So sweet.

Finding Balance in a Digital World

I recognize the irony of sharing this with you digitally.  But there are some positives to living in a digital world,  I'm not an Anti-Digite.  (trying to reference Seinfeld there)

I just agree with the idea there needs to be a balance.

In addition to these checklists, I recommend a talk by Elder Bednar entitled, "Things as They Really Are".  I found this talk while I was feeling a little digitally overwhelmed and wanted some inspiring words to help me.  I love that about our leaders.  They know how to chide, lovingly.   It's like getting a swift kick in the butt and a pat on the head.  :)

10 Signs of Digital Overload 

1. Slipping away from activities with people to check e-mail or social networking sites.
   
2. Checking the same sites repeatedly within a short period of time.
   
3. Spending little time outside.
   
4. Finding it hard to complete a task such as writing a report without frequently breaking away to check e-mail or unrelated websites.
   
5. Spending little time in face-to-face interactions with friends.
   
6. Going online or using a digital device when you feel stressed or want to avoid an unpleasant task.
   
7. Family members spending most of their time at home in separate rooms interacting with screens.
   
8. Frequently using digital devices to entertain a child instead of talking, singing, playing, or reading with him or her.
   
9. Checking the computer first thing in the morning, or getting up during the night to use digital devices.
   
10. Spending long stretches of time surfing for content, often viewing content that is inappropriate or borderline.
    

10 Ways to Cut Back

1. Check and answer e-mail only once or twice a day, at scheduled times.
   
2. Use social networking sites only at scheduled times and for a set number of minutes.
   
3. Practice a “digital Sabbath”—setting aside one or two days each week to “unplug.”
   
4. Leave your cell phone in another room during time with family or friends.
   
5. Call instead of texting.
   
6. Invite children to help search the house for supplies that can be used in nondigital activities: children’s books, board games, art supplies, and equipment for outside play.
   
7. Organize a talent show, art show, or service project with family or friends.
   
8. Use Internet-blocking software to keep on task while working.
   
9. Limit recreational surfing; watch TV and videos selectively and intentionally.
   
10. Keep a gospel-centered perspective, using technology to uplift yourself and people around you.
    

“I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. … I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to … promote degrading and evil purposes.”

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Things as They Really Are,” Ensign, June 2010, 20.

Get's me every time.

I often will upload Mormom Messages onto my device and will watch them on my subway ride into work.  I always feel so uplifted after watching messages on gratitude, service, temples, etc.

However, even though the messages are uplifting and thought-provoking,  they are quite often tear-jerking.  So you almost always can find me sitting on the A train going to 59th street blubbering over a 3 minute message.   And each time I see a new one, I upload it to my device, wondering if this one's going to make me blubber.  

Every. Time.

This one is no different.  Maybe you'll do better then me.  Good luck! :)

(The voice over reading reminds me of something out of Dr. Seuss. I  like it.) 

The Wise Men

"There is much we can learn from the Wise Men. Like them, we should study the scriptures and know the signs to watch for as we all prepare the earth for the Savior’s Second Coming. Then, as we search and ponder the scriptures, we will more fully desire to seek the Lord every day of our lives and, as a gift to Him, give up our selfishness, pride, and rebelliousness. When personal revelation comes to alter the plans we have made, we can obey, having faith and trust that God knows what is best for us. And ultimately, through lives of true discipleship, we must fall down and worship the Savior in humility and love.

This discipleship doesn’t necessarily require us to leave our sheep in the fields or to cross deserts. Our journey to Him isn’t physical; it is spiritual and behavioral. It involves accepting and embracing the fact that His Atonement is infinite and covers every aspect of our lives—our sin, weakness, pain, sickness, and infirmity (see Alma 7:11–13). It means that we can let go of those things that hold us down in the gloomy fog of our own inversion and live instead in the warmth and love of the Light of the World. As President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught: “The words ‘come unto Christ’ are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept." "

(Come, Let Us Adore Him. Elder Patrick Kearon, Ensign Dec 2011)

image borrowed from MormonSoprano.com

A New Calling

That's right!  I am in Scouts.  Back to Primary! Woot!

My calling is specifically over recruiting.  I get to plan semi-annual events to get kids and parents excited about scouts and spread the word about how awesome it is to be a cub scout.

Not having gone through scouts myself, I had to read up on it a bit, as well as go through an online training session.  Scouting IS awesome!  What better place for boys to be than in scouts.  It's aim is to develop young people physically, spiritually and mentally so that youth may take a constructive place in society.  

How 'bout that? 

I'm excited for the task ahead and hope we can get, oh I don't know, 10 new cub scouts by January.

One last quote from Robert Baden-Powell, founder of scouting:

Leave the world a little better than you found it.

Gotta Dance

I want to do another one of these. Who's in?

(wish Debs and Erin were here to play!)

Thanks Mom for reminding me to post this!

Finding Balance

There's a most excellent Q&A on Finding Balance with Sister Julie B. Beck on the Mormon Channel.

I highly recommend listening to it. It's both validating and uplifting. Check it out, here!

Let Us Anew

As promised, I am going to maintain my blog for as long and as often as I can.

To quote Princess Bride:

"You think it'll work?"

"Nah. It'd take a miracle."

Well, hunker down, because I'm about to attempt a few miracles.

***note to self: work on being less campy in your blog introductions**

First of all, can we just talk about this weekend? Three cheers for General Conference weekend! I'm also impressed with how quickly they are able to get the transcripts of conference up already. Remember when it took 2 weeks?

I feel like I've been so supported and inspired the last two weeks with the General Relief Society Broadcast and now General Conference itself. I sort of get that feeling of, "Yes. I can do this. I can be better. I can serve more. I can love more. I can do it!". It's sort of like hitting a restart button sometimes. Erase old goals and prioritize myself, to put the important things on top.

Now, I'm not totally naive to the idea that this won't last forever, but I'm going to keep trying. And that's what conference is about, right? Examining, reflecting, applying the atonement, and trying.

Some other topics that struck me included:

-scriptures illuminate our minds

and open the channel to commune with God

-Testimonies can carry us through hardship

-God loves us (we are never invisible to God)

-Temple Patron Fund (whoo hoo!)

-Look up to Christ

-Master manager of time

-To hope in the Lord in our trials

And so much more!

I know this church is true. I know God lives and speaks to us through both personal revelation and through his prophets and apostles. I know he loves us. And that his son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of all mankind.

I hope you have a wonderful week!