SYTYCD

I had no idea what that acronym was for until Mandy showed me this video on on YouTube. Actually, the only time I have ever watched So You Think You Can Dance is with Mandy, but when she showed me this video I fell in love. I loved the song, the idea, the dancers, everything about this...so I am sharing it with you.



The concept for the dance was addiction. The girl is the addict and the guy is the drug, the song is "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles.

I am KAYAK hear me ROAR!

I really enjoy kayaking...despite my lack of experience and skill, it is something that I have come to love. I was watching an episode of the Gilmore girls and just wanted to share this little clip.

Enjoy!

Not my problem

This statement is something that I have learned to live by. When you work in a difficult and sad environment like I do you have to create limits. You have to recognize what is in your power to change and what is not, what you should feel bad about and what you should not and what is your problem to solve and what is somebody else's problem. It took some time to become proficient in the art of realizing its not my problem but it has had some unforeseen benefits that are very helpful in other aspects of my life.

So for now...I feel pretty good about saying "it has nothing to do with me, I cannot change it, I should not feel bad about it and fine, let someone else deal with this problem cause...ITS NOT MY PROBLEM!"

Worth it...?

Michelle asked me the other day if the idea of things being "worth it" was some how a part of the teachings of my church. She indicated that it was a phrase she often heard me use and while the concept was familiar, the words "worth it" were more commonly used by her LDS friends. After giving it a little bit of thought, I determined that we are taught from a fairly young age about trials and sacrifice, we are told "don't give up what you want in the long run for what you want now," we are encouraged to believe that there are things that we do that are hard because they are worth it in the long run. While I don't think the idea of "worth it" is founded in any doctrine of the church I do know that the concept in general is referred to in several ways relating to the gospel. Regardless...the idea of things being "worth it" is something that I weigh out constantly in my mind.

All things question: is the opportunity cost greater than the value of the opportunity? Do we not all evaluate all opportunities this way on a regular basis?

Is "it" worth it?
Maybe I want to have a bigger apartment with central air but I really hate moving...so is it worth it?
I really need to figure out how to make more money but I love my job. If I go back to school to get the next license I can increase my salary but I really, REALLY hate school. Is it worth it?
I love good food and I don't like going to the gym. I want my jeans to fit me when I pull them out for fall but that means going to the gym and eating less. Is it worth it?

Is "he" worth it?
Maybe he is really cute but not that smart. Do I want to sacrifice good conversation for good looks? Is he worth it?
I love his company but he is totally a flake? Is he worth it?
He is amazing, funny, attractive but not a member of the church? Is he worth it?

Am "I" worth it?
Lets be honest, the answer to this one is always yes but I am not always the one making the evaluation. People get to decide for themselves what sacrifices they are willing to make for you. How much of themselves they will give. How much you are worth an hour at your job...etc. It is difficult not to feel sometimes, "well, I guess I wasn't worth it."

Quote of the Day

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure don't deserve me at my best."
— Marilyn Monroe



You have to admit, she was pretty great. She was beautiful, honest, real.

Fun Stuff

Summer has set in at work and we are immersed in the craziness thereof. Last week started the first of the ropes course outings as well as the river trips in Moab. We had a great time...I still marvel that I get paid for some of the things I get to do (not much, but still paid).





For Memorial Day weekend Erica and I drove to Hurricane, UT where we met Kate and stayed for a few days to see some more of the wonders of southern Utah. We spent one day laying on the beautiful red rocks of Sand Hollow reservoir. On Monday we went into Zion National Park and hiked (walked really) into the Emerald Pools. It was beautiful and so much fun.




I of course have pictures of my feet in both places...apparently my sunscreen attracted some dirt:)

Book Club

I recently joined a book club. It is really just a few people that have wanted to be in one and decided to just do it. One of the women chose a book and sent an e-mail and that is how it happened. We had our first meeting last night. I only actually know one of the other members but I can tell that we will have a lot of fun together. Our first book was "The Witch of Portobello." I really enjoyed it and will leave you with an excerpt:



Everything is at once so simple and so complicated! It's simple because all it takes is a change of attitude: I'm not going to look for happiness anymore. From now on, I'm independent; I see life through my eyes and not through other people's. I'm going in search of the adventure of being alive.

And it's complicated: Why am I not looking for happiness when everyone has taught me that happiness is the only goal worth pursuing? Why am I going to risk taking a path that no one else is taking?

After all, what is happiness?

Love, they tell me. But love doesn't bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it's a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it's sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we're doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony.

All right then, peace. Peace? If we look at the Mother, she's never at peace. The winter does battle with the summer, the sun and the moon never meet, the tiger chases the man, who's afraid of the dog, who chases the cat, who chases the mouse, who frightens the man.

Money brings happiness. Fine. In that case, everyone who earns enough to have a high standard of living would be able to stop working. But then they're more troubled than ever, as if they were afraid of losing everything. Money attracts money, that's true. Poverty might bring unhappiness, but money won't necessarily bring happiness.

I spent a lot of my life looking for happiness; now what I want is joy. Joy is like sex--it begins and it ends. I want pleasure, I want to be contented, but happiness? I no longer fall into that trap.

When I'm with a group of people and I want to provoke them by asking that most important of questions--Are you happy? --they all reply: "Yes, I am."

Then I ask: "But don't you want more? Don't you want to keep on growing?" And they all reply: "Of course."

Then I say: "So you're not happy." And they change the subject.