johann sebastian bach

I am currently listening to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F. It's not uncommon for me to listen to classical music; in fact, I grew up in a home where classical music was the norm. I have my mother to thank for that. She would often listen to music from history's greatest composers as she cooked dinner or did other housework. I have found that I do the same!

While I personally prefer Chopin and Beethoven, I read a quote from Johann Sebastian Bach this week that has been on my mind. He said, "Music's only purpose should be the glory of God and the recreation of the human spirit." Bach was never interested in fame or fortune, he simply wanted to show his devotion to God and bring joy to those around him. That idea resonated with me, and throughout the week I have considered how I personally glorify God and lift those around me.

For me, I glorify God through my actions both public and private. I share what I believe with others, I sing hymns for Him, and I thank Him through prayer for the many blessings He has given me. I bring joy to those around me through encouragement and laughter. I want people to know that I support their dreams and their opportunity to choose their own path in life. I enjoy bringing a smile to the face of a friend.

I think that each of us glorifies God and provides relief to human spirits in individual ways. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to reflect on this in my own life, and I am going to start being more aware of how others do this in theirs.

remote meeting

For our remote meeting, our group decided to use Google Hangout in order to discuss and work on our team project.

I hated it.

First off, I'm really not a technology-literate person, so having to meet via computer put me in a bad attitude anyway. We started the chat, only to have problems getting everyone on. Then my wifi went out. Then it went out again. Then I got frustrated. We were able to do some work on our project using Google docs, but overall I was not satisfied with the experience.

I understand the value of being able to have remote meetings; people all across the world can talk together and share ideas. However, I don't understand why anyone would ever have a remote meeting when they can meet in person. I think that meeting in person eliminates a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding. It seemed to take three times as long to decide on things during our remote meeting as it usually does when we meet in person.

I'm going to avoid meetings via Google Hangout like the plague.

changing the world

My least favorite class this semester is Finance 201. I just find the material to be very dry; it doesn't really motivate me or inspire me to do big things. Thankfully my professor Dr. Holmes is interesting enough, and every once in a while he has true gems that really stick with me. One such gem has been on my mind this past week.

After 72 minutes of lecturing about capital budgeting, Dr. Holmes began to talk about changing the world in the full sense of the phrase. He talked about how some people would have us believe that we can't really change the world, that those are just some fluffy words out of our reach. Then he stated, "Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't change the world because in fact, you're the only ones who can. Your station in life gives you the energy. The fact that you're members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives you perspective. Your education at BYU gives you the intellectual prowess. You can change the world."

Dr. Holmes is right; you and I can change the world on a large-scale basis. However, I think this is best accomplished on a small-scale basis, one person at a time. We can begin to change the world by changing someone's world.

I know this because my world has been changed by people around me. Family members, friends, and mere acquaintances have left lasting impressions that shape who I am. I want to have the same influence on those around me. Because of Dr. Holmes' words, I want to begin to change the world. I want to brighten the days of the people I meet. I want to smile. I want to lift and encourage and love. I want to focus more on those around me than I do on myself. This week I want to find one opportunity every day to change someone's world in a small way.

Finance 201 may be boring most of the time, but I really have learned a lot that is applicable to life. You and I can change the world!

sister lattin

Sister Lattin is the wife of my mission president, my second mom, and my greatest example of genuine friendliness. She is always smiling! Whenever she sees you, she gives you the biggest, most enthusiastic hug. You feel as if she's been waiting her whole life to see you. I always feel of Sister Lattin's genuine love and appreciation for me as an individual.

Sister Lattin also has some health problems involving osteoporosis. In fact, for the past few weeks she has been in the United States getting treatment. She has been on my mind and in my prayers. Her example of friendliness and love makes me want to be better.

So, this week I'm going to renew an old goal of mine. Sometimes when I'm in big crowds or somewhere with a lot of distractions, I don't actually pay attention to the person who is speaking with me. I'll look around, only listen with one ear, and give almost no feedback. I realized that this could give the impression to the people that I'm around that I don't care about them, or that things are better elsewhere. A while ago, I made a goal that whenever I am with someone, I will focus on them, look them in the eyes, and be genuinely interested. I am going to commit to doing this again throughout the course of this week. I want other people to feel around me the way I feel around Sister Lattin.

By genuinely being interested in others, I will build my relationships with them. I believe that relationships are the most important things we can focus on in life. I am grateful for the good examples I have of friendliness and interest, and I hope to one day be an example of this for other people.

nature

I'm from Oregon; it's a BEAUTIFUL state, covered with mountains, green trees, and rivers. I didn't really appreciate how magnificent Oregon's nature was until I came to BYU for school…I mean, I guess Utah is pretty too.

I grew up playing among the Douglas Firs behind my house, picking blackberries, boating, camping, hiking, swimming, stargazing, you name it. I thought that everyone had such a childhood, but this past week in one of my classes we discussed how children are spending significantly less time outside and in nature than previous generations. Most of it has to do with the surge in television watching and video game playing. I guess kids don't want to exercise their own imagination when a computer does it for them…

We discussed the effects of this phenomenon, which is appropriately termed "nature-deficit disorder." Kids have greater trouble focusing, are more likely to be obese, and are performing more poorly in school. This knowledge made me especially grateful for my upbringing in Oregon, where I was free to connect with nature on a daily basis.

That being said, I have noticed how I spend much less time outside as a college student than I would like to. Once you factor in classes, homework, work, social engagements, and church meetings, there seems to hardly be any time left to enjoy the beauty of this earth. In my life, I notice that when I take a few minutes outside to sit still, I am happier and more productive. Learning about nature-deficit disorder scared me into making a goal of spending twenty minutes outside every day. I think that this will improve my overall mood and appreciation for what is around me. I am really grateful for a God who created such a beautiful earth for us to live on, and I want to enjoy it more often.

jason mraz

Last night I had the opportunity to drive up to Salt Lake City for a Jason Mraz concert; it was incredible. Not only does Jason write beautiful songs and perform extremely well live, but also he has a strong set of values based on positivity that I found to be compelling.

All of Jason's music is related to positive thinking in some way. One particular example that he shared stuck out to me. Growing up, he had a friend who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Instead of complaining about the diagnosis or focusing on the negative, this friend instead adopted the mantra, "I won't worry my life away." He continued to live his life to the fullest, and is still alive and well today. This phrase became the inspiration for one of Jason's most famous songs, "The Remedy."

Since I heard this story, I have been thinking about the power of a positive attitude. No, we can't always change our circumstances or our genetic predispositions, but we do have control over our attitude. I have noticed in my own life how choosing a good attitude makes any situation bearable, no matter how dark. With this is mind, anytime this week when I find myself complaining about something, I will correct myself and instead think of two good things about the situation. I think that by training my mind in this way, I'll be able to find greater satisfaction in life and feel more able to deal with challenges.

My mom always said, "Attitude is everything; pick a good one." Will you?

technology

In one of my classes this week, we discussed the positive and negative uses of technology, as well as the pervasiveness of technology in our society today. I think you all know that technology is a wonderful blessing that can be used for good, but it can also become a handicap when used too often. Our professor advised us to do a personal checkup and see how often we were using technology, and for what purposes.

So I did. For two days I kept track of my technology use more closely--in particular, the use of my phone--and documented how often I sent a text message, scanned Facebook, sent a Snapchat, etc.

The results shocked me. I could hardly go at least five minutes without checking my phone! It was ridiculous! I realized that I had been missing out on a lot going around me because I had my head down and eyes glued to my phone.

Because of what I learned, I decided to make some changes in my life. First, while I'm walking from class to class I don't look at my phone. Instead, I simply enjoy the sunny weather, smile at people, and focus more on breathing the fresh air. I have also decided to put my phone and computer to bed about twenty minutes before I go to bed. By doing this, I will have time to unwind so that falling asleep is an easier process. I'm going to start with these two changes for the next week, and then I'll figure out where to go from there.

Technology is a beautiful thing; it allows me to stay connected with my parents, brothers, and friends in Ukraine. However, there were things that I could change and ways that I could improve my usage. I am glad that we discussed this topic in class because it helped me to more clearly figure out my priorities.

cliche creativity

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity of cheering on a good friend as she made her debut as a fashion designer in Provo Fashion Week. Michelle Whitaker was my freshman year roommate, and we've remained good friends since then--while I was on my mission she wrote me more consistently than my own brother!

A couple summers ago, Michelle decided that she wanted to start sewing as a hobby. With a lot of time and a lot of effort, she refined her skills to the point where she now runs a profitable Etsy shop (ClicheCreativity). Check out one of her most popular designs in the picture below!

Super cute, right? Like I said, Michelle debuted as a fashion designer last night at Provo Fashion Week.  It was so much fun for me to be there and to see what Michelle had accomplished; I also took home a valuable lesson.

Michelle simply decided that she was going to do this and she did. She didn't let anyone tell her no, she didn't let deadlines stress her out, and she never gave up her passion. Michelle taught me the importance of going for it. One of my favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau, who said, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." To me, this quote captures what Michelle exemplifies. Last night at the fashion show, I relearned that if you want something, you should just go for it.

Because of this lesson, I want to be more confident in my pursuits. I have been thinking about how this especially applies to internships and jobs. I should not downgrade myself or my abilities, and if I want to apply for a job--or simply try something new--I should!

I am grateful for good friends and life lessons.

retirement plan

My dad is really good with money; he works hard, he saves, and he thinks about the future. I have learned much from his example. Growing up, he would often give me bits of advice regarding finances that I would need to know later in life. One in particular that I remember is about retirement; Dad would look at me and say, "Lexi, if you save $100 every month starting right now, by the time you retire you will be a millionaire." I understood something about interest so this statement made sense to me, but as a 16-year-old, I definitely was not thinking about retirement.

This past week, my finance class reinforced this principle taught by my father. I learned about the time value of money. We discussed bonds and annuities, learned how to solve for variables on the calculator, and then at the end, my professor brought up retirement plans. Working a few problems, he gave us the key to retiring as millionaires: start saving now. With 45 years until I retire, the payment I would have to make now in order to have a comfortable retirement is significantly less than what it would be if I started saving twenty, ten, or even five years from now. Having the background context of the time value of money helped me to understand fully my father's advice.

I think it's hard for most people to look so far in the future and stay committed to a course of action, but in this case, I think it's worth it. I can't say that I'll specifically set aside a part of my paycheck for retirement, but I will look over my finances to see if I'm saving an adequate amount to get started. I'm grateful for the good example of my father in managing finances; he's always right!

the intentional family

This week, I read a book entitled The Intentional Family, written by family therapist and educator William Doherty. The purpose of the book is to strengthen relationships within families through the use of everyday rituals. Doherty defines a ritual as something that is repeated, coordinated, and significant. For example, parents and children can have a bedtime ritual of reading a story together before the child is tucked in for the night; couples can have a ritual of sharing a kiss and a meaningful conversation every day after coming home from work. Rituals can be simple, but the point is that they are intentional.

As I read this book, I realized that my childhood was riddled with rituals that strengthened my relationships with my siblings and parents; I would like to share just one with you. Every Sunday, my family would get together to have "Family Council." We would discuss our upcoming plans for the next week, establish goals, and review our family principles. While this is in and of itself a ritual, my favorite part of family council was something we named "Front and Centers." Each person in our family would take turns standing front and center, and then everyone would share one or two things that person had done well during the past week. It was a way for my family to reflect on the merits of each family member, and celebrate each other's accomplishments.

Front and Centers always made me feel that I was important and had something to offer, even when I was still very young. This mattered to me because I knew that my parents (and older brothers) were proud of me. Recognizing others vocally for the things they do well or for the attributes they possess is a sure way to strengthen relationships.

I don't live at home now, I'm not in a family setting, and I don't participate in a weekly family council, but I am surrounded by people. I can use my words to compliment my roommates, classmates, and other people I come in contact with. This week I will give a sincere compliment to someone each day, a version of Front and Centers. By extending this Garrett family ritual into the rest of my life, I will hopefully brighten someone's day and build stronger bonds of friendship and connection.

Леся Українка (Lesya Ukrainka)

This week in my Ukrainian class, we were assigned to give a presentation on any Ukrainian topic. After living in Ukraine for 18 months, I grew a deep love for the Ukrainian people and their culture. One thing that I especially love is their devotion to the arts, specifically to literature. In fact, most of the historical figures celebrated in Ukraine are writers, whether of poetry, novels, or operas.

I decided to create a presentation about Lesya Ukrainka, arguably Ukraine's most famous female writer.  Born in 1871, Ukrainka was raised by educated parents who taught her the importance of the Ukrainian language and culture. She wrote her first poem at age eight, and was a published poet by age 13. Throughout her life she struggled with tuberculosis of the bones, but she worked through the pain and wrote many works, including dramas, compilations of poems, epics, and essays. She championed the legitimacy of Ukrainian literature in a Russian society, supported Ukrainian nationalism, and created a legacy for Ukrainian women. Her influence is still felt today; every city in Ukraine has a street named after her.

After I presented my information, my professor included a few comments of his own. He remarked that Lesya Ukrainka was doubtless inspired by the Spirit in her work. This simple comment caused me to think about all of the cultural and political achievements that have occurred in world history. Sometimes I think we forget that God inspires good people everywhere to do good things, and we mistakenly assume that only Latter-day Saints are led by the Spirit. This is simply not true. The scriptures teach us that all good things come from God; there are no caveats to that statement. No matter who you are, where you live, or when you live, God can touch your life, and you can be an influence for good in the world.

Because of this knowledge, I have decided to act more quickly when I have a prompting to do good acts. This week, I will try every day to consciously do at least one good thing for someone around me. We each have the ability to create goodness, and we should use this ability every day.

the count of monte cristo

My mother raised me with a love for the arts. When I was a mere one year old she took me to see the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast; this was the first musical of many. Throughout my life, I have been privileged to see renditions of the most famous musicals of all time, including West Side Story, Wicked, Hairspray, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and The Phantom of the Opera, among others. I have a deep love and respect for the well-written scripts, the memorable music, and the actors' and actresses' talent.

Given such an upbringing, it was easy for me to decide to see BYU's production of The Count of Monte Cristo (click here to read about behind-the-scenes makeup and costuming). Based on the book by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of Frenchman Edmond Dantes, profiling his life as he deals with love, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, plot, music, and fight scenes, but I also took away a needed life lesson. In the end of the play, Dantes states, "Learn to live, and forgive." I have thought much on this phrase, and have come to internalize it. When we choose to be bitter and hold grudges, we are impeding our ability to live joyfully. On the other hand, when we forgive, our load becomes lighter, we become free, and our lives become more fulfilling.

I think there are points in our lives--great and small--where we all refuse to forgive. I am guilty of this; I even can think of a few examples in my life right now. I will follow Dantes' advice and choose to forgive these people within the next week. I know that it will free my soul and allow me to find greater joy in life.

Grandpa Heppler

One of the great examples in my life is my grandfather, Larry Heppler. This week, he suffered a heart attack and has been staying in the hospital. My thoughts and prayers have been focused on him, and so I wold like to write about the influence he has been in my life. 

Grandpa Heppler grew up in a broken home; his mother was married five times, and he was never very close with his biological father. He realized that he needed something different, so when he married my grandmother, he decided that family would be first in his life. He wanted his children and grandchildren to have the experiences that he never had. I grew up being very close to my maternal extended family; we would eat Sunday dinner together, help each other with projects in the yard, and have monthly swim nights in my grandparents' pool. Our closeness as a family is due to the care and attention of Grandpa and Grandma Heppler.

My grandfather has also lived his life to the fullest, especially in regards to his career. Grandpa Heppler has done everything from raising rabbits to make fur coats, to piloting his own jet, to working as a dentist for the native people of Canada. I don't think there's anything he hasn't done!

Most importantly, Grandpa Heppler has a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I heard part of his testimony during this last Christmas break. Every year, my family gets together for a Christmas Family Home Evening, which includes a talent show, ice cream sundaes, and lots of laughter. This year, I had recently returned from my mission to Ukraine when the evening was held. Grandpa Heppler wrote a poem to me and all his other grandchildren who had served missions, which he shared with us as seen below:

My favorite line is, "Do not let your spirit retire." Grandpa Heppler is an example of this. He has always remained true to what he knows is right. He works to increase his knowledge of God, and influences others to do the same. Because of my grandfather, I too want to gain spiritual knowledge. I too want to serve the Lord with my whole heart. 

When I read the scriptures each day, when I pray, and when I attend church, I think of Grandpa Heppler. I will be more faithful in my worship because of who he is and what he has taught me. 

Thanks Grandpa, I love you.

брат малишкевич (Brother Malyshkevych)

I was thrilled when I learned that BYU started offering Ukrainian classes. Although I understand that the increase in global interest is probably related to current political issues, I prefer to think that it's because Ukrainian is a beautiful language that deserves to be appreciated. It flows, it's soft, and it can stand up to French and Italian in romanticism. But I'm a little biased.

So I signed up for Ukr 330. My class is made up of myself, eleven other returned missionaries with whom I served, and our teacher Brother Malyshkevych. Eastern Europeans tend to get a bad rap for being too stern and never smiling, but Ukrainians are different. They have suffered much, and yet have persevered. They have an innate beauty, softness, and humility--words I used to describe the language itself.

Brother Malyshkevych exemplifies the best of these qualities. In my opinion, he is extremely accomplished. He has finished university in Kiev, is currently studying at BYU, has translated for many General Authorities, and is raising a beautiful family. On a broader scale, he has lived through the fall of the Soviet Union, the organization and growth of the Church in Ukraine, and the building of the only temple in Eastern Europe.

Accolades aside, Brother Malyshkevych is one of the most humble men I know. He never flaunts his knowledge or brags of his experiences. Instead, he is consumed with gratitude. In addition, he understands that God is real, that He has a plan, and that we have a purpose on this earth. Lastly, Brother Malyshkevych has a great sense of humor. I believe that these qualities have allowed him to live a full life, even amid trials and challenges. 

After only two weeks of class, Brother Malyshkevych has already taught me valuable lessons. The one that compels me the most is humility stemming from gratitude. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin once stated, "Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable." (see full text here)

I could work on my gratitude; it's not enough for me to just say thank you. It's about accepting the opportunities and obstacles placed in front of me, looking to God, and then looking around at everything He has blessed me with in order to succeed.

Thanks for the life lesson, Brother Malyshkevych.

smiles

When I tell most people that I want to major in Recreation Management, I get a sigh and an eye roll in return, which are most likely accompanied by visions of rock climbing and zip lines. I'll admit, I often feel the need to justify my decision by telling people of my "nobler" intentions of eventually working in Marriage and Family Therapy. I've even started to demean the major myself, so it wasn't a surprise when I went to my first RecM 300 class with a pessimistic attitude. We spent our time discussing definitions of "happiness," "the good life," and other seemingly fluffy terms. I wasn't amused.

Then I got an assignment to create a blog and I decided to write about my lemon candles (see previous post). I realized how hypocritical I was for writing about what makes me happy and at the same time criticizing my class for doing the same thing. 

So I went back to class with a refreshed perspective, and I came away with new knowledge. One idea that stood out to me was the effect that smiles have on longevity and overall life satisfaction. Do you know the difference between a Pan-Am smile and a Duchenne smile? A Pan-Am smile is the kind you force when your aunt pulls out the camera for the millionth time at the family reunion. On the other hand, a Duchenne smile is the genuine kind where the corners of your mouth and eyes crinkle. Any guesses as to which one increases happiness? 

Accordingly, I've made a resolution to increase the amount of Duchenne smiles that cross my face. When I'm happy, you'll know it. When I think your jokes are funny, you'll know it. And when I think your jokes are lame......you'll know it. I want to be genuine with my emotions.

I also think that drawing a Duchenne smile from others could be a lemon candle. Making people truly smile is the best!

the origins

Six weeks ago I returned from Ukraine, where I lived for 18 months as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I worked hard, slept little, and experienced much. Most importantly, I learned lessons that I won’t be soon to forget.

One of those lessons came at a particularly difficult point in my mission. I had every reason to be happy—my companion was kind, we had people to teach, the branch was growing—but I wasn’t. I was rather unhappy. And I couldn’t figure out how to get out of that funk. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with people whose wisdom far exceeds my own, one of whom is my dear mother. She’s the smartest woman I know. At one point during this trying time, I received an enlightening email from her, which stated the following:

As I’ve seen tulips and thought of you, I’ve also thought of the ways for you to feel joy.  Perhaps it’s about taking time for you.  For instance, here are a few of the things that I do.  When I shower (hahahaha), I like to burn a lemon candle.  It’s just a little thing, but it brings me joy, and really is for me.  When I go to Deseret Book, I like to buy myself a mint chocolate truffle bar and eat it.  I like to go up to the bonus room, work on a project and watch ‘Law and Order’…You’re not doing anything ‘wrong,’ but men are that we might have joy.  Find your lemon candles, mint truffle bars, and Law and Order episodes.

Something in this letter clicked for me, and from that moment on I have searched for my own “lemon candles.” They range from dress store window displays to popcorn, and from runs with my best friend to aromatic Kleenex, but the point is that each of my lemon candles is something that is just for me and brings me a smidge of joy. Mom was so right.

Who’s ready to find their own lemon candles?