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 :)
No comments:
Post a Comment