Switch flippers

    Alright, the other day some friends and  I were talking about what we find attractive in the opposite sex.  As we went around sharing what we think is attractive, I cast my mind around, composing a list of what I had seen that I found attractive.  Just for kicks, here is my list;
        Broomstick skirts; way cute, especially if they are white.  I don't know why, but a girl wearing a broomstick skirt with matching flat soled shoes just makes me tick.

        Slightly curly hair is way seductive.  If she has curly hair naturally, the opposite is true; if she straitens it, way cute.  Just switching it up once in a while is catchy.

        Dancing.  For some reason, I think that  a moderate level of kinetic intelligence is way sexy.  Secretly I watch girls just dance to music in their kitchens while doing dishes and think "they have no idea what they are doing".

        If she can sing.  Nothing too fancy, but if she can carry a tune well, major points.  Maybe it's because music is so important and inpactful

        if she is good with kids.  If she can handle well a screaming child on the living room floor, kicking a writhing, major points.  My mother only raised her voice when we needed it.  I find that attractive in girls as well.

        Moderate cooking abilities.  I know this one isn't that important, but again, I'm impressed when a girl can cook.

       Isn't afraid to challenge herself.  It's impressive to see a girl who wants to challenge herself, that wants to educate herself and become somebody.

       Most importantly, she takes the whole gospel package seriously.  If the gospel and the Lord come before the guy they love, major major points. 
      Predictably, most of these attributes exist in my own mother.  My older sister influences this list as well. 
       I hope that this has not come off as being extremely chauvinistic or sexist, It was just fun to think about.  I know that girls are interested to know what guys find attractive, and I hope the reverse is true.  I understand that its me that ought to be worrying about who I am. 

One year home

      It's happened; I've been home from my mission a year today.  That's kind of a milestone.  When people ask you how long you have been home, you can say "oh, I've been home a year now".  That's a respectable amount.  I imagine that, especially when girls hear you say that, they think 'alright, he's been home long enough to get over that greeny RM stage and is now in full swing of things'.
       Everyone asks you "what is the number one thing you learned on your mission?"  I'd like to alter that question a little; "what is the number one thing that you have learned in your first year being back?"
       Considering that I have spend most of that year in school, living away from home, dating, being in and out of relationships, and trying to figure out the future, I am left with this axiom; accept nothing but your best.  Anything less is you being lazy.  I frankly want to shout at those who say "Cs get degrees".  I'd go one step further and say "your level of discipleship to Jesus Christ can be measured by your efforts to achieve success in all aspects of your life."  If you aren't trying your best in everything, you aren't taking full advantage of the life God has given you.
       Now obviously, there is room for imperfection, thank goodness.  The Lord can tolerate our imperfection if we live the principle of repentance.  But come now, you'll be happiest if you honestly try your best.  It's actually kind of fun!

Come to the edge...

      When I was in the MTC, I watched a fireside with Elder Holland speaking about missionary work.  Among other things he shared, he recounted an experience he had with his wife.  To my best recollection here is what he said;
       "The other day my wife shared a poem with me that she found.  It was originally written is French, so she translated it for me.  The poem goes like this;
     
       Come to the edge
                   no, will fall
        come to the edge
                   no, will fall
       come to the edge!
               So, we came
              He pushed us
              and we flew..."
 
       I love this poem. What do you think this poem is trying to say?  When the poem invites you to come to the edge, what are they talking about?
        Elder Holland related later that each one of us are often required to come to our personal edge.  The edge is where we step into the twilight of uncertainty and the limit of our understanding.  It's those leaps of faith that are so very scary to us.  Be it deciding to take a certain job, to move across the country, to marry a certain person, to have a child when bidden, to accept a calling, to invite the less active to return to church; it can be any of these things.
     He described the edge as being the place where miracles are performed, where lives are changed, where people are healed, where differences are made, where real power is manifest, where the Savior always was, and where the Savior commands that we come.  I love that idea.
      The best thing about the edge is that we can go there every day. Just little things, like heeding the idea of talking to someone you don't know, of asking them how their day is.  It can be summoning the courage to make a remark to a friend that they need, but perhaps do not want.  It can be making the decision to get outside of your comfort zone.  It's making the decision to exercise a little more faith everyday.   I'd like to say that I have been conducting experiments with this idea lately, and it has yielded some pretty remarkable experiences.  Every day is an edge day!
     So if you come to the edge sometime in the near future, I'd love to hear about it!

When girls cry

    The lyrics come to mind "and IIIII'l be your crying shoulder...".  For one reason or another, over the past two weeks I have provided the crying shoulder for a surprising number of my female friends.  It's all from family issues to homework overload to roommate frustrations to just needing a moment to cry.
         Watching a girl cry is an awful thing; you can feel the bitter and sad and frightened emotions coursing through their bodies as you hold them gently and try to offer consolation.  I wish that I could get inside their heart for a minute and sooth their upset feelings.  The best I can do is hold them and breath gently, just willing some of their pain to go away. As much as I want to I cannot share with them wholly the serenity and collectedness that they so desperately need.
       It's somehow soothing to me to be able to comfort someone in tears.  It's almost as if I'm descending on their roller-coaster of emotion with them.  When they begin to calm down and dry their eyes, it's as if I am feeling the same relief they are.  I'll ask "are you okay?  It's all going to be okay.  Is there anything I can do to help?"
        I am grateful for my shift on the waaah-bulance these past two weeks.  I know how much I like it when someone can hear me out, and doing it for someone else is the next best thing.  I walk away from their apartment feeling more peaceful and calm and closer to the Spirit than I did before.