tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11728078556296720752024-03-13T00:11:10.467-06:00Come What May, and Love ItThe less-public-than-Facebook-but-still-public story of my adult life.Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-56586271451820752152020-01-28T07:38:00.003-07:002020-01-28T07:38:56.940-07:00Hobbies - Harmonica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I intend to post hobby progress on here, for anyone interested. This is “Come, Come, Ye Saints” on an A harmonica.<br />
<br />Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-11590541389325809922017-11-26T11:50:00.000-07:002017-11-26T11:50:46.310-07:00Life is Pain - But Not DespairSo, I wrote a talk about hope, for Sacrament Meeting. It was meaningful to me for a lot of reasons! I want to share it. I hope it may be helpful.<br />
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As I have thought about hope recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that life is hard, and has to be hard in some ways, and God has given us Hope as a gift to help us through it.<br />
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In addition, it is not only nice to have, but we can’t reach our eternal destination without it. God is a Person full of Hope, and we must be too, to achieve our divine destinies.<br />
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To start, I wanted to share from my own experience. A couple years ago, before I moved out here, I was going through a hard time. This particular hard time was a complicated break-up. I’ll spare you all the details on what made it complicated, but it was complicated and painful. And I was trying to figure out how to get through it. I had been studying gratitude a lot in the months before all this, and had the sense that I needed to exercise gratitude in order to get through it. And I did my best to show gratitude, when I remembered to.<br />
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After expressing my pain to God, my prayers went something like this: “I’m grateful to be feeling pain, because it least it means I am alive and that I care about something or someone, and that I’ve resisted the urge to just be numb instead. I’m grateful to be learning about myself and about life. And I’m grateful that because I’m going through pain now, I can trust that I will have an increased measure of joy in the future.” Some days I felt more sincere about this gratitude than others. But the more I expressed this gratitude, the more I really started to look forward to the future, and feel hope. Hope that is possible, due to Jesus Christ, and all that He chose and chooses to do for us.<br />
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For me, it was a break-up, but pain comes from many places, and I think this can apply to just about any pain, whether it be failure, rejection, guilt, shame, abuse, illness, stress, loneliness, or other things that make life hard.<br />
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I mentioned that hope makes our hard lives a little easier. I found an interesting thing in the scriptures this week. As I was reading the Book of Mormon this week, I happened to be in Moroni, and all the references to hope popped out at me, since I knew I’d be speaking about hope today. I found that there was another word that was in close proximity to the word hope, in two separate verses:<br />
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Moroni 7:3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have <b>obtained a sufficient hope</b> by which ye can enter into the <b>rest</b> of the Lord, <b>from this time henceforth</b> until ye shall rest with him in heaven.<br />
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Moroni 9:25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and <b>the hope of his glory</b> and of eternal life, <b>rest in your mind</b> forever.<br />
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As a person who very frequently struggles with an overanxious mind, I was drawn to the word “rest”. I believe there is a connection. When we believe Jesus Christ and His promises and His love, we can finally find rest for our hearts and our minds.<br />
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I also learned from the scriptures that the opposite of hope is despair. (Moroni 10:22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair.)<br />
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In my pondering, I’ve come to this conclusion:<br />
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We were meant to feel pain in this life, as a necessary part of God’s plan, but we were not meant to carry around despair.<br />
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I believe and testify that this is true! We are probably all currently going through some pain, and that is normal. As a wise person once said, “Life is pain, and anyone who says differently is selling something.” However, if any of you are feeling despair, please take comfort in knowing that despair is not part of God’s plan, and that He will help you overcome it!<br />
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How do we overcome despair? Well, I’m not perfect at it, but I have been working on it. And the scriptures have even more helpful words about it than I do.<br />
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From my own experience, gratitude helped me to find hope, as I mentioned before. Find something, anything that you are at least a little bit sincerely grateful for, and thank God for it. You could also write it down if you choose, as a reminder to yourself. Gratitude is a muscle that must be exercised. Establish a routine or a practice of gratitude, and I promise you will find more hope than you had. This is testified of in both scriptures and research in the fields of psychology and social science.<br />
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The scriptures talk about hope and faith, and how they inextricably tied to together. (Moroni 7:42 - Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.) I believe this means our faith and our hope grow in very similar ways. I’ve been attending a self-reliance class that has been wonderful (and has far exceeded my expectations), and we have talked a lot about faith. Faith is a principle of action. It requires taking a step forward. For anything to change in our lives, we need to change our behavior and take steps forward. This means that in order to have hope, we need to take steps of action.<br />
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What might these actions be? They may be different for every person. The first action, or step of faith, may be to seek professional help. If we are feeling despair, it would make perfect sense to seek the help of a counselor or psychologist. There is no shame, and should be no stigma in that. I can testify of its helpfulness, from firsthand experience. It is an act of faith that will be rewarded with guidance and healing, and yes, hope.<br />
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Another action may be to seek the help of a bishop or branch president. They can exercise the priesthood to help us overcome our despair, in a variety of ways, such as priesthood blessings, counsel, help with addiction recovery, a listening ear, opportunities to serve, help with the repentance process, and more.<br />
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Another action may be to stop doing something destructive. Or to start doing something constructive. Maybe our action might be to serve. To establish a scripture study program for ourselves. To make healthier choices, regarding sleep or diet. To spend more time with people who care about us, or less time with those who don’t. To confront something we’ve been afraid of confronting. To forgive someone who has hurt us. To pray sincerely. To try something new. There is a nearly infinite number of ways we can take action and exercise our faith. As we do take action, our faith will grow, and right along with it, so will our hope.<br />
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As our hope and faith grow, our despair will shrink, as hope and despair are opposites.<br />
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To emphasize the fact that faith requires actions, I want to quote Ronald J Hammond, who was an area authority in 2007, and one of my favorite people of all time. He gave a devotional address called “First Person Faith in God” which has stuck with me for over ten years now:<br />
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“Brothers and sisters, you will hear faith-promoting stories about others. That will inspire you. You will see the Lord’s hand working wonders in the lives of others. That will encourage you. But, I witness that the saving kind of faith in Christ is a very personal, sweetly private, first-person kind of faith developed only ‘in the process’ of personal involvement in life’s challenges.”<br />
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We have to choose for ourselves to take action, to exercise faith.<br />
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We also need to remember that growing faith takes time. To quote Elder Hammond again:<br />
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“The oil of first-person faith is added to our lamps drop by drop. It is a process not an event, and if you understand and really believe this, then you will move with surprising serenity through life’s experiences that do not turn out as you had planned.”<br />
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I love that word: serenity. Going along with this quote, the scriptures give us a clue to know whether we are increasing in hope. From Moroni 7:3, which I mentioned earlier:<br />
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3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.<br />
4 And now my brethren,I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.<br />
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When our hope is sufficient, we will be peaceful people, who do not antagonize others. Who do not feel the need to defend ourselves from others. Or shame others in order to help ourselves feel better. When we have hope and faith, we realize there is not a scarcity of God’s love. We can have a stable calmness that stabilizes us through the bumpy, real, painful, challenges of life.<br />
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ was never meant to take away all our pain. As Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, He went through more pain than any of us can possibly imagine. He didn’t deserve that pain, but He experienced it anyway. He did not enjoy that pain in the slightest - He begged for it to be removed, if it was possible - but He did not despair. He knew that if He had to grow through it, He would make it through it. He trusted our Father in Heaven that this pain would eventually lead to joy. Both His joy and ours. He was right, and He was successful, and because of Him, there is a future for each of us brighter than we can comprehend. Or as one of our hymns states, “There is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh.”<br />
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So we can overcome our despair by trusting in Jesus, who the Apostle Paul described as the “high priest of good things to come.” I’ll now quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland:<br />
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“Because of the life, death, and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can escape the consequences of both sin and stupidity - our own or that of others - in whatever form they may come to us. If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow -- and every day -- is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children! It is a plan predicated on the truth “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” So keep loving. Keep trusting. Keep trying. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.”<br />
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I know that we can overcome despair. We can make it through our pain. And we can find the stability and rest we need to make it through this life, even amidst the pain, by obtaining a firm hope in Jesus Christ. I testify of Him as a Healer, Friend, and Savior, and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.<br />
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-9926936538182571382017-09-28T06:11:00.000-06:002017-09-28T06:11:13.640-06:00"Let Your Hearts Rejoice"A short blog post, about a verse of scripture I read this morning.<br />
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2 Nephi 9:52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.<br />
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Sometimes I make life too complicated, but this is a good reminder of the simplicity I can be following. As I take in God's words through the scriptures, through prayer, through general conference, and even the inspired words of friends; communicate with God daily through prayer; and express gratitude, my heart will be able to rejoice. It won't make everything feel better, but at least that special spiritual part of my heart can be full of joy.<br />
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I also especially related to the phrase "Let your hearts rejoice." I am one of those people that often won't <i>let</i> myself be happy. Being happy is vulnerable. Perhaps through Christ I can feel safe enough to let the guard down enough to be happy.Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-27072700049640710422017-09-23T15:55:00.000-06:002017-09-23T15:55:00.146-06:00Technology Addiction - ProgressHello all!<br />
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(This is a long post. The summary is that I found a way to avoid feeds while still getting the information I need most and staying connected with others. And I feel a little more in control of my life.)<br />
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I don't want to get ahead of myself or get preachy and tell everyone they should do what I'm doing. But I do want to share my experiences so far. The power of story / experience is important, so here I go!<br />
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I have finally been able to let go of scrolling mindlessly through feeds! I have multiple failed progress charts all throughout this year from when I was trying to limit my Facebook time to 40 minutes, then 30 minutes a day, then even 20. I think one time I kept to my goal for 10 days. Then of course the goal would fall apart. Again.<br />
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But things are going much better this time. I deleted the Facebook app (and the News app, and a few other apps that had feeds), and I set up my Facebook settings so I would get emails of the things I actually need to hear about (YSA announcements, and announcements from other relevant groups). I basically set it up so that any information that would be actually helpful to would be emailed to me. That way I'm still connected, and can receive the information I need, but I can completely avoid my Facebook newsfeed. The only time I get on my news feed is when I'm on the computer, which is not very comfortable for me, and my browser will kick me off of Facebook after ten minutes. It's taken care of the addiction problem, because the addiction is not to Facebook itself. The addiction is tapping on my phone in moments of boredom, or transition times, and scrolling through information / stimuli. Instead of reaching for my phone (which now is a much more boring phone than it used to be), I either reach for my planner / notebook, or just move onto whatever my next task might be.<br />
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I do still feel the need to lower my notifications in all the apps on my phone. The difference is that checking my email never holds my attention for more than 5 minutes. It doesn't drag me down into a never-ending stream. A list of emails is finite (unless its my mom's inbox, perhaps - love you Mom!), whereas a Facebook feed can feel nearly infinite. By only having apps that provide a built-in end to the amount of time I spend in them, I never get sucked into my phone for very long. And so now I definitely feel it's hold on me lessening.<br />
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Part of this was all motivated by the podcast "Note To Self", and the subsequent book "Bored and Brilliant." Knowing that other people were gaining the courage/determination/motivation to delete their apps and reclaim some of their time helped me to do it too. I like doing things with other people... even if they are people I don't actually know. But we're united in this goal, so that makes it enjoyable.<br />
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I hope to later report more about the benefits of all this. I'm hoping I can put some of my reclaimed time to use at practicing my new banjo. In a few weeks I may be able to post of video of myself playing clawhammer banjo. I hope so.<br />
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I do still get on Facebook and Instagram for a few minutes a couple times a week, because I do want to hear about my friends. Please feel free to interact with me there. I'm not leaving it entirely. I use Facebook Messenger to interact with people all the time, since it is a separate app, and I don't have to see the newsfeed there.<br />
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This was not my most exciting post. But it is my current story. And if anyone else is the same as me, wanting to be less controlled by their phone, and also benefits from working on goals with others instead of alone, I wanted to explain what's been working well for me.<br />
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Also, please let me know if any of you have blogs. I would love to receive email updates about my friends' lives. =)Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-86947639992807656292017-09-09T17:27:00.000-06:002017-09-09T17:28:57.400-06:00Technology AddictionI'm going to be trying to change the way I use social media. I want to stay in contact with people, but I need to avoid "feeds" wherever they happen. Facebook's news feed, my News app's feed, maybe even Instagram for a while. They pull me in too often, and for too long.<br />
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So at least for now, I'm going to use my blog as my main way of sharing. I'm gonna try using IFTTT to get my blog posts to automatically post to Facebook, for those who want to hear from me there. And then I plan to get on Facebook once a week or so, to see updates from friends (I don't want to be completely out of the loop - just a little bit).<br />
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We'll see how this goes. I plan to delete my apps tonight! D=<br />
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<br />Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-53253992199916139572017-05-14T08:56:00.000-06:002017-05-14T08:57:16.774-06:00To the UttermostI am using the topical guide in the scriptures to study about Jesus Christ this year. It's been a really good experience. I've learned about Him being the Bread of Life, about Him becoming our father as we receive His gospel, and other things. I'm now reading about Him as our Advocate. This is the first scripture in that section, and I love it:<br />
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Hebrews 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.</h3>
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I know that God is a God of both justice and mercy. But I have recently been feeling in my heart the importance of focusing on His mercy, at least when it comes to emulating Him. I am imperfect, and prone to making mistakes and misjudging situations, so I know I have the potential to mess up mercy and justice in my own life and relationships. If I am going to mess up, I would rather be too merciful than too just.</div>
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This scripture touched my heart, and reminded me of some beautiful words from Elder Holland, given in general conference in April 2012:</div>
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"Which leads me to my third and last point. This parable--like all parables--is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.</div>
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I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.</div>
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Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. “Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,” and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast “without money and without price” at the table of the Lord."</div>
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Let's not give up hope on ourselves, or anyone else.</div>
Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-74774820425053662182017-05-07T14:23:00.000-06:002017-05-07T14:44:56.500-06:00The Next Hobbies - Digital Art, Headstone Photography, and SwimmingNow I'd like to let you know what my next hobbies are! (Well, I guess I did, as they're in the title.)<br />
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-Digital art</div>
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-Headstone photography</div>
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-Swimming</div>
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I got a stylus on Amazon for about $7 a little while ago, and then bought a $5 sketching app, and I've had a pretty good time with it! I know my materials and what I've created are nowhere near professional, but that's not what I'm going for anyway. I just want to be able to make attractive pieces of art that reflect images in my mind. Basically, express myself. Currently I'm working on copying pieces of art that other people have made, to help me learn HOW to use the different tools, get different looks and effects, etc. I've found it very enjoyable so far, and plan to focus on it a lot in the next month (especially on the rainy days, of which there have been many!).</div>
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The next is headstone photography, using the BillionGraves app. I was having a hard day last Sunday, and someone I was talking to about my challenges suggested I needed a project. I thought "I already have projects", but decided to try to think of a big project that I could accomplish - something that would take a lot of work, but I could eventually check it off and be proud of having done it. I came up with several ideas, but one of them that I got really motivated to do was take pictures for BillionGraves.com, using their app, with the goal of getting all the headstones in Bloomington onto the website. Then to top it all of, I found out they are having a May competition thing, and anyone who takes 50,000 pictures during the month of May gets a free Apple Watch! I was all excited about that - until I realized that at my pace, it would take over 200 hours. So... ne'er mind. No Apple Watch for me this time around. But I still have the goal of getting Bloomington completely documented! And I think I will definitely enjoy my time as I can take the pictures as an act of service to those seeking out their deceased family members' information, play Pokemon Go in the background with my Pokemon Go Plus, listen to podcasts or books or music, and be outside, all at the same time! It's a win-win-win-win situation. Even without the Apple Watch!</div>
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Lastly, swimming. I did this last summer, taking lessons for two weeks. I learned the freestyle, the backstroke, and simple diving. It was great fun, a challenge, and good for me. I plan to sign up for lessons again, probably in June. Also, I want to report that a picture of me made it onto the website for adult group swim lessons. I'm kind of a big deal...</div>
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Anyway, feel free to cheer me on! Or share your own hobby ideas as well. And most of all, if you want to participate in any of these with me, PLEASE let me know. One of my favorite things in the world is not being alone!</div>
Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-75185234268308087962017-05-07T13:40:00.001-06:002017-05-07T14:02:04.753-06:00Returning to ReportHello friends! I wanted to report how my first three hobbies of the year went! As you may remember, they were:<br />
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-Create a YouTube channel<br />
-Board games<br />
-Embrace my inner nerd<br />
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The YouTube channel idea died fairly quickly, as I looked into copyright law. Covers aren't legal to put on YouTube unless you pay the fees. And that just kind of took the fun out of it! My only options are songs I wrote myself, or songs in the public domain. I don't feel up to songwriting just yet. I may come back to this at some point later though. Maybe I can convince people to perform music with me that we record, but don't upload. Who knows. I do know I would love to perform with people. I definitely miss having music performance in my life, and I would like to be able to do all kinds of cool songs, arrangements, and covers, not just classical choir music. Again, I'll need to come back to this.<br />
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Board games went really well! I got advice from Facebook friends about what games they love, and ended up mostly with card games. The games I ended up with were:<br />
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-Tokaido<br />
-Coup<br />
-Punderdome<br />
-The Game of Things<br />
-Fluxx<br />
-The Oregon Trail<br />
-Splendor<br />
-Dominion<br />
-Harry Potter - The Battle of Hogwarts<br />
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The only ones I haven't actually played yet are Punderdome and Harry Potter. The others I've played, and all are pretty good! I now have some good memories, playing these with friends. One of my favorites was the game of The Oregon Trail that the Porters and I played in Wisconsin. There's nothing like a nearly unbeatable game full of dysentery and death!<br />
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The third hobby was embracing my inner nerd. Success. I re-read Harry Potter, plus read the Cursed Child for the first time. I've been listening to a Harry Potter podcast that I enjoy as well ("Harry Potter and the Sacred Text"), and got myself a ring with the words "Expecto Patronum" inscribed. I also got on Pottermore and was sorted into Hufflepuff house. In addition, I continued to play Pokemon Go without shame, made some progress on "William Shakespeare's Star Wars", and other similar activities.<br />
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Probably the nerdiest thing of all is that I started playing Dungeons and Dragons. Our group consists of my roommates, our dear friends the Earl's, and our DM named Sam. My character is a half-elf cleric with the personality of Rapunzel / Buddy the Elf. My charisma is maxed out. I am still getting used to playing, being spontaneous, and having fun. It's a little scary to "play pretend" as an adult. But, sometimes it goes SO RIGHT (or so wrong!), and we laugh harder than I have in months or years. We continue to meet every few weeks, and I have no intention of stopping!<br />
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So now you know! These are the hobbies I've been working on, January through March, with some continuing on, which is after all, the ultimate goal: finding the ones that stick.Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-42176146500054901382017-01-02T21:11:00.000-07:002017-01-02T21:37:13.083-07:00New Hobbies!I was going to start out by apologizing that I have not improved at dancing since my last post. But then I thought about how these are hobbies, and they are supposed to be fun! And a process I can learn from. I've learned that although I want to be a good dancer, I really need to do it with other people, when they're counting on me. I have no motivation to do this by myself for fun, even though I like the idea of being a great, confident dancer.<br />
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So, moving on!<br />
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I have a plan to do things a little differently. Instead of one hobby each month, I'll have two or three hobbies for each quarter. This is because I don't always get myself involved right away, and before I know it, the month is over! Also, I like the variety.<br />
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For the First Quarter of 2017:<br />
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1. Board games<br />
2. Creating music content for a YouTube channel<br />
3. Embracing the inner nerd through<br />
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<li>Harry Potter (listening to the books, listening to related podcasts, finding opportunities to talk about Harry Potter with others, creating art using my favorite quotes) </li>
<li>Star Wars (reading "William Shakespeare's Star Wars" by Ian Doescher, watching the movies again, learning more back story)</li>
<li>Avatar The Last Airbender (checking out the next comic from the library once it is published, possibly doing art projects, re-watching favorite episodes)</li>
<li>The Princess Bride (re-reading that wonderful book)</li>
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One of the main things I've learned is that I love doing things with others (though in small groups). Board games will definitely involve other people, which is what I want. Creating music will have alone work as well as collaborative work; I hope to be making music with others. And embracing my inner nerd can be done either alone or with others.<br />
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I've also learned I usually need a project or an end-goal to motivate me. Game nights are the end-goal for the researching and purchasing of board games. Sharing music online will be the goal for the second hobby. My inner nerd hobby doesn't necessarily need an end-goal as much as the others do, but I have some defined goals listed above in parentheses.<br />
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If you'd like to join me in any hobbies let me know! Also let me know of your favorite board games so I can look into them, your favorite songs so I can try arranging and performing them, and your favorite epic stories so I can read/watch them.<br />
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Happy New Year!<br />
<br />Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-25382344163481337812016-11-28T18:54:00.000-07:002017-01-02T21:11:38.806-07:00Hobby Update: I Still Feel Like DancingI have some things to report! Remember how I compared myself to Napoleon Dynamite, dancing in my room alone, only to later perform it in front of all my peers? Well, it literally happened! Two girls, Rachel and Violet, invited me to do Napoleon's dance with them at the branch talent show a couple weeks ago. We practiced for about a week, then got our groove on at the Institute! I'm very happy I did it... and I'm even more grateful that I didn't do it alone!<br />
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We used <a href="https://youtu.be/mNclOrNHouc" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>, if you're interested in learning it yourself. =)<br />
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Also, I've decided to keep dancing as my hobby a little while longer. I want to continue progressing beyond where I am, and I'm not tired of this hobby yet! I recently purchased a break-dancing class and a hip hop dancing class, and I'm going to get started on those. You may make fun of me for purchasing classes and spending money on these sorts of things, but I've found that classes help me more than anything else. It's a combination of making the sacrifice financially, having the material organized and presented to me sequentially, and also the option of receiving feedback. Since that's what works for me, that's what I'll do. We've got Spare Oom clear enough that I have room to dance in it, thanks to my kind roommates. I think I've got all the resources I need. Now I just gotta do it! And maybe find some friends who want to do it with me as well. Anyone?<br />
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I'm looking forward to expanding my dance reportoire (not a hard thing to do, as I know next to nothing). So far, it has felt pretty liberating!Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-63603661810324014322016-10-23T23:06:00.000-06:002016-10-23T23:06:27.821-06:00Right Where I BelongI have to write this down so I don't forget. Today I was getting down on myself a little, not feeling "enough". I was trying to remind myself of God's promised blessings, and trying to have faith that everything will work out exactly as it should, but my fear of messing everything all up was pretty strong.<br />
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My roommate Carrie took time to talk me through all of it while rubbing my back. She asked me questions, and she followed the Spirit to let me know exactly what I needed to hear. I won't go into all the details of what she said, but she let me know they both feel strongly that being here with me is exactly where they are supposed to be at this time. Because Heavenly Father loves me and knows I need them as friends.<br />
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My faith was strengthened that God does have a plan for us. That He uproots your plans in order for you to help others, and uproots other people's plans in order for them to help you. Sometimes He moves mountains, and sometimes He moves people away from their mountain home to help you when you are very much in need of what they have to offer. He cares about each of us - you - me - individually, and will guide us along His path, and even provide the fellow travelers we need at each stage of the journey. When we travel with Him, we can't mess up our life's path beyond His ability to fix it.<br />
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It is one of my favorite feelings in life, when the Spirit confirms that at this moment, I'm right where I belong.Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-76027379448932380582016-10-02T21:16:00.000-06:002017-01-02T21:11:38.812-07:00September Hobby Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, September didn't go as planned, hobby-wise. My original plan was to do GarageBand. I have an online course for it and everything. But it was for the computer version, and I only have the iPad version, so it didn't quite match up. And admittedly, when I'm done with work at the end of the day, I don't necessarily have the desire to do GarageBand stuff. Yet.<br />
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The good news is that a few other aspects of life got some more attention. I got up at 6:30am and exercised almost every single week day this month! Hooray for having a roommate who exercises with me; we hold each other accountable. I don't always work out at full capacity, but for me the goal right now is consistency. And that is going very well. =)</div>
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Another thing I've accomplished is finishing the Self Compassion class. And it was awesome. The thing that blew my mind the most was that our Self Critic is always trying to protect us - it just does it in a very misguided way. But it's not evil. So we can thank it for trying to protect us, then show it a better way. It's odd, because the self-critic and the self-compassionate self often have the same goals for us, but go about it in a completely different way.</div>
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For example, losing weight. My self-critic wants me to lose weight because it knows how much I value social connection, and it thinks that being over a certain weight will hurt my ability or make me unworthy to connect with others. My self-compassionate self wants me to lose weight in order to be happier and healthier, with the ability to do awesome and energetic things without getting tired. It does know that being a little thinner will also help me feel more comfortable socially, whether it should or not. But it motivates me by telling me it loves me and that these changes should be made in order for my greater future happiness. The self-critic tells me to make changes out of fear that I'll be unworthy of connection if I don't. Completely different angles.</div>
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Anyway, on a not-purposely-related note, I think I've chosen my October hobby, which will be dancing! I'm inspired by one of my clients who loves to do hip-hop dancing and shows me some great moves each week. Also, I just feel like it would be healthy both physically and emotionally to get my groove on. I may start by practicing alone at home, but maybe I'll be able to use my new skills in the real world. =) I know I'm thoroughly white and awkward at dancing, but perhaps I'll get up to Napoleon status.<br />
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Other great things have happened this month, including connecting more with old friends, new friends, roommates, and family. I've made some courageous choices in the face of terrifying vulnerability. I've also had my heart softened a bit, and am feeling spiritually renewed. I feel I've become a happier person each month this year. I know most people seem to be looking at 2016 like a horrible nightmare, but for me, it has been a healing, exciting, and comforting year. I'm loving it.<br />
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To sum up, September was a great month, in which I've grown quite a lot (in self-kindness, discipline, and courage), and I'm excited for what the future holds!</div>
Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-25235354009678377332016-08-19T11:35:00.003-06:002017-01-02T21:11:38.804-07:00Hobby of the Month: Self-CompassionI recently realized I hadn't posted about my Hobby of the Month in a while! With the excitement of my new roommates (Carrie and Christian) moving in, and then my vacation with my mom and brother, and then trying to get motivation for work back after the vacation... I have not been focusing as diligently on hobbies. I've just been enjoying my evenings, with some of the best friends I didn't know I had! I've been friends with Carrie and Christian for a while, but living with them has gone far more smoothly and joyfully than I would have ever expected! We enjoy spending the evenings together, the three of us. I guess you could say that one of my hobbies of the month has been watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (the animated TV series, of course - not the movie). We haven't quite finished it, but we're close. And now I'm in love with a bunch of animated characters.<br />
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BUT that's not what I intended to write this post about!</div>
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My official hobby of the month is Self-Compassion. I'm applying the research of Kristen Neff and Brene Brown. They put together an online class that I've been taking, and I've actually benefitted from it a lot. I've had a few short term therapists, and my most recent one (a couple years ago) highly recommended that I read Kristen Neff's work on self compassion, so I'm doing that now. I've enjoyed it and learned from it so far (I'm about halfway through). So far, my practice consists of kind touch and kind words. My friend Stephanie used to hug herself while exclaiming something kind, and I'm doing a similar thing. Sometimes I put a hand on my own shoulder, pretend I'm speaking to a close friend, and say what I would say to them if they were in my situation. Then I accept those words that I just spoke to myself; I accept the kindness.</div>
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It sounds really simple, and maybe more than a little odd. But it is helping me think of myself as my own friend - and that is an amazing and comforting feeling! I feel safe with myself, and it is quite a relief. I am making an effort to not belittle myself, criticize myself, or hurt myself at all.</div>
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But what about progression, you ask? (Because that was the question I asked!) How can you improve if you don't recognize your own mistakes? What about accountability?</div>
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And to that I now respond "How would you help a friend, a child, or a client improve?" Would you belittle them, criticize them, or threaten them into improving? And if you did...would it even work? Problems can be addressed, truth can be told, people can be held accountable - all without hate, anger, rudeness, or shame. We can be truthful, and also "show an increase of love afterwards, lest [we] esteem [ourselves] to be [our own] enemy."</div>
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As Thomas S. Monson has taught, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." And I'm learning what that feels like to apply it to myself.</div>
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-82909135073038982522016-08-17T10:10:00.001-06:002016-08-17T10:10:28.630-06:00Awesome Roommates<div>Best roommate award to Carrie, who made me Peach Mint Strawberry (PMS) tea to get me through my PMS day. =)</div><div><br></div><div>I'm seriously blessed!</div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-40077032267822081522016-07-17T07:45:00.000-06:002016-07-17T08:29:27.984-06:00Biking to BanjoSo, my July hobby has had some identity issues. I started out the month with the intention of having biking as my hobby. I secured a helmet from my brother-in-law, and a bike pump from my neighbors (they had an extra) and set off to conquer the world! ...Except for that my front tire won't stay full, even right after pumping it up. =(<br />
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Then I had some roommates move in! And with those roommates came many instruments. As such, my hobby for the second half of the month is the banjo!</div>
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Here are two videos of my first attempts, mostly so I can look back later and see how I've progressed. Don't mind my pajamas and bed hair - I just got up. =P</div>
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-4170302784160734642016-07-14T06:35:00.000-06:002016-07-14T06:36:50.256-06:00AskI listened to a podcast that got me thinking (Hidden Brain, episode "WOOP, There It Is"). You think about your Wish, the best possible Outcome, the Obstacles within yourself that are blocking you, and create a Plan for when those obstacles arise. There's more to it, but that's the general overview. I<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> love learning about goals and how to make effective ones, so this was really interesting to me! </span><br />
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I realized that at least for me and my current stage, the obstacle is that I'm afraid to ask. Afraid to ask people to form a bluegrass group with me. Afraid to ask the guy that I'm attracted to on a date. Afraid to invite people to do things that I want to do. All because I'm assuming that no one will want to do these things, and I don't want to look dumb asking. </div>
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So my plan is to ask anyway, and keep my mind open to the possibility they might be excited, maybe even as excited as I am. And if they say no, I won't be worse off. I'll just be in the same place I am now - without the bluegrass band, without the date with the specific person I like, without the specific social gathering I want - but a little braver. </div>
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-42898666758893756232016-06-20T22:09:00.001-06:002016-06-20T22:09:20.041-06:00Keepin' It RealLest you think I'm always happy and optimistic, some nights I'm too sunburnt, sad, bitter, and discouraged to fall asleep. <div><br></div><div>There's a balance in life, and even though I like to focus on the positive side, the negative side does exist. </div><div><br></div><div>Now comes the challenge of choosing Hope, in the midst of discouragement. </div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-59464058629093259322016-06-19T19:00:00.001-06:002016-06-19T19:09:30.384-06:00One of the Most Wonderful Times of the Year<div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I made it through my second/final week of swimming lessons, and it was great! Swimming is hard work. Cycling between thoughts of chest down, hips up, small kicks, stretch arms forward, on my side, getting my left arm out of the water (I had the tendency to drag it), hooking the water, and of course breathing at the right time without getting my mouth full of water... It's a lot to coordinate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">But here's the promised good news! Last Thursday, I swam a whole lap (50 meters) without stopping! Then, after resting (and a few unsuccessful attempts), I did it two more times! In addition, I did a successful flip-turn this week, and also dived. =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I'm kind of sad that my lessons are over (though I might sign up for more lessons later in the summer), but happy about my trip home to Utah this week. I'll be home for six days to attend a family reunion, and spend time with family and friends. It will be great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">June has historically been a happy month for me each year in recent history (except maybe last year), and I'm happy that June this year has lived up to it's predecessors, so far. Though I haven't been at Logan's SummerFest, I've spent nights in the woods surrounded by fireflies. Though I haven't been on the back of a motorcycle, I've paddled 12 miles down a creek, seeing more trees than probably exist in the whole state of Utah, surrounded by friends who didn't even think twice about jumping from their canoes to help us when ours capsized. Twice. Instead of learning to run races, as I did in 2011, I've been learning to swim. And instead of painting apartments, I've been using music to help children and adults reach their goals. Instead of mini-road trips to Idaho, I've taken mini-road trips to Kentucky. All in all, I am quite happy. Even despite days like Father's Day, which happen to be surprisingly lonely when you live alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">June, and Life, aren't perfect (and neither is my freestyle swimming!), but it doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.</span></div>
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-27922687877476780042016-06-09T20:31:00.001-06:002016-06-09T21:05:59.327-06:00June Hobby: SwimmingI chose swimming as my June hobby! I signed up for adult group lessons, and I'm now halfway through, having finished the first of two weeks. On the first day, they put me into the smaller, more advanced group, which boosted my ego. <div><br></div><div>Until they then introduced the freestyle stroke. Freestyle made my ego free-fall! I've been trying to figure out why it is so hard, and I've got some ideas:</div><div><br></div><div>-I do not like having my face down in the water</div><div>-I think too hard about which side I'm supposed to breathe on, and when. </div><div>-When I do breathe, I get water in my mouth, and then I panic. </div><div>-I'm doing something new, and it's something with my body, so I get super self-conscious. </div><div>-As I exert myself, I find myself needing even more oxygen, but can't seem to get enough in my short breaths to the side. </div><div><br></div><div>Today I stayed after my lesson and practiced for over an hour. I learned that keeping my eyes open (I have goggles) helps decrease the panic. Everything else is not easy to fix, I just need to keep practicing. </div><div><br></div><div>On the bright side, I am REALLY good at the backstroke (at least in comparison!). </div><div><br></div><div>My happy news: I bought a new swimsuit today. I finally got one that ties behind my neck, which I've wanted for a long time. No more gym shorts and running shirts when I swim! I'm going to learn to be comfortable in my own skin!</div><div><br></div><div>I do have to say: swimming is exhausting, and I think I'm starting to lose weight faster as well, which is a nice side effect! =D</div><div><br></div><div>I'm liking this more than running. I like being outside, and I like the challenge of learning something new. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Currently, my record is 25 meters freestyle without having to stop. I hope I can report back next week with either 50 or 100 meters! Stay tuned!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3pnlG-ebWGq5QakXp40TbMvVQLwq6yZrAIkvQ6BeokhAWFqCTpUHNbaymSMONwHMVloHN4GQdQlBci5tHFFJtWFz4YFyA4Fh-4kduVfSiyAO79179drT2mDZjBym6J0Pi6MwveYfXEeq/s640/blogger-image-1336144598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3pnlG-ebWGq5QakXp40TbMvVQLwq6yZrAIkvQ6BeokhAWFqCTpUHNbaymSMONwHMVloHN4GQdQlBci5tHFFJtWFz4YFyA4Fh-4kduVfSiyAO79179drT2mDZjBym6J0Pi6MwveYfXEeq/s640/blogger-image-1336144598.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-78155017684155916102016-06-01T20:47:00.000-06:002016-06-01T20:47:19.020-06:00Sushi Made Me CoolSo, I didn't focus on sushi as consistently in May as I had hoped. However, my goal kind of morphed into all cooking. And then sewing kind of started entering in, too. I started working on one hobby, and several others just kind of started emerging from me! Which was cool.<br />
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But I wanted to report specifically on my sushi efforts. In the middle of the month I fed the missionaries in my branch. There are six: four elders and two sisters. Two of the elders were not really into sushi, but the other four missionaries enjoyed the experience. As for me, I was just happy I had pulled off a meal for seven. Me. Cooking for guests. Six of them. Big deal.<br />
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Then, yesterday, I had the sister missionaries back again, and my friend Taitum. She brought cream cheese, and I had recently bought a fresh avocado. And this time I seasoned the rice (using instructions from this site: <a href="http://makemysushi.com/Recipes/how-to-make-sushi-rice">http://makemysushi.com/Recipes/how-to-make-sushi-rice</a>). The experience was absolutely amazing. Every bite was heaven. And it was homemade, so I could make as much as I wanted! And to make this heavenly experience even better, the three people there with me kept saying "You're so cool!" and "Ali, you're amazing!" I didn't even know how to deal with it! I'm not used to quite that much or that kind of positive reinforcement. I have felt valued in personal relationships, but it has been a while since I felt valued in a group. Anyway, having this amazing experience in my mouth and then also being surrounded by compliments... It was kinda surreal... =)<br />
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So, even though I didn't cook sushi all that frequently in the month of May, I'm still considering it a total success.<br />
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June will probably have two hobbies: swimming (my lessons start on the 6th!), and hip hop dancing (my friend Emma wants to learn with me).Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-82969382469857894182016-05-08T19:13:00.001-06:002016-05-08T19:14:42.601-06:00Sushi - Week 1I said I would return and report! So here I go.<div><br></div><div>I actually made sushi yesterday! I watched a few videos, then went to the store. They didn't have sushi rice, but they had jasmine rice so I got that. I also purchased siracha mayo, imitation crab (the "string cheese crab" that Sister Cho introduced me to long ago), sesame seeds, avocados, and seaweed.</div><div><br></div><div>Then I cooked the rice...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZumVQnlYLX4IIzLpdOWyFyiXQvwUdvgOM9tXfaCTLw3Soy5LGYmMBG7EnROXZxZ6xvT0pCksJ3bAXjiweDcqNICI061a0qA5qqO0FKj_go_bvMzv5LU5yhEhGZi1WOEE_fn9MKmvx8xNh/s640/blogger-image-1427715024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZumVQnlYLX4IIzLpdOWyFyiXQvwUdvgOM9tXfaCTLw3Soy5LGYmMBG7EnROXZxZ6xvT0pCksJ3bAXjiweDcqNICI061a0qA5qqO0FKj_go_bvMzv5LU5yhEhGZi1WOEE_fn9MKmvx8xNh/s640/blogger-image-1427715024.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Put it on the seaweed...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXSM9nTVQKkGZdCTDQxur1IJFJCPNlb5G1YWPR4diJiG_LmdX8MZ-27roRw8LJbwH-dYUm4vBVUgKDmf8TICcZXMD3Ee-Mos-Uhxd729wXHswAOPiQxazk8a7iqHG9_qOdjgnkm10k7lP/s640/blogger-image-1690013778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXSM9nTVQKkGZdCTDQxur1IJFJCPNlb5G1YWPR4diJiG_LmdX8MZ-27roRw8LJbwH-dYUm4vBVUgKDmf8TICcZXMD3Ee-Mos-Uhxd729wXHswAOPiQxazk8a7iqHG9_qOdjgnkm10k7lP/s640/blogger-image-1690013778.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Put the crab, spicy mayo, sesame seeds, and chia seeds (for fun), into the middle of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0iYIesXLQbuk7OGIj4fJQquHML127dQfIbZRdt4oK1pFtp8ZBOccoX6EdO-m9GkS4_rJryjzEY7JCb1F-kFjXV0M5K51ftCGAGcA2d_VT6PKn2vSv3YjC0-UE1xED3x2TOwxTia2ml2h/s640/blogger-image-608865560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0iYIesXLQbuk7OGIj4fJQquHML127dQfIbZRdt4oK1pFtp8ZBOccoX6EdO-m9GkS4_rJryjzEY7JCb1F-kFjXV0M5K51ftCGAGcA2d_VT6PKn2vSv3YjC0-UE1xED3x2TOwxTia2ml2h/s640/blogger-image-608865560.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Used the aluminum foil to roll it up...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQmqXOXzA8WSGtMlySjSTTUocKBNwc_37wHiP_XAaiornzvVP4qrLDnqr-qdu4hllQ8xu42Z7vS255ReUCRfXxNSBRB6uRkohFMtIOIKl6Q9Gg0F_XerLqG8Jt1Ysclxcqdcmrtp9pnj8/s640/blogger-image-1358840123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQmqXOXzA8WSGtMlySjSTTUocKBNwc_37wHiP_XAaiornzvVP4qrLDnqr-qdu4hllQ8xu42Z7vS255ReUCRfXxNSBRB6uRkohFMtIOIKl6Q9Gg0F_XerLqG8Jt1Ysclxcqdcmrtp9pnj8/s640/blogger-image-1358840123.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cut it up...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUVVBID5HYtcUPZAP9gnsbr-1qyAY_mfQUJ92sRNOSYeuWbjgRFW2a5TrNuubouKOZ7lduC-xbdP9VgU7-Go_jBILqbPXSIIoMvqJOHlbmy99YUQ0Nl5V2Tc_aFoCjeC0ZtkRsX1aNE_o/s640/blogger-image-65328772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUVVBID5HYtcUPZAP9gnsbr-1qyAY_mfQUJ92sRNOSYeuWbjgRFW2a5TrNuubouKOZ7lduC-xbdP9VgU7-Go_jBILqbPXSIIoMvqJOHlbmy99YUQ0Nl5V2Tc_aFoCjeC0ZtkRsX1aNE_o/s640/blogger-image-65328772.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And placed it on a plate with some wasabi-ish stuff and some ginger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmm6xTyHxl_3StrKXa4vWRZNQCHXbvMvgh2qbyDsTPHFsODISMkEZ2otnm-jm0JQ_fl3CN4C74oa8blcWhDQFWvVfDlutcWgn9uGe7wXqaEMHu4nk4UW0guGlqvdzQp0wI3qAmbS02nRH/s640/blogger-image-557044588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmm6xTyHxl_3StrKXa4vWRZNQCHXbvMvgh2qbyDsTPHFsODISMkEZ2otnm-jm0JQ_fl3CN4C74oa8blcWhDQFWvVfDlutcWgn9uGe7wXqaEMHu4nk4UW0guGlqvdzQp0wI3qAmbS02nRH/s640/blogger-image-557044588.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was fantastic. I enjoyed every bite. =) So now comes the fun parts, in the coming weeks, where I make several variations and get really good at it. And invite people over to share it with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To me, the most significant part about all this is that I CAN COOK!!! I am capable of this thing. For some reason, it is a lot easier to do, now that I am alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Speaking of that, living alone is kinda weird. I simultaneously love and hate it. So I just try to focus on the reasons I love it... And find plenty of reasons to socialize, since the thing I don't like about it is the gosh-darn loneliness. Luckily I've got a great branch at church, and opportunities for meeting people outside of church also. Life may be uncomfortable at the moment, but that's because it's a beginning of a new phase. Those are usually uncomfortable, but totally worth it. =)</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-61084048719908087122016-04-18T17:46:00.001-06:002016-04-18T17:56:53.878-06:00Hobby DiscoveryI have had the wonderful experience of living with dear friends for the last three months, and they are preparing to move back to Utah in less than two weeks. They'll be leaving me their apartment, and I will begin a new stage of life: living alone.<br />
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I have no idea whether living alone will be awesome, completely devastating, or somewhere in between.</div>
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To prepare against devastation, I'm planning to explore a bunch of hobbies. I've been surviving school, job searches, missionary work, and failed relationships for a decade, and I would like to have fun again. I have a job with a salary, in my field. It's not perfect, but it's a good place to be. So I now commit to work only 40 hours a week and make sure I do things I enjoy with some of the free time I'll create. I'll do some things with other people and some things alone. And I plan to use my blog to share what I learn.</div>
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I want it to be a mix of comfortable time with myself, and also a great way to connect with others. One way of connecting is online, so I'd love to receive comments, ideas, questions collaborations, or assistance!</div>
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I still have a while to decide what my hobby for May will be. But the current plan is Making Sushi. =)</div>
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Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-27335454752661517622016-02-21T13:39:00.001-07:002016-02-21T13:39:44.433-07:00Spiritually Dull? Ask of God<div>I found a quote from Howard W Hunter that described my feelings:</div><div><br></div>"Sometimes we may feel that our spiritual edge has grown dull.... We may even feel that God has left us alone in our confusion and concern."<div><br></div><div>The answer to this makes sense, and I'm going to work on it. </div><div><br></div><div>"But that feeling is no more justified for the older ones among us than it is for the younger and less experienced. God knows and loves us all. We are, every one of us, his daughters and his sons, and whatever life's lessons may have brought us, the promise is still true: 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.'"<br><div><br></div><div>The answer is to pray and ask God, choosing to believe He can and will actually answer me about the things that I care about and are very relevant to me. I pray, but I think I feel dull because I may not have been believing. Here's to a sharper edge and a new excitement for life!</div><div><br></div></div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-60035532680507318972016-01-05T13:18:00.001-07:002016-01-05T13:18:31.670-07:00Hushing FearsNew scripture of the week!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfyBol63xOl2nZvf9Vydvj4_wUW9VQvdzu8PuxlH5zuXTRWInevHIHnYBC1ZXEJGGS8IM5mgGiOYFUEYD0wqXSMVfjbHYBPZt21fS0j6J8d7t2nl57BPxV3UEPNVpBxB5T3hgpl_UaXME/s640/blogger-image--1800372480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfyBol63xOl2nZvf9Vydvj4_wUW9VQvdzu8PuxlH5zuXTRWInevHIHnYBC1ZXEJGGS8IM5mgGiOYFUEYD0wqXSMVfjbHYBPZt21fS0j6J8d7t2nl57BPxV3UEPNVpBxB5T3hgpl_UaXME/s640/blogger-image--1800372480.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1172807855629672075.post-34269889411212903512015-12-08T15:38:00.001-07:002015-12-08T15:38:27.277-07:00Deliverance<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My newest phone background is a reminder to me that a hard life is normal, but that so is deliverance and divine kindness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0_21ka7UGwahoThRJihNt7CNWTFu6xkY2NoYsA1PK47ExuY3woemWFQ4D9EIqIJtXFNv-9S8OQEBkbXhkAkNhqgfUe18xpGpXucp7_dSRZS4fcvbmIdfV5Ff4Px0aspiglDKGmcVbkCv/s640/blogger-image-214065069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0_21ka7UGwahoThRJihNt7CNWTFu6xkY2NoYsA1PK47ExuY3woemWFQ4D9EIqIJtXFNv-9S8OQEBkbXhkAkNhqgfUe18xpGpXucp7_dSRZS4fcvbmIdfV5Ff4Px0aspiglDKGmcVbkCv/s640/blogger-image-214065069.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hope to remember this week that God is both powerful and gentle!</div>Aliandriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061859275015136281noreply@blogger.com0