Lost

Have you ever felt lost?

Odds are good your answer is yes. Life sometimes becomes difficult to navigate. There are many, if not infinite, paths in front of you and it's hard to understand where you should step next. You become discouraged and confused, and soon you find yourself in a rut.

I hate ruts. Especially when I get in one that I can't seem to get out of.

The past few days, I have been in one such rut.

I became uncertain about what I was doing with my life, discouraged at how things seemed to be in my life at the moment, and frustrated at all I didn't know.

I was lost.

Or was I?

Thankfully, when my eyes lose sight of who I am or where I'm going, God sends me people to remind me. Through the kind words and actions of many, I was able to get out of my rut and am now looking forward with hope and faith instead of doubt and frustration.

Did I figure out everything I didn't know?

Do I understand exactly what I'm doing now?

Have my circumstances altered dramatically for the better?

Heck no.

But I was reminded that:

1) I have so many blessings. 

Seriously so many. I have a family, a home, a great school, amazing friends, the chance to do what I love every day. Life at any given moment is much more likely to be fantastic than otherwise.

2) I do know some things. 

I have some ideas, however indistinct, of what I want to do and who I want to be. I know I eventually want to marry in the temple and become a mother. I know I want to teach dance and help young women see themselves and others in a positive light. I know I want to eat ice cream. Do I know specifics on how any of these will work out? No (with the exception of the ice cream). But I know that these are things I'm working toward.

3) I have a Heavenly Father who has a plan for me. 

Even if that plan makes no sense to me from where I'm standing, I know it will ultimately lead me to becoming my best self. Hailey, one of the many angels who helped me over the last few days, said that our lives are like a cross-stitch: God sees the top side and we see the underside.

Have you ever seen the underside of a cross-stitch?

Yep. Looks like my life

But take heart, because the front side looks like this:

It's easy looking back to see the connection, but when all you saw was the underside, did you have any idea what the design was intended to be?

When things get murky or uncertain, try to see the big picture.

It's okay to have no idea what you are doing right now. One day, you'll have it figured out. It might not be tomorrow, it might not be next week, it might not be in a year or two years. But one day, things will become clear.

In the meantime,

Have faith.
Have hope.

Just Pretty

Pretty Young Thing, Pretty Girl Rock, "pretty and witty and bright"

Who wouldn't want to be called pretty?

There is nothing wrong with being pretty or being called pretty. I know little compliments of "your eyes look pretty today!" or the like always make my days a little brighter.


But why limit our compliments or our ambitions to just pretty?

Who is this?

Most of you would recognize this as Audrey Hepburn.

Is she pretty?

Absolutely.

 

Now who is this?
Many of you might not recognize that this is also Audrey Hepburn.
"Pretty" is not the first word that comes to mind when I look at this picture.
I think of "strong," or "compassionate," or "influential."

I found this post about Audrey Hepburn, and I think it ties into the point I'm trying to make.

Was Audrey Hepburn pretty?

Definitely.

But she was so much more.

I love this quote. Why do we limit ourselves to pretty, when there are so many other amazing qualities?

Pretty Kind

Pay for the person behind you in the drive thru. 

Smile at a stranger.

 Forgive someone who has done you wrong.

Pretty Funny

Find the little joys in life.

Laugh at yourself sometimes.

Laugh so hard your belly hurts.

Pretty Smart

Work hard in school.

Make decisions looking at the big picture.

Fill your mind with light and knowledge.

Pretty Strong

Stand up for what matters to you.

Inspire and uplift others.

Push yourself farther than you thought you could go.

You are pretty.

But you are also pretty amazing.

You Never Go Out of Style

What does style mean to you?

Some hear the word and think of fashion, of Milan or Paris, of runways and magazines.

You may think of outfits and accessories, lipstick and heels.

I think style goes far beyond that.

Style is about who you are and how you express that.

I truly believe that there is no one way to be "stylish."

I don't think certain name brands worn or trends followed give someone style.

Having style just means having confidence and showing it through the way you present yourself.

I made a fun video exploring the concept of style and highlighting some of the amazing (stylish) young women I have the privilege to know!


Trends may come and go, but you never go out of style.

Confidence in Me

So we all like The Sound of Music, right?

Or at least we can all agree that Julie Andrews, then, now, and forevermore, is practically perfect in every way.

Now, The Sound of Music has lots of great songs that have been sung for years and years. My Favorite Things, Do Re Mi, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Maria, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and of course the title song are all well known. One of them is probably in your head right now.

Sorry about that.

But while I think these songs are catchy and fun and great, my favorite song by far is I Have Confidence.

Maria sings this song as she is working up the nerve to begin her endeavor as a nanny for the von Trapps. As she sings, she gains a more positive attitude and by the time she reaches the gates, she's confident that

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

I mean just look at her: 

Skipping along and then that face! That is the face of a woman who is about to accomplish whatever she puts her mind to.

While Maria began her journey to the von Trapp's apprehensively, she was able to convince herself to "have confidence in me."

Sometimes you may face obstacles that seem daunting at first.
You may feel unequal to the task ahead.

But remember that, with a little self-reminder of how great you are, you can tackle any problem in your path.

Find that confidence in yourself and your abilities, and soon you'll be singing:

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

(skipping down the lane is optional)

Or you can just have this video queued up when you need a boost:

(It doesn't hurt that Sierra Boggess can sing like a goddess)

So go face those challenges with your head held high!

You can accomplish anything as long as you remember to have confidence!

Have Faith Have Hope

Last year I decided to take on a motto for the New Year instead of a resolution, and I've decided to do the same thing for 2016. My new motto is:

I got this motto from a beautiful song I've sung since I was little: He Sent His Son.

I want to go into this new year with a believing heart.

I want to have faith in my God. I want to have faith in myself.

 I want to have hope in the future. I want to hope for good things to come. 

I think the biggest thing that this motto represents is possibility.

A new year brings for me that same crisp feeling I get when I first step outside and can smell fall in the air. It's that promise of change, the knowledge that new things are about to happen, new great things. I want to dive into the possibilities of this new year with an open heart and a ready mind. 

I want to begin my days this year believing that anything can happen.

There are infinite possibilities every day. 

All I have to do is have faith and have hope in the best ones

and put them into action.

May your new year be full of faith and hope and the wondrous adventures that are bound to come your way if you have your heart open to them. Please feel free to comment with your resolution or motto for the new year! I hope my blog can bring some inspiration to help you with your goals.

Come at me, 2016. 

I'm ready with a net of optimism and eyes set on that rising sun.