Be A Good One

Today in Relief Society we had a really good lesson on choosing not to be offended and not being ashamed of the gospel. I thought of some things that I hadn't before and it was really interesting. Our teacher talked about how being offended really is a choice and that most of the time people don't mean to offend you. One of the girls commented that if someone says something mean she says to herself, "well, that was a thought" and then moves on. We cannot dwell on the things people say to us because it will only make us sad and I know I've said things that I wish I could take back. It was a good reminder that we never have to let what others say bring us down and that we choose how we react to things.

When she talked about being ashamed of the gospel she said that being ashamed of yourself is just as bad. We talked about how this is a really big problem for women in the church. I remember last year when I got up to BYU feeling like I didn't compare to any of the girls. When we would introduce ourselves to each other all the girls would ask what you had done in high school. It seemed like every girl rattled off a list of 10 or 15 really cool accomplishments and then the question would come to me and I couldn't think of anything else to say besides that I had played volleyball. I felt like everywhere I went I was being compared to the other girls, even in the library where you can actually see the guys scoping girls out haha. Anyway, this kind of put a little dent in my self-esteem for a little bit but eventually I got over it. I've learned that you just can't compare yourself to others. It makes no sense because we are all so individual with completely different strengths and that Heavenly Father loves us equally. She talked about how it's kind of ironic that we have conversations with people and worry about every little thing we said or what we were wearing because that person doesn't even notice because they're worrying abou tthe same thing but for themselves. Something I thought of while she was talking about that is that I'm going to try and stop worrying about the way I look or what I'm thinking and start worrying about how the person I'm talking to is thinking and feeling. That way, both of us will be happier.

One of my new favorite little quotes is "Whatever you are, be a good one". That's something I really have come to feel strongly about. It doesn't matter what you're good at, just be good at it and give it your all. I feel like that one of the ways Satan brings us down the most is through making us believe that we are not good enough. Once we feel that we have no value we give up and don't try to be better and achieve new things. I see it happening so much in the world. People use it as a crutch and say "well, I'm just not very smart" or "I'm just not very good at that". If you tell yourself that of course you're not going to be good at it. Doing this just cultivates laziness and mediocrity. I even find myself doing this. If there's something I'm trying to work on I catch myself saying, "Well, that's just not my personality". We cannot let the world's standards define us because they are always changing. That's why we are so lucky to have the gospel and the commandments that never change and always bring true, lasting happiness. I am really going to work on realizing that I have so much potential and that I can do difficult and exceptional things. I don't want to be a dumb, insecure girl who gets ashamed and embarrassed. Whatever I am, I'm going to be a good one! Ha.

Love,

Anneliese

Adorable

Tonight I saw one of the sweetest things I've seen in my entire life and I just wanted to document it really quickly. So I am involved in a thing here at BYU called Best Buddies. It's where you get matched up with mentally challenged people and hangout with them, call them, and attend activities with them once a month. It seriously is one of the best things I've ever done. They really are just the sweetest spirits and being with them makes me genuinely happy. Tonight was the Best Buddies Ball for the entire state of Utah. My friend Mindy is also in Best Buddies so we drove together to the ball with our buddies. Her buddy's name is Rachel and she is severely handicapped and has a wheel chair. When we got to the Ball there was lots of dancing and music. Whenever Rachel's favorite songs would come on she would get really excited and we would hold her hands and dance around with her. Then Rachel saw a boy who is also mentally challenged and her friend from work. He ran up and gave her a hug and then a slow song came on. He grabbed her hands and put his feet next to her foot holders and gently pushed them from side to side so that they could dance together. Then he looked over at me and said, "I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" It was seriously the sweetest thing I've ever seen. He figured out on his own how to be able to dance with her and make her feel special. I don't cry very often but my eyes immediately started watering. There was just so much Christlike love in that room. I'm so grateful to get to be around this wonderful, sweet spirits!

Here's a picture of me and my buddy, Endyn. She didn't feel like dressing up tonight so she is just supporting our Cougs with a jean jacket. Haha, I love her she is a BLAST to be with!

Such a great night!

I hope I can be a little more like her friend and make sure that everyone feels special and included.

Love,

Liese

Do it anyway

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It never was between you and them anyway."

~Mother Teresa~

This is a good little reminder for me. I went to Vegas this weekend and it was so much fun! But it did make me realize one big thing..I am so glad I know what I know about who I want to be and what I will and will not do. This quote just reminds me that you can't control how other people react or don't react to what you do and you can't control what other people around you are doing. But despite all of this, you still need to be the best you that you can be. We all know who we should be and what we should do, the trick is sticking to it when a lot of times it would be easier not to. Do the good you know you should regardless of the consequence. I'm grateful I know who I want to be and i'm going to work harder to be that person.

love,

Liese