Win a Smile in 5 Minutes or Less :)

How? Just go to http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages or search "mormon messages" on youtube.com! I love this channel! My church produces short inspirational movies about all kinds of topics like hope, forgiveness, Christmas, and more. You can also find little movies about different humanitarian projects and interviews with people who have unique stories to tell. I love to watch these to get a little boost or a glow in my heart now and again :)

Here is one of my very favorites (this one made me cry!--it's about a boy who learns to make a better choice): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0

ps - the image is the official logo for the youtube channel :)

I hope you enjoy it!

If you can't find it with the link, it's called "Gordon Hinckley - Lessons I Learned as a Boy"

Thanks!

The Merry Heart

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

I love remembering this! I've found it to be so true :) I think it works especially well when we try to keep a positive attitude for the sake of someone we love. My grandmother, Theresa, has done an amazing job of this. She lost the love of her life early--when I was only seven--but she has kept going and absolutely filled her life to the seams with love and service for others--often feeding an army's worth of people several nights a week and doing all sorts of other good. I admire and appreciate her so much :) I know there are so many others who also take the medicine of the heart, and thereby fill our lives with sunshine. Thank you to you heroes, known or unknown!

(image from Wikipedia)

PS - Here is a great talk about the benefits of a positive/peaceful attitude and of laughter. One good quote from it is:

"Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training [in life]. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others. Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others."

Here's the link to the talk:

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=b5f44bb52a73d110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Running with Patience?

When I was in high school, I ran cross country. It was the first time in my life that I was actually good at a team sport. (Probably because this one didn't involve any balls... Also, it was a place for my skinny legs to excel for once!!) Anyway, I loved it! It was a lot of hard work, a lot of hours, a lot of early mornings, and a lot of--yep--sweat. It was also a lot of peace, endurance, and friendship-building :)

Besides building friendships and fitness, this sport was wonderful for my mind. It helped me realize how important our thoughts are for success. In a race if I started thinking negative thoughts, running became harder and I ran slower. If I kept a peaceful, positive, focused attitude I could do amazingly more than I expected. Something interesting about cross-country is that you have to pace yourself. If you run too fast at first, you run out of energy before the end. You have to control yourself and know yourself so that you do your best, but don't do more than you can handle.

I've never run a marathon, but I assume it's the same but even more so. Patience, steadiness, and a peaceful mind win the race. I think life is a lot like that. Just continuing forward and finishing something long and trying brings joy and satisfaction. All of this links to...the scripture below!

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
(Hebrews 12:1-4)

Life is a long race, but our Savior has already run it and can help us and cheer us along the way. Though it's long, we can run it with friends :) We can also enjoy getting stronger, gaining control of our thoughts, and seeing all of the beautiful and changing scenery as we pass along.

Does anyone have any thoughts to add?

Thanks!

PS - This is a photo of me and some of my friends from my high school cross-country team! As you'll notice, I didn't win a medal but that's ok--in the race of life everyone who finishes the race well will be happy and rewarded :)