One goal: Read, Ponder, Write

This year, instead of making one or two big new year's resolutions, I decided to make 12 mini-month-long goals. Think of it as the approach of the not-super-committed-individual. That's me! Consistency and self-mastery are really difficult for me.

For January, I chose a goal that is generally one of my year-long goals that gets spotty success. As I near the end of this month I see that I still have spotty success but I don't feel that great weight of failure. And I like it! 30 days is just enough to possibly form a good habit, but not long enough to make me feel the dread that can accompany deadlines/timelines/goal-setting [for me]. In any case, because I don't feel that disappointment I think I'm more apt to continue or to keep this goal on my radar. The goal? Read, ponder, and write about a scripture or other religious content. I'm about 70% effective in doing this. Not great, but not terrible. And I can tell you that I've really liked it! It brings me back to the days of my mission. Oh how I love learning! Structured learning is my best environment [I nearly leaped for joy when I heard an Institute Class on the Old Testament with childcare was being offered in our Stake! Yessssss! Something structured to force me to read, think, learn!].

Here are a few of my favorite things that I've read, listened to, or thought about this month:

A. This excellent broadcast/talk by Randall L. Ridd (I didn't know who he was either...) on Living with Purpose: The Importance of 'Real Intent.' I loved it! Nothing too new but great examples and story, honest voice, focuses on divine principles and the Savior, great pace. It started by picking up on one of the challenges I feel I sometimes face and he goes on to talk about a solution: Too many choices and the fear of making bad decisions often lead to decision paralysis, which is one of the challenges of your generation. It is more difficult to focus than ever! ...Too many people are afraid to commit to anything because they question whether a better option is right around the corner. So they wait—and end up choosing nothing. In this passive state they are easy targets for distraction. The antidote for that... is ...living with purpose. I also liked this quote from the talk: Elder Tad R. Callister asked: “Why is it so critical to have a correct vision of this divine destiny of godliness of which the scriptures and other witnesses so clearly testify? Because with increased vision comes increased motivation.”³  And this gem: It has been said that “the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why” you were born.² Because we have the gospel, we don’t have to spend our entire life trying to discover its purpose. Instead, we can focus on fulfilling that purpose. I could share so many more good things from this talk but just go read it yourself! Seriously!!! It's so very, very good!

B. A fresh but not snarky look at the Young Women values via a contribution from the blog By Common Consent that uses real women as examples of these virtues and principles. It's not anything lengthy or world-unsettling, but it's a nice change and perspective. Not all of the quotes are the best - I think if I had, ya know, one or two days of scouring the world wide web I could find ones that I liked better, but some of the quotes are spot on. One of my favorites? This quote by Chieko Okasaki: "Be spiritually independent enough that your relationship with the Savior doesn't depend on your circumstances or on what other people say and do. Have the spiritual independence to be a Mormon - the best Mormon you can - in your own way." Because I have three daughters, every once in a while (or more often) I get these anxiety attacks about how very, very deeply I want them to know who they are, to be confident, to know their divine self-worth and use it for good. Ah! It's so stressful! So much is working against young girls and women to make us [feel] less powerful and confident than our potential! Ah... this could go on to be an entire post of its own.

C. I serve in the Primary at church so I don't get to attend Relief Society lessons that use the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson manual. But Marc has been listening to the lessons while he does dishes and so I've gotten to hear quite a bit of this prophet's words as well. I like them! Many of my remembrances/associations of this prophet revolve around deciding to read the Book of Mormon when I was young girl because he placed such an emphasis on this book of scripture. That one action has been a great basis for my beliefs and testimony about the Savior and the truth of scripture. The other association I have with President Benson are his strong words about motherhood. Oh the angst they caused me, post-mission, when I was applying to medical school! But, that is old stuff. This stuff I've been reading/hearing lately Man does not stand alone, or at least, he need not stand alone. Prayer will open doors; prayer will remove barriers; prayer will ease pressures; prayer will give inner peace and comfort during times of strain and stress and difficulty. Thank God for prayer." I love how that quote makes clear that prayer is not a panacea, but it is a key to peace. And this: “it is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent.” And finally these words that make me think so much about principles of public health and medicine and the need for our Savior and His way of doing things: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. …“Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.”
is great! Like these gems:  "The great test of life is obedience to God. ...The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it. The great commandment of life is to love the Lord." And "

D. Finally, just a tidbit from the scriptures. [You'll notice that most of my reading and pondering is over "modern" material, straight from LDS.org and living church leaders and prophets. Scripture reading has been a challenge for me the past few years. I like it when I do it, but it's so much harder for me to turn to the ancient scriptures because I feel like it's so much quicker for me to get spiritually fed from articles in the Ensign magazine, attending the temple, General Conference messages, or Mormon Messages videos. So, I'm going the quick route most often these days. :) So, in Matthew 13:17 it talks about how many prophets and righteous people will miss the meanings of the parables. I think of how often I hear but don't understand. How often I go through the motions but don't do so with real intent. I'm not mindful enough to make it meaningful. In verse 23 it says to hear, understand and bear good fruit. I feel pushed to magnify my efforts and do better. These verses give me a gentle nudge to desire to do better in my seeking and pondering and acting to be more like my Savior.

So, that's a glimpse into some of the good things I've gleaned from my January goal. And because every post is made better with a picture... look at these gems below. Seriously? I birthed these beauties? Unbelievable. I'm astonished every day by how much I can love them and how lucky I am to have them. Most pictures and posts on daily life to come.

February's goal is to get up early (not too early, but just a bit) daily to get some exercise. It will most likely be yoga from clips online or lifting teeny-tiny weights here at home, but something. I'm not setting any goals of muscle gained or time. I just have to DO IT. Something. Anything! That's how out of shape I am. :) Wish me luck!