Gratification.

The boy who sits in front of me in Greek wears a polo shirt every day.

And for some reason,

my itchy little fingers want to creep over and

pop his collar.

Every day.

Just pop it up.

Obviously, I refrain.

But today

I realized that I was also wearing a polo shirt.

So I just popped my own collar!

You will be awesome!

Things that make you a better person:

1. Watching really weird foreign movies that you don't understand.

2. Giving people compliments even though it might be awkward.

3. Learning about your grandparents from your mom.

4. Reading hard books.

5. Looking people in the eye.

6. Giving your money away to something good.

"Recently, a nine-year-old boy was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. The doctor explained the diagnosis and the treatment, which included months of chemotherapy and major surgery. He said it would be a very difficult time for the boy and his family but then added, 'People ask me, "Will I be the same after this is over?" I tell them, "No, you won't be the same. You will be so much stronger. You will be awesome!"'"

Elder Paul V. Johnson,

More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us 

Check.

One thing that I've been learning is

Life is not a checklist.

The everyday events of our lives aren't a checklist.

The gospel isn't a checklist.

Love isn't a checklist.

Remember in Young Women's when they'd have you write that list of qualities that you wanted in your future husband?

We've all done it.

When I was 13, the first thing I wrote down on my list was

fun-loving.

What does that even mean?

That's definitely not important.

During senior year of high school, it was

-kind

-righteous Mormon

-priesthood

-RM

-smart

-hardworking

-loves HISTORY!

-likes kids

-musical

-athletic

-attractive

-modest

-doesn't text message in church

-integrity

-honesty

-like my dad

-patient

(Not sure why loving history was that important.)

(Or why I thought I'd be able to find every positive quality in one person.)

And during this summer I came up with this list in Relief Society:

spiritual

smart

loves to talk

funny

hardworking

obedient

kind

virtuous

But the problem is, you don't love people because they are a list of qualities.

It's not like a disease:

"Well, ahem, if your boyfriend has five or more of these symptoms, then we're definitely looking at a case of love here."

No.

Love isn't a checklist.

You love people because you love them.

Because you know they are spirit sons and daughters of Heavenly Father.

Because they have divine worth and potential.

See then when you love someone, it's easy to list the things you like about them.

And that's just the best thing there is to feel.

"God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added."

Elder David A. Bednar,

"The Tender Mercies of the Lord"

Sob story.

Once upon a time,

all the boys that I thought were cute in my Greek class

turned out to be freshmen.

Okay, it isn't that extreme.

But it's still embarrassing.

I laugh at myself at least once a class period just thinking about it.

But then again, I laugh at myself often.

I swear, he looked at least 21.

Should you feel inclined to censor...

Sometimes I write entire blog posts and don't post them.

Because they are too pretentious/judgmental/personal.

The New World.

Hello, this is me.

Your resident lesser-celebrated American holiday expert.

And today is a special day.

Because once upon a time in 1492, my man Christopher Columbus discovered the new world!

WIN.

Say what you will about the negative effects of conquest and colonization, 

but it happened.

And if it hadn't, most of us Anglo-Americans wouldn't be here.

And I'm glad to be here.

All you need to do to celebrate Columbus Day is listen to some discovering America music.

(This song is appropriate for all American celebrations.)

Sit there and close your eyes

and think about discovering a new continent.

A land of plenty,

of wild beauty,

of promise.


Stepping off your ship onto soil never touched by your people.
Never dreamed of.

Do it.

Doesn't your heart swell with triumph?

(The cheese factor on this post is extremely high.
But when it comes to America, you can never go too high.)

Manflesh.

Stop me if you get tired of hearing it,

but I hate the smell of cologne.

Whenever I walk past a guy and get a big ol' whiff of it,

I say in my head,

"Man scent!"

And I remind myself of this:

And then I chuckle.