It's the Little Things

Yeah, I work here.

As school draws near, I found myself working for 40 hours a week at my current employment. Many of you already know that I work for BYU Broadcasting part-time. Since the migration and consolidation of its multiple departments, BYUB continued to improve its operations and products.

That's not the reason why I'm tired, though. I'm tired because I'm not getting enough sleep. While it's probably easy for me to take a quick nap overnight, somehow that wouldn't end up ethical in the long run. Luckily, the trend will only last for one more week as another semester's new schedule will take over.

I am also participating in New Student Orientation (NSO) again for fall as a Y-group Leader. Due to the understaffed situation during the interim period, finding replacements for your shifts isn't as easy as it normally would. Thus, I am ready for the total lack of sleep next week as I tackle overnight shifts and NSO simultaneously.

That's what it feels like every time!

Why did I do this to myself? There are several reasons. Let's just say whenever when I have to collect serum samples from the mice in Dr. B's lab, I feel like I've lost karma. So, to make myself feel better, I go off volunteering for some things. It's a personal quirk. I don't have any reason to stand behind it beyond that, so there's no debate here.

Fatigue can make me feel unappreciative for the things I have in my life. Fortunately for me, I have housemates that remind me what matters in life. Sometimes it's the little things. Coming back from grocery shopping, I distinctly remember sitting down at the kitchen table and just have the overwhelming feeling of gladness for being able to put food on the table.

Which comes to the point: my life has been pretty good and it can become better if I choose to because I'm currently living in a situation where this is possible with a little effort. I understand sometimes we don't share that sentiments or even the belief that there's anything to be thankful for, but it is a principle that has been passed down through many cultures for who knows how long.

King Benjamin talked about thanking God for all that we have during his discourse (Mosiah 2). More prominently, the account of Luke when Jesus healed the lepers and only one expressed his gratitude towards the Savior (Luke 17:16-17). Like it or not, there aren't many things in this life that's made possible through our own strength alone.

This may come across as insignificant to some of you, but try it for once. Be grateful about something, to whatever deity you believe in, or at the very least, recognizing a convenience you've had that a good portion of the people on this planet don't. Maybe you'll see life differently that way.

I hate comparing my life to less fortunate people just to make me feel good, but there are times we need reality checks. This is especially true for someone like me who lives in the United States where there are less excuses to blame our poor performances and lack of personal accountability.

Being thankful for what you have will hopefully make you appreciate the things around you a little more.

I remember now: we enter into His gate with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4).

Sometimes Needed Self Evaluation

What a summer! It baffles me somewhat to think four months came and went just like that. It felt like yesterday when summer break started for me and my housemates. I can hardly believe this will be my last school year here at BYU. It's about time, really. Time to move on to other things in life. Since it is also my half birthday today, I figured I should contemplate about my life for a bit. After all, having a quarter-life crisis is the big thing in the 21st century.

Despite of all that I did this summer--household projects, trips, etc.--I still felt somewhat unproductive. It's perplexing at first because I even kept up an exercise routine and even worked for free in the research lab (thanks a lot 29-hour rule that prevents me from working another on campus job). Then again, my sleep schedule has been so sporadic, the fatigue gets in the way of optimal function. It is difficult to appreciate all that you do (or have) when you are left wondering why you've committed to make your life uneasy.

Remember this?

As part of my summer goals, I've also implemented progress for spirituality. Sometimes, the secular world just doesn't make you feel good after prolonged exposure. I took some time and revisited the Attribute Activity found in Preach my Gospel. I'm sure most of you who have served a mission understand what I'm talking about. Oh, and it's on page 126 in case you are not sure where to look for it.

I'll admit, I actually uses this page to reevaluate myself from time to time to see where I stand, and I try to improve myself over time. The efficiency of that is another story.

I don't want to sound pretentious or prideful, but watching one of my best friends on a mission makes me want to be a better person because of the progress I've witnessed thus far in her character and development. It's not a competition, but it's always nice to have a bar, a standard, to set for short-term or even immediate long-term goals.

Granted, I've been off my mission for over three years and the spiritual high has not climaxed in comparison since then. I know I am still a better person than before the whole experience. Going through my scribbles and whatnot, there's still a long journey ahead of me. Fortunately, there has been some improvement along the way.

Discipleship is a journey in itself. We are commanded to be perfect, even as our Lord is perfect (3 Nephi 12:48). I'll probably feel like a lesser man until the day I can carve out something for myself, but I have no doubt that I can achieve whatever necessary through His blessings. Patience is a virtue (Romans 8:25).

Till I blog again,

Adieu

Cleanliness

A clean kitchen...for now.

I've been busy with other things lately, so I haven't spent as much time documenting my life and thoughts over on the Internet. Fortunately, I still do mini-snippets of journal entries on my phone since I last mentioned the Day One app.

As far as work and studying goes, I work for 40 hours a week for the rest of the month. I delayed taking the MCAT because I didn't feel ready, but got lucky and received more review materials instead. Needless to say, the new found sources contain information I did not know before; therefore, gladness filled my heart.

My other venture was attempting to finish Fallout: New Vegas, which I managed after putting in 150+ hours in the past six weeks I owned it. It's a once-in-a-while hobby, so don't judge. I certainly don't look down on the other things you do for fun. Since I finished it, I am certain the gaming streak won't return until this winter break.

As August presses on, school is inevitably closing in. We will have a late start this year, and this is supplemented by a much shorter winter break at the end of the semester. Like most housing management, my housemates and I received the lovely notice of a cleaning check a while back. We aren't too worried because we keep the place clean for the most part.

I did some cleaning in the upstairs kitchen this afternoon. I remembered the days on my mission when I moved to a new area, I always clean the place out first. This was followed by the area books. Back in high school, I wasn't the biggest about cleaning up around me, especially when they were chores required of me. However, I must note that most of the filth I had to deal with back home was dust, which seemed trivially menial compared to the clutter that was around the house.

Anyways, I dislike a dirty environment. I firmly believe the saying "cleanliness is next to godliness". I'm not going to pretend that I expect my current dwelling with my friends to be spotless and sparkling new, but there's still a standard to the amount of clutter and filth I can stand before I take action and "convince" one of two of the guys to assist me in the matter. After all, I am the "angry uncle" in the house.

This leads to a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley back in 1996. It is said that those who bore the vessels of the Lord needed to be clean (D&C 133:5). This not only includes outwardly appearance, but also our conduct, mind, etc. Obviously, it's not always possible to remain physically clean. The point being the principle of that desire, that drive, that allows us to pursue that cleanliness through the atonement of the Savior.

If you are interested, you can find the talk here.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. A lot of it has to do with the future. I don't have fears for the future per se. I do, however, have wondered how I would handle certain situations if I were to have a career, family, spouse, etc. Well, imagination can only get you so far, but I do believe having an idea is totally better than jumping into the unknown all of the sudden when the time arises.

From my little cleaning experience today, I know what I want my living quarters to be like down the road. An outward manifestation that should also include an inward devotion. I remember why I made the choices I've chosen and I think they have worked out pretty well so far thanks to divine providence.

It's near the middle of August. It is my goal to also share my thoughts with the Internet at least four times a month. I believe I can reach that goal. Thank you all who have been reading my musings thus far. There will be more to come!