser of that message.

Not everyone looks the same, acts the same, or even likes the same things, but that doesn't mean we have to shut them away from the eyes of the world.

A very wise man once said "As I have loved you, Love One Another" and that man... Demonstrated the true meaning of love.

So friends, readers... I love you.

Story Time

So... I've been thinking about what to write about for two days and I think I've got it.

This topic is... Something that I've had to cope with, but I know I'm not the only one and that these words will be able to help you guys too.

And in order to introduce this topic, I'm going to share a story.

This story was written for me by my very best friend and has helped me tremendously in many ways. So without further-a-do, I present: "The Colorless Butterfly"

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Happiness, there lived a beautiful butterfly. Her wings shone with magnificent colors that were the envy of all the other creatures. She flew far and wide, spreading her color everywhere, helping those in need. Her beauty seemed endless...



And the birds were jealous.

They mocked and cursed her and ripped and tore at her colors, trying to steal them for their own.
Hurt, the butterfly dashed away as fast as she could.

She flew through the meadow of Betrayal and the sky grew darker and darker. Suddenly, there was a terrible storm. Lightning of Hatred blazed through the sky and the rain fell like tears of sadness. As the beautiful butterfly struggled through the Anguished wind, she felt her remaining color slowly dripping away...

Finally the storm ceased, and the butterfly found herself alone and completely colorless. Shaking off her wings, she tried to take flight, but without her colors she felt useless. "Ugly, Ugly!" called the birds and the Colorless Butterfly hung her head in shame. "They're right.." she thought. "What value is a butterfly without color?"


In despair, the Butterfly collapsed in the cave of sorrow, where she vowed to stay forever.

"Oh, come now! There's no need to be so glum!" said a voice. The Colorless Butterfly looked up in surprise to see another Colorless Butterfly. Something was different about this Butterfly though; For despite her blank appearance, she held her head high. 
"The name's Shimmer. What's wrong my dear?" 
The Colorless Butterfly whispered, "I'm hiding because I'm ugly." 
"Nonsense! You're absolutely beautiful!" "But I haven't any colors!" she protested. "Oh yes you do!" Shimmer said. "and what wonderful colors they are. Almost as beautiful as mine." The Colorless Butterfly stared at Shimmer's white wings and playful face. She certainly didn't look colorful. She was, well, rather plain. "But Shimmer-" "Look Closer," Shimmer said with a wink.

Squinting her eyes, The Colorless Butterfly concentrated even harder. Sure enough, when the sun hit Shimmer's wings just right a breathtaking pattern shimmered.
"Shimmer! You're so beautiful!" said The Colorless Butterfly, her eyes wide with longing. "Ah, my dear, so are you. Everyone is beautiful. Every color, every size, every shape; The outside matters not, for true beauty is found within. So little one, look closer."

Suddenly, The Colorless Butterfly understood. Turning her face to the sky, she beat her wings strong and proud. Emerging from the cave, her wings shone brighter than the sun. Her colors, her true colors, danced and sparkled like the laughter that rang from her lips.


From then on, The Colorless Butterfly never doubted her beauty. Instead, she continued to spread love and care wherever she went. She painted the world beautiful with her colors, never giving heed to the naysayers who would scorn her. After all, she had found her true colors

And a new best friend.

My friends, don't let others tell you what you can or can't do. They don't have power over you unless you let them take control. As Hogarth tells the Iron Giant, "You don't have to be a gun. You are what you choose to be. So... Choose."