Put a little NICE in the world today

I found this SUPER AWESOME author who works as a "Standardized Patient". Her job is to act out different disorders with a 10-12 page script. Medical students guess her illness according to the symptoms that she plays.

It is an extremely interesting read and I recommend it to all. Click here for the link to her website.
It is long, but I love it!


She discusses the idea of empathy and how it plays in our relationships with other people. What do we feel when another person feels pain or anguish from their own experiences? What do we say to them? How do we treat them after?
It's an endless amount of questions and to be completely honest, the answer is never the same for every person.


I was reading this article that talked about why we need to compliment people more in our life. They discussed scientific proof stating that "social rewards directly enhance skill consolidation in humans and research suggests that they have a novel functional effect on the human motor memory system."

We like it when people compliment us.

I mean, c'mon, you wore that cute dress that you just bought and got all dolled up so you could impress someone. (sometimes I dress up and take a picture and send it to my mom so she will tell me how cute I am-desperate, I know)

But the article considered the idea that complimenting each other shouldn't be for one's personal gain or satisfaction. "Taking an extra moment to not only notice something positive in another human but also express that positivity out loud (without ulterior motives)". I think that is where the empathy part plays a role. We don't have to feel bad for someone who looks awful and compliment their shoes because we think that they think they look awful. No. Don't do that.

Think of it more like this-

"Empathy isn't just something that happens to us- a meteor shower of synapses firing across the brain- it's also a choice we make: to pay attention, to extend ourselves. It's made of exertion, that dowdier cousin of impulse."

I believe that if we were to pay closer attention to people, to "extend ourselves" to others, and choose to acknowledge someone else's greatness (not putting ourselves down, or comparing ourselves to that individual), both can experience a happy moment that they will remember.

According to Professor Norihiro Sadato, a study lead and professor at the National Insitute for Physiological Sciences in Japan said, "To the brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being rewarded money. We've been able to find scientific proof that a person performs better when they receive a social reward after completing an exercise. Complimenting someone could become an easy and effective strategy to use in the classroom and during rehabilitation."

Now, when I read this report from Professor Sadato, I immediately think of all those people who get compliments for their athleticisms and talents, and then botch up because they let it "get to their head". But then I think, they still did a good job and they deserve to be complimented for their accomplishments.


Don't be stingy with your compliments. Or your kindness.

There is no shame in making someone else feel good about themselves and being honest about your feelings and admiration for another.

Let's vocalize some awesome kindness!

Moment of the Day

So I decided to wear a skirt today.
For many different reasons.
1. I want to look cute.
2. My roommate let me borrow her boots that go with my skirt.
3. I hate pants.
4. I may or may not be able to fit into my favorite pair of pants at the moment.

I was feeling on top of the world today. I went grocery shopping with my sister and had so much fun.
Just a great day. :)

But tonight is a night to remember.
I got home from grocery shopping and was getting out of my skirt when my roommate said that some boy was at the door for me.
I went to the door in my leggings and socks and there he was.
Aaron.
What a stud.
He asked me out for tomorrow night and I said yes.
Then the real action the real action happened after he left.

I was so happy that I was dancing and jumping and kicking with so much energy. I even tried to jump off of the wall, and fallen flat on my buttox. It hurt tremendously. 2 of my roommates watched all this happen. And we were all on the ground laughing hysterically as I crawled back to my room.
Then I wanted to call someone to tell them that this guy, who I really like, asked me out.
My friend Miranda is the reason why I met him, so I called her.
Here is the conversation:
Me: I just got asked out. Guess who???
Miranda: Who?
Me: Guess.
Miranda: I don't want to guess. Just tell me.
Me: Well, you know him.
Miranda: Hold on just a sec.
*Begins speaking to someone else*
Miranda: Did you?...... You did?
*Back to me*
Miranda: Aaron
Me: *Silence* He is there?!?!?!?! I have to go now. Bye.
hang up

How embarrassing.

My children will revel in their mother's embarrassing stories.
And I will wear them proudly.

But ya, I will never forget tonight. :)

Tradition

Hey, do you remember last year when I wrote something I was grateful for for the month of November??

Well, I am a creature of habit and tradition, so......... :))))))  
(the multiple parentheses means I am smiling really big.)



Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

When you find yourself

Who are you?

I don't want to know your name or where your from or what activities you like to play in your free time.

Who are you?

Well, being raised in the LDS church I recited a theme every Sunday that explains who I am.
While I was saying my prayers last night I began to recite that theme and it comforted me.

WE are daughters of a Heavenly Father
who loves us and we love Him
We will STAND as witnesses of God
At all times, in all things and in all places,
As we STRIVE to live the Young Women Values which are
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity and
Virtue
We believe as we come to ACCEPT and ACT upon these values
We will be prepared to strengthen home and family,
make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple and
ENJOY the blessings of exaltation.



This is who I am.

Unfortunately, sometimes I forget it. And then I have to deal with the consequences of that. I have to overcome the negative thoughts telling me that I am not worth it, when in fact, I am worth every single breath of life.






I watched this video on Facebook.
Not bad. I felt pretty good about myself after he was done.


But one thing he said triggered a thought in my mind.



He said that we deserve someone who would be willing to die for us. And I can't complain for a man like that, but my brain went to the story of Jacob and how he was willing to work 7 years for her hand only to be given Leah.  I had no doubt that he loved Leah, but he still worked more for Rebecca.

That is my kind of guy.


All I can say now is that I know who I am and I know who I want to be and it is up to Heavenly to work with me and my future companion to bring us together unto Him.

One Special Night

So last night, I had the most magnificent opportunity to enter into the House of the Lord.
My family accompanied me through, and I can say that it was wonderful.

I have so many things to learn.  But I know that with the Lord on my side, I can do all things.

Some pictures to show my happy night.

What a night.
I love this gospel.

Growing up

For my ASL class, we have to choose one children's story and sign the characters and summary.

I may have procrastinated this project til today.... and it is kinda due tomorrow...... BUT HEY! YOLO!
No worries, tho, I got it done. :)

But I want to tell you about the story I chose.....
Can you guess which one I picked?
Well, lemme give you a few hints....
1) traditional as traditional can be
2)book and movie form
3) best friends
4) cartoon
5) it involves talking animals
any guesses??? (I think I may have described every childhood story there is out there)
6)"silly old bear"

YUP. That's right folks.

WINNIE THE POOH!

This is my favorite. OF ALL TIMES!

I grew up watching every movie,story, book, tv show, etc imaginable. 

I still watch the movies. seriously.

So first, I had to find which of the MANY stories to pick. It was easy. 

"Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin"

Just signing the summary I wanted to watch the movie! So, I find a link to the movie and watch it. And I remember the songs, the words, the silliness, how much I LOVE piglet. 

He is my FAVORITE! (actually I thought he was a girl when I was little)

I guess I will never grow up..... I wasn't really planning on it anyway ;)

In the wise words of Christopher Robin

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Feel Good.

So if you know me, you know that I am the sweats, sweatshirt, chucks, and top knot sort of girl.

Every now and then I will pull an all natural hair day or maybe even straightening. But I ONLY curl my hair on special occasions.

Well, yesterday was a day to remember.

I went to work in my pj's (like always....) came home and decided to actually look decent.  I just wanted to feel good about myself. So, I pulled out a skirt from my summer clothes out of my bed, put on a cute cardigan and curled my hair. Not just little curls, but full RINGLETS.

Not trying to be narcissistic or anything, but I looked GOOD. Whew! HAWT! :)

And then to top it all off, one of the most attractive people in my ward passed me, twice, and smiled and said  Hi! It may be nothing big, but for someone who wants to feel good, that sure made me feel good.