Enjoy the People You Are Close to!

Well, I just thought I should document yet another wonderful day, as well as tell you all how you can make every day a little more special. First off, yet again, as countless times before, I am absolutely astounded at the quality of people I meet and come to know. I feel like it is impossible to truly know how valuable and of how much infinite worth any single individual is! To truly begin to appreciate their knowledge and experience, there is no equal to good conversation. When you begin to really appreciate someone else in this way, it is really something worth celebrating!

As a disclaimer, nothing is going on that you don't know about, whoever you are who happen to be reading this post. I just happen to have someone special who I can talk comfortably with. Don't be suspicious of such behavior! If you enjoy such a confidence with someone already then you know how valuable and edifying it is; if you don't, then try to find someone with whom you can have such conversation! You will enjoy it most thoroughly! It is pretty great :) Since I am on the subject, I will list a few attributes of such a relationship that I have noticed that will help it blossom into something beautiful, just in case you want to find someone you can talk to in the same sort of way. And if there is something you think is of critical importance that I am missing, please leave a comment and let me know! Well, here is the list:

1) You have to care about the other person enough to care about what they have to say. When you care about someone, the things that are important to them naturally become important to you as well, and because you care about what they have to say and it is important to you, their conversation will never bore or tire you.

2) The other person has to care about you enough to care about what you have to say. In this way, they will never tire of listening either, and you can enjoy long, meaningful conversation that benefits you both.

3) Sharing similar thought processes is a definite plus; when you think similarly, you will understand each other much more easily and meaningful conversation will come naturally. You may even experience the phenomenon of verbally completing each others ideas without having to explain them exhaustively, meaning that you understand each other before a complete explanation is made. Kind of like completing each others sentences.

4) Be somewhere comfortable. Each party will contribute more when they are somewhere they feel comfortable. This also applies to topics of conversation; talk about things that are pertinent, meaningful, and edifying to you both.

5) Don't be selfish! The ideas of the other person are just as valuable as your own. So don't dominate the conversation, it won't be nearly as much fun!

Well, that is all I am going to put there for now. When I started the list it was much more fun to write, but now I want to talk about other things. And that list is complete enough that if you satisfy those five criteria, you should be able to have some pretty enjoyable conversations. And be prepared to start loving whoever you are talking to a whole lot more! Love is a natural consequence of understanding someone! This isn't the only way to love, but definitely a way to add more dimension to any healthy relationship.

Well, I am not a relationship counselor, so on to why I was even inspired to write at all today! As I was saying before, today was a wonderful day. I woke up early in the morning due to intense pain in my mouth (side effect of having surgery and not taking pain meds I guess), and I didn't want to be crazy for school so I didn't take any then. I just ate some rice to put my stomach at rest (Shout out to Brittany Embley for supplying said rice! I appreciate such charity greatly!) and then took some advil and went back to bed. Obviously waking to intense pain wasn't what made my day, so I'll keep explaining. I woke up again several hours later, and viola, no pain! I was so happy. My roommates Marcos and Mitch had given me a blessing the night prior, so I attribute said comfort to that. And how thankful I was!

Well, after missing my first class I went to the rest throughout the day, and there wasn't anything special there. I got home and checked my mail for my mission call -- nothing. Well, today is pretty unextraordinary, right? Pretty much. I had dinner which was provided by Marcos and was delicious, but still, not enough to make a day. It was starting to get late, and still today hadn't been wonderful. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to go to bed happy. So I decided I needed to be around people, and hopefully I'd be cheered a little in the process. So I texted one of my good friends Hannah Rackham, and we determined to do something fun once she was done with homework.

Well, guess what? I went over and we didn't do much of anything. Pretty boring right? Wrong! We got to talk for little while, and as is becoming quite common, we had an absolutely wonderful conversation! Hence this whole post about enjoying the people around you. I can't leave after talking to her and not feel like a better person. What an example! Just by taking the time to get to know someone and actually caring about them, you can discover something truly wonderful. In Hannah I have discovered someone who is ever positive and who is always willing to help another in need. Someone who doesn't always have to be the best, but rather finds happiness not only in her own success, but in the success of the people she cares about. I bring this up because I feel like there is a lot to learn. I wasn't having the most wonderful day, but as the result of just stopping by for a chat, my whole day was definitely improved.

Moral of the story? We all get down sometimes. Even I, who many people describe as one of the most happy and upbeat people they know, get sad. Sometimes I am just tired and worn out. Sometimes it has just been a long day. All I want is to be happy, but it is hard to find lasting happiness alone. So my advice, go see a friend! Go and have a good talk! We are all surrounded by amazing people, and we can only fully appreciate them when we get to know them. Don't expect them to be perfect, and show some love. Most people will recognize sincerity and will open up to someone whom they think values them. So be that person, and then you will have all the friends you could ever ask for when you need them. And you know what is great? When you get down, they will help you back up, and you both will be better for it! So, make a friend. See an old friend. Go have a good talk and catch up. Learn to love them a little more and share a smile! It doesn't even have to take long. Be a good friend, and you will find in those around you a new and longer-lasting happiness - one that can give you a hug when you really need it most.

Well, as closing words for the evening, I want you all to know, especially my family and my friends who have been here for me today, that I love you so much and appreciate and care about you so much that it is impossible to put to words. You are wonderful, don't let life get you down. I will do everything in my power to help strengthen you, to hold you up, and to help you know you aren't alone. It is the least I can do. You guys mean the world to me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Stay close to the Lord, he will take care of you. And stay close to me, and I will take care of you too, and try to help you feel the same happiness, love, and peace that I do. I love you all so much! Sleep well :)

Operation Remove Wisdom Teeth: Success!

Well, as is the big news for the day, I got my wisdom teeth removed! I wasn't too worried about it because I tend to heal very fast and not be too adversely affected by injuries, as many of my friends can attest to, so I didn't really worry. I did get a little un-easy when it came close to time to get them removed, but that is normal I feel like, and it seems that people kind of react randomly to getting them removed, and it can range all the way from healing fast with little to no side effects to week(s) of pain and swelling. My final result so far: Good. Minimal swelling, bleeding stopped pretty quickly, it has been easy to rest but I still have had energy and a clear mind (I finally won settlers of Qatan!) and all in all, I feel good. The pain medication may be slowing my mind a little, but it isn't the feeling where you feel slowed, I just feel really peaceful.

Well, I prepared by getting almost all of my homework done earlier in the week, so now I am free for the whole weekend and I get to enjoy our beautiful weather! Also, I am going to the festival of colors and to one of my dear friends' wedding receptions so I am really happy :)

Okay, by far the best part of this all, above the care-free stress-free weekend and pain meds, my friends and family. I felt so much support, and I really immensely appreciated that. When I was going in immediately before they hooked me up to all of the machines to measure your vitals and put you out, I texted a few friends and my parents, and my dearest twin sister Haley and my wonderful friend Hannah both replied with very comforting and supportive messages that really helped me be put at ease. I said a few prayers myself, and was a little nervous, but knew I was just taking another step towards my mission, and that since that was what it was, that the Lord wanted me to do it. So now there are no more obstacles in my way. My teeth are out, all of the medical and dental worked out despite my lack of really good insurance (though the BYU medical was really nice), and my papers are in. So excited!

Anyways, so I sat and just thought about all the good things in my life, and felt very at peace. There are all kinds of weird risks associated with having you wisdom teeth removed, but I felt good. After they hooked me up to all the machines to read my vital signs, I have about 10 or 15 minutes alone and it was really fun to move my arms or hold really still to watch my heart rate and blood oxygen levels change. It was also nice because I got some good real time readings of my resting heart rate and blood pressure and oxygen levels, and they were all good. When I was really calm I could get the EKG down to 50-55 bpm, and when I was a little more active it would be around 60 so that was fun to see, and also see the physiological effect of thinking different things. For instance, thinking of a lie and seeing my heart rate increase, or thinking of a prayer or of love and watching it calm back down.

When the doctors finally came in I felt really calm and at peace, and the needle they used for the IV wasn't even as big as a blood donation needle so it didn't hurt bad. I watched them put in the sedative, and they told me I'd get very sleepy. I wanted to remember every detail of the experience, so I was analyzing the effects of the sedative on my body and mind as it kicked in, and it was very interesting. There was no immediate effect, but then I started to feel a sort of weight on my mind and felt my mind slow, and then my vision started to blur a tad in accordance with the slowing of my mind, and then the mental pressure felt pretty heavy and it my vision was really blurred, and then I was asleep. It was nice.

I woke up with gauze in my mouth talking to Mitch, and I proceeded to get my camera and film myself verbally explaining what I knew about the things around me, and going through my thought processes out loud so I would be able to watch later and see if I was able to stay cognizant and coherent when under the effect of the sedative. I sounded really funny from the gauze and numb lips, but my thoughts were pretty organized. My mind felt dulled, but I still thought straight, easier than if I hadn't had sleep, but noticeably slowed.

When we got home, Mitch helped me up the stairs and into bed, where I finished my commentary to my camera, and after receiving instruction from Mitch on how to apply the gauze properly, I texted back a few people and took a very nice nap. One of my favorite ever actually. My bed was perfectly warm and soft, and I was just the right balance of tired to drift off very comfortably. I woke up and talked to some friends on the phone, as well as texting more, and just enjoyed the nice temperature of the air and the sunshine coming onto my bed through the window. When I had to change my gauze and I was feeling lonely, Marissa was really nice and helped and kept me really good company. I really appreciated having Mitch and Marissa there, I would have been sad if I had kept waking up alone.

Later I woke up again, and this time Amanda, Roland, and Jared came and gave Marissa leave. I ate some of my favorite, delicious strawberry yogurt, which is super nice because it cant get stuck in your wounds, and they talked with me and we played Settlers of Qatan, which I absolutely love playing. It was an enjoyable game, and it was just so super nice to have people with me. I feel like I don't express enough how much I really do deeply love and care about my friends. Each of them mean so much to me, and I would be a very sad, lonely person without them. Hannah and my Twin were also texting me, and it was really comforting to have so much support from people I care so much about. Honestly, one of the best days of my life :) To just be surrounded by people who really cared, and being able to have fun with them and not have to dwell alone.

While we were playing Settlers of Qatan, Hannah and Chella stopped by and it totally made my night yet again to see them. I discovered that if I smiled it put to much pressure on my stitches so I shouldn't, but it was hard not to look at any of my friends and not smile. Especially Hannah and Chella, after all the support I had received to have yet more, it made me feel like such a worthwhile human being. And Hannah had even texted me earlier before I went in asking when I'd be out and what my favorite ice-cream was, and sure enough she brought me some. Seriously, at that moment something even that simple combined with a good hug and a smile made me feel like one of the luckiest people alive, to receive so much love and support. I seriously love you guys all so much!

After that, Hannah and Chella had to go, and Roland, Jared, Amanda, and I finished Settlers of Qatan and went to Wendy's and got frosties, which were nice because it felt good in my mouth, and then afterward we just came back to University Villa and sat in her truck talking with another one of our friends, Matthew Beesley, who is one cool dude. Really and truly, I know some of the best people, and I feel so lucky!

Eventually I ran back up to my apartment and got a light blanket, and then we moved to the bed of the truck (because the weather was so perfect!) and Cameron, another really cool dude, joined us, so the six of us just talked and had a good time enjoying each other's company and the cool evening air. It got late so we eventually said goodbye, and I ended up typing here because I don't want to forget anything! It brings true and encompassing peace in my life to know I am right with the Lord and to be doing what He wants me to do, and to have been surrounded with so many people who I have come to know and love so much. And my dear family has been here for me too through it all, and they give me so much I could never ask for. Really, I am happy with life. I feel I have been highly favored of the Lord, and things aren't all peachy, but just being surrounded on all sides by people I know and love and trust has helped me immensely be who I am. I could not have asked for more. The weekend is still young, I did good at school today, and I am doing more with friends tomorrow and teaching a lesson on Sunday which should be so wonderful, I am just so happy. In every way. Filled with peace, love, and pure, light happiness. I wish it was easy to be this focused and clear and unconcerned by all the meaningless stresses of the world everyday. So I thought I should write, to not forget and to really kind of do that gift justice.

Well, as closing words for the evening, I want you all to know, especially my family and my friends who have been here for me today, that I love you so much and appreciate and care about you so much that it is impossible to put to words. You are wonderful, don't let life get you down. I will do everything in my power to help strengthen you, to hold you up, and to help you know you aren't alone. It is the least I can do. You guys mean the world to me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Stay close to the Lord, he will take care of you. And stay close to me, and I will take care of you too, and try to help you feel the same happiness, love, and peace that I do. I love you all so much! Sleep well :)