Dive into Life

I knew I was going to post about diving eventually. Sports are my life and they have taught me so much! I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. Diving, gymnastics, and cheerleading all taught me different things. It's a lifestyle and a forever reminder to be happy and healthy. 

Sports are something I want my kids to experience, and something I want my grand-kids to experience. It is such a positive environment. It also gives you pride to find something your good at.

This week I had the experience of competing at Air Force Academy. I dive for BYU and had a great time. It's these moments that make all your hard work worth fighting for. Proving you can do something the moment it counts. Meets and competitions are like a college test. You study so hard and hope it will pay off when it really counts.

 So why should you care? My point is to do these few things.
(1) Find out what you're good at
(2) Practice or Study hard!
(3) Appreciate all that you have learned
(4) Spread your knowledge
(5) and be happy with yourself!


What I'm trying to do is spread my knowledge of happiness, appreciate others, and appreciate my experiences. Sports are an amazing way to be happy, healthy, and release stress. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH SPORTS???

Are You Happy?

TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6RCFPBB
Good fortune, pleasure, and contentment are all qualities that make up happiness. I want to hear stories about what makes you happy? LEAVE A COMMENT! 

What makes me happy is having a plan and knowing where I'm going. What I mean by this is living the life I want to live. I dive for BYU, I married an AMAZING man, I know what kind of work I want to pursue, I love my religious views, and feel like I've experienced a lot in this life. Like many others, I have stressful doubts and fears, but it's the little things that keep me going. Usually my stresses aren't focused on me, but directed towards others. What do I mean by all this? What I mean, is I care about others happiness more than my own. Having the people around me and serving them, gives me great happiness. I want my siblings to experience the things I learned, I want my husband to be happy, and I love to make my friends laugh. Happiness comes in many shapes and sizes, peoples and cultures, and circumstances and situations.

My joy comes from the amazing people around me. Some days I feel down because of bad grades, a tiring workout, or money is tight; but the people around you really lift you up. I want to serve others and make a bigger difference. Sure I do some service once in a while, but my goal is to improve my work ethic and increase the people I serve.

SO WHAT? Build your connections, love the people around you, and don't be selfish.

Gag Me on Grammar

Why does Grammar have to define a person? Who says correct grammar shows a persons true intelligence? Grammar is a slippery way to judge others. I understand that if you really were intelligent, you would study your own language a little more, but who cares about a semicolon, a dash, or an intransitive verb.
My biggest pet peeve is judgment of others. We all judge others, and we do it everyday. The way someone writes, or the way a person dresses doesn't define them.
Some people have this burning love for scripture stories, or prayer, or fasting. I personally feel so warm, and so much love for someone when I think of them as child of God. I want to see that person for who they are, and who they could become. I know I judge others all the time, but judgement shouldn't fog my lenses. 
The craziest thing I've ever heard from a well respected, and spiritual man, was that men who forget to shave at BYU probably wont be able to keep their covenants. OMG! Did you hear that correctly? YES! You totally just did. He was trying to make a point about paying attention to small and simple things, but what I heard was a disrespectful and judgmental opinion. He now treats people differently because of his formulated opinion.
A beard doesn't show spiritual strength, grammar doesn't prove intelligence, and blessings don't ensure you're always doing the right things. It's not what's on the outside, it is what's on the inside. LOL, #cheesequote. My goal in life, is to never be to quick to judge. To be open-minded and understand special qualities inside of everyone. We all need to take a second look and respect everyone.
"A person's a person, no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss

Life Throws Bricks

Yes, I locked my keys in my car today and I wanted to write about it. Sometimes life will give you lemons, other times it throws hard bricks at your head. Depending on the person, it's hard to be grateful for either. But when life throws bricks at your head, you're more grateful for the soft lemons just handed to you. You can also be grateful that life didn't hit you with a SUV.

Here are my tips on How to Deal with Stress:
1- Don't pity yourself
2-Laugh at yourself
3-Think to yourself, "It could have been worse."
4-Tell yourself it's NOT the end of the world
5-Don't sulk in your problems, FIX them.
*The only way to feel in control of your life is to do something about what's stressing you out. If you don't do anything about it, then you don't have the right to stress about it because obviously it wasn't that important to you.

So what? Why is this list important? Because their is no reason to be stressed. You are in control of your life, and even when the natural world is controlling you, you can control your reaction. That is my goal. I'm writing this from experience. I don't let stress get to me, and neither should you. I know that it's not worth your time to stress about locking your keys in a car or getting a bad grade. It's not the end of the world. Control your reaction and don't let stress rule your emotions.

Watch the Stress Relief video!

You're Not Listening to The Coach

I'm a college athlete, and I think I know everything. The problem is, I can succeeded once, and fail the second time around. Just because you get it right the first time, doesn't mean it's OK to let your guard down. This principle applies to diving, and applies to spiritual nourishment. Constant reminders are necessary for progress. They are also needed for permanent memory.

In diving, the athlete needs to jump the hurdle, or make the board bounce with their step. I mastered this principle earlier in the year, and thought I had created permanent memory. I then found myself ignoring my coach’s constant plea for me to jump the hurdle. I was convinced that my bad dives were because of another mistake. Finally, my coach pointed out that I was not listening. I was very angry at first, but then tried to jump my hurdle like he had asked. What do you know! He was right, and I was too stubborn to listen the first time.

 I related this to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we know the answer to a question, but we don't know how to apply it. Mormons are taught that going to church and daily prayer are essential to being close to Christ. If we are not reminded over and over, it is easy to be lead a stray and forget these important principles. My experience was a beautiful reminder that I might know the answers to everything, but I don't remember to apply them. We need to humble ourselves and listen to the critics around us.

I want to be quicker at listening to my diving, and spiritual coaches. Being open to advice does not show weakness, but shows strength to move forward and progress.