Do What You Want and Be Happy

Today I was reading some of Aesop's Fables today and I came across two of them that really stood out to me, The Boy and the Nettle and The Man and His Two Sweethearts. I am going to brag for just a moment, I found how to get the kindle reader for free on Amazon. It's an app that goes on your computer and it comes preinstalled with three books: Aesop's Fables, Treasure Island, and Pride and Prejudice. This is the link to get it, just in case you want it- Kindle Reader.

I encourage everyone to read them, but for me, they hit a personal cord. The two main points that the fables illustrate are these-

• Whatever you do, do it with all your might
• Those who seek to please everybody please nobody

The reason this hit me is kinda the point of the blog. I have been trying really hard lately to do as much as I can and just be the best at everything. I've been learning that this is not the best thing for me. I need to have a goal, I need to pursue the goal, and I need to let things that, although they be great, are distractions fall by the wayside. 

If I could tell anyone anything, it would be this-

 Be the best you that you can be, all day, everyday, and don't care about what others think.

I know that we all might struggle with this, and I don't think anyone will understand it from the beginning, but when you leave the worries of others behind and pursue a goal with singularity, life will be happily productive again.

Manere Acutus

Gettin' Cut!

Yesterday was a really good day for the most part. My physics test went ok, not as good as I would've hoped, but better than I deserved for the work put into it. I was much more prepared in my chemistry class and I felt really good during my swimming and New Testament classes as well. Finally, I think the excitement of school is beginning to come back.

So after all the school enjoyment, I got to go home and carve pumpkins with Kaili. We documented most of it on film, so I hope you enjoy those, and yes, I do apologize for the shaky hand. It seems as though Hurricane Sandy was hitting us, but no, I just need to practice with a camera.

I think this was an awesome family home evening. We were able to really enjoy ourselves and just be goofy. I really did love it because it was a time that we had set aside for each other. I know that my kids are going to think that I am super weird, but that's ok. I hope they know that I had fun with my wife before we had kids, and that we loved each other dearly long before their births.

Manere Acutus

Easier to Keep Up Than to Catch Up

These are the words that I always hated hearing from my mom. Most of the time she would say them because I had forgotten to turn in an assignment in 6th grade. The problem is, well, she's right. I don't know if she'll enjoy hearing this, but I'm learning about this the hard way. From my last post, I talked about my lack of motivation, which still plagues me. However, I want to have the desire again. It's just seems like an uphill battle.

I have a physics test coming up on Monday. I don't really enjoy physics, I never really have, but the problem is now that I have to take a test in a class I haven't felt is worth the effort, I fear bombing it. I am not excited about that at all. So I can try to prepare myself by going back and reading everything, trying to make sense of it, and grinding myself to the bone, or I could just bomb it. Obviously I will choose the former, but the latter is enticing nonetheless.

This is where the saying comes in. It has always been, and will always be easier to keep up in a class, a church calling, work or service, than to catch up. Not only because you have to do more work, but because it seriously undermines any momentum you've built up.

I was told once that you will always swim faster if you're able to float on the water, if you keep as much of yourself out of the water as possible while propelling yourself with as much water as possible. Life is the same way. If you start off strong, and get the right technique from the beginning, you will be able to do what you need. When you let your feet drag in the water, you have to pull that much more with the rest of your body, and slowly you will start to sink.

I guess when we do refocus, there are always repairs to be done. Let us hope that our repairs are quick and painless, and not long and torturous (as physics).

Manere Acutus