A Passage to the Daylight

I am doing an experiment to see if eating healthily will really contribute to better mood, higher energy levels, and better overall health.   I had been trying for a few weeks to eat more healthy food and less sugar, but I didn't do a very good job. I found myself constantly giving in to cravings, or making excuses for eating sugar, like "I have been healthy all day, so its okay to eat this now," or "I really need an energy boost right now, and this is just the thing." I had little regulation over my sugar intake, but I still desired to be more healthy.  Finally, I began to make sure that there were lots of healthy snacks around the house, as a substitute for any sugary food I might want to reach for.  Then, I told myself that I wouldn't eat any sugary thing until Thursday, and I have stuck to that resolution so far!   I have not noticed any major differences in how I feel or my energy level, but I do think that I feel cleaner on the inside. I don't...

You are the center of attention. Your partner is next to you, ready for whatever comes next, and then... the director says go, and your mind goes completely blank.  All you think is how embarrassed you are, not because you are doing improv, or even because you might be about to do something silly, but because you are afraid what you will do is not silly enough. Your face heats up, and your hands get sweaty. You know every one is looking at you and most likely judging you hard core.     Maybe that's not how you feel about improv, but it is certainly how I felt this morning.  My drama class did an exercise, and I embarrassed myself a ton, and my confidence was low for the rest of the day.   I am very excited for tomorrow, though, I can't wait to try again and (hopefully) get better!  I just need to remember that this whole life is an adventure, with lots of experiments, and mistakes, and backtracking. But even in the midst of detours and losing the way, it ...

The Mormon Battalion Commemoration Today, in Old Town San Diego, we celebrated the amazing legacy of the Mormon Battalion. The festival was held in the State Park area of Old Town, where stations were set up for the public to come and learn about the Mormon Battalion.    Some of the tents provided information about what life was like during that time period. There was one providing clothes you could try on to feel like a pioneer. Another was a sing-along station, where you could learn and listen to songs from the time period. Other tents provided crafts including doll making, rope making, brick making, and sewing. Another tent focused on games and entertainment.    The focus of the event was to allow people to learn about the rich history of the Mormon Pioneers, and most especially, the Mormon Battalion. As the saints were crossing the plains, they were asked by the government to help fight in the Mexican American war.  This came as a surprising answer to ...

In our fast paced and high-tech world, it is so common to forget what makes life so wonderful.  All the everyday things we take for granted are truly so amazing. Have you ever stopped to think about what happens when you turn on a light? It is so much more complex than just flipping a switch; electrical currents get sent through the wires, into the bulb, and produce light when they come in contact with the filament. But enough about electricity, the world is full of little details that are seriously incredible, yet so easily forgotten. On a simple drive through town, you can take time to appreciate the diversity of individuals, the genius engineering behind cars and lights and phones, the artistic design of local shops and cafes, architectural feats, and the beautiful sky and trees and plants. This world is full of amazing things, we just need to take the time to look for it. Being able to recognize the wonder and beauty of the world has been a key factor in maintaining mental ...

When the New Year rolls around, the jokes and humor about unattainable resolutions come along. A new year seems to signal new life, a new you, a fresh start, so people use that opportunity to change... or try to. A common problem in our society is these resolutions are rarely carried out. They usually lose their appeal after a few weeks. Then, people tend to beat themselves up about failing at their goal, they become disheartened and lose confidence in their ability to endure and persist.  The thing is, people go about this the wrong way. In the wise words of Thomas Edison, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." So, try again. Maybe a resolution to eliminate processed sugar from your diet, or to lose a given amount of weight was too big of an undertaking. Maybe, instead of making these grand life changes, we can make regular, smaller changes to our everyday lifestyle that will have a larger effect in the long-run.   My dad used to teach...

Day 1: Base Camp. Today I learned that usually things don’t turn out the way you expect them to, so I can’t get too set on my hopes. Day 2: Crater Lake. We did our first hike today. It wasn’t so bad except that one member of our crew was really slow so we had to keep waiting and slowing down. Going slowly makes it more painful for me, so that was really hard, but I tried to encourage her every chance I got because I know she will get better. Day 3: Beaubien. Today was an all around great day. The hike was really nice, especially because I think I am getting used to the pack and hiking and everything. I really enjoyed the whole hike today, especially when we all sang together as we were going up a mountain. We sang mostly Disney songs, but a few others and it was a great bonding time for all of us, and even the slowest girl in the crew was able to make it to the top. She is still slow, but getting better. Day 4: Agua Fria. Talk about cold water, we hiked through the c...