Road Trips

This week I had the opportunity to attend a wedding in Rexburg, Idaho. Now, I have to think to myself...why did I drive four hours to see a friend get married and then drive back (another four hours) the same day?

Well, it just so happens that the bride is my mission trainer! It was great to drive up there with two of the other people I served with on my mission so we could see her be married in the temple.

I don't know if y'all know this but road trips can be really long. I've never done a cross-country road trip before but I've driven from Texas to Utah multiple times, which is a 22-hour road trip, as well as a few other road trips. As I drove the four hours there and then another four hours back, I thought about how exciting road trips really are.

Road trips are usually done for a reason. Whether that reason is for fun, education, vacation, spontaneity, or something else, they give the opportunity for a good time with good people. This trip did just that, too!

There were many people I had the opportunity to catch up with as I have not seen many of them in quite a long time. One person, in particular, I had not seen in about 10 years. I'm not exaggerating when I throw that number out, either. This friend is someone I grew up with in two different places. We lived in New Mexico together on a military base and then both of our families moved to Texas after that, as well. We spent years together and our families were close. Through the years, we moved away from each other and lost touch. Well, I finally got to meet up with her again!

Now, why is this important or applicable to anything?

Networking. Networking is a key tool for us to use in our lives. We meet people every day and WE are the ones to choose how we can use that relationship. Do we keep it to a casual "I remember you but I don't know where from" type of relationship or can we continue to build it through constant interaction?

I choose the latter. Growing up, I was told I am a social butterfly and I still believe that is true! I love having the opportunity to network every day. Getting to catch up with an old childhood friend gave for an opportunity to meet others, as well. Because I got to catch up with her, I met her roommates and ended up finding out that one of her roommates and I have a few mutual friends!

Because I got to catch up with my friend again, it gives me more of a reason to catch up with others whom I've lost contact with, as well as meet others more often so that I can make those same connections and more each day.

I'm glad we have this great tool to use in our lives. I've seen miracles from networking! My current job is a job I received because of networking and it's not a coincidence.

"Every Little Thing...Is Gonna Be Alright"

Hey y'all!

I found myself wondering more this week; wondering about life, wondering about family, and wondering about friends. I found myself getting lost and wondering where life is at. I also found myself questioning where I am at currently in my life; if this is really where I'm supposed to be at this time.

I'm sure we've all had these thoughts before and have wondered what is next for us. Then, on Friday, an event occurred in my life that helped me to understand more of why I am here and the things I need to learn.

No, I'm not engaged nor even close to it so don't think that or anything of the like is the event. Yesterday was Involvapalooza. (This is a picture of the event.) At Brigham Young University, the school I attend, all of the clubs on campus have the opportunity to showcase their club with a booth, to try and let others know about the club and how they can join. I was so excited for this event to happen on campus, as I got to help out with the A Cappella booth this year! With a little public relations and advertising experience, I looked forward to the opportunity to help our club be known a little more.

Well, despite my hopes and excitement, we ended up not getting a booth with Involvapalooza. We were away from the rest of the booths due to some unexpected things that came up. Needless to say, I was not very happy. I didn't have the best attitude knowing I could have done something more for the club. The entire time I was wishing I was with the other hundreds of people at the event rather than where I was.

I know now that attitude is what makes things what they are. If one has a bad attitude at a party, they're not going to enjoy the time. If one has a positive attitude during a hard time, the effect will be more than what it would've been had the attitude been pessimistic.

I learned that I am here for a reason and although I'm not completely positive on what that entails, I know that if I have a good attitude, it will be better than what it could have ended up as. With what I've learned, I'm going to start an attitude journal. At EFY (Especially for Youth), we talked about this sometimes but I never thought of having one for myself. In this journal, I will record my attitude on certain days and document why my attitude was the way it was that day. With this, I hope to have an optimistic and positive attitude more often.

I have to remember: "Every little thing is gonna be alright..." -Bob Marley

A sister in my mission posted this blog about self-worth and our importance. I thought it was quite pertinent to this blog so here's the link to her blog post:  http://bit.ly/1iYVY8O

Until next time,

Shalae

Consequences: What are they?

Another week has come and gone. One thing that has stuck out to me this week is how consequential our every actions are in our lives. Consequential does not just have a negative connotation, but can be positive as well.

Definition of consequences:

• a result of an action of condition

How do consequences play a role in our lives? I'll discuss some ways it plays a role in my life.

Let's start with high school. I was involved in several different clubs, I was President of a couple of those clubs, held offices in several settings throughout, had a high GPA, and had fun while doing so. The consequence of me doing many things throughout high school included me getting accepted to my school of choice: Brigham Young University. As I entered college, however, my priorities changed.

My first year of college, I had a hard time academically because I was focusing on having a social life more than focusing on my schoolwork. The consequences soon came around as my grades did not end up where I wanted them to be at. They slowly went downhill from there.

I left on my mission a year later and soon discovered more of what the Lord has in store for me. There is a plan and I am a part of it! Reading, studying, and communicating more with those around me helped me realize what I needed to do.

I returned home from my mission and began school again just two weeks later. My grades were still not where I wanted them to be but I had developed better study habits. That semester, I became involved in the BYU A Cappella Club on campus. I got into an all-girls' group, Attention, and loved every minute of it! At the end of the semester, I decided to run for an officer position for the Club.

My grades began increasing and I became more involved in various clubs on campus, including the A Cappella Club, of course.

This semester, I now serve as the Vice President of Media Productions for the BYU A Cappella Club. On top of that, I am in a Gamelan percussion ensemble, which has allowed me to get to know more professors and people. Being a part of these clubs and groups has already been for my benefit and I've seen many changes in myself and in my life because I decided to become more involved.

Consequences occur every day from the choices and actions we make.

Beginning this new school year as an officer for the BYU A Cappella Club has opened my eyes to many other things that are ahead. I am busy with this position, my job, schoolwork, and attempting to have a social life on top of that. Busy is good, though, and I look forward to learning more about consequences that will effect my life from this day forward. I know that every action I take has a consequence and will focus on how I can balance everything in my life to continue to see these positive consequences in my life.

"The consequences of today are determined by actions of the past. To change your future, alter your decisions today." -Anonymous

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

Well folks, starting today, I actually get to keep a blog! Y'all know how much I've wanted to start a blog and now, for my class, I get to accomplish this goal.

Blogs aren't just a task to get done. Blogs aren't just something to do to pass the time. A blog is a way to keep track of the different events occurring in life. Thus, I named this blog "A Day in the Life of" to show those events that happen day to day, week to week.

I will not be posting each day in this blog. I am a college student. Let's be honest, I can barely keep track of my own classes and work let alone adding a blog onto that. I will be posting once a week, though, to keep track of everything happening in life and how I can apply the things I learn to my future.

I hope as you read my blog each week that you'll find new things YOU want to apply to YOUR own life. Personally. FOR YOU!

One of my favorite quotes is by President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

My thoughts turn to this quote as I begin this blog for at least this semester. (I hope I can keep up with it after this semester is over, though.)

How can I, or we, enjoy life and not just endure it?

Life is a blissful thing we've been given! For ME, I want to take life day to day, finding positives and turning any negatives I come across into positives. For ME, I will set goals and make plans to accomplish the goals I have. (This being one of those goals.)

And so, folks, I begin this blog to focus on the positives of life. While life is not just about the positives, it is about finding joy in the journey. I hope to portray that as I keep this blog. I will not just post the positives of life but will post about turning any negatives into positives as well.

So I bid you adieu until next time.