Opportunities - Sunday Snapshot #13

Your Opinion About the New Year is Wrong - Throwback Commentary #64

Hey there! This is a commentary about the post I wrote on December 31, 2014! Click here to read the original!

For those of you relatively new to the Change and Cherish Blog scene, I really like ranting about New Year's. This past New Year's post is evidence of that.

What's funny to me is that the design for the 2016 New Year's post was inspired by the design for the 2015 New Year's post. However, as I reviewed the 2015 post, I couldn't remember the last time I read it. It seems the visual stuck in my mind a lot longer than did the content.

And the content for the 2015 New Year's post was pretty good. I enjoyed getting to know Bob Robert George and his addiction to breaking windows. It was great stuff!

In a way, I'm using this post to remind you to keep up my 2016 New Year's challenge. How are your goals? Are you well on your way to completing them? Do you need to refocus or realign your life to meet your goals? Are some of your goals less important than others?

As for me, I wanted to be accountable to you for my own goals, which I discussed in the 2016 New Year's post.

1.) I have examined and identified many of my own negative emotions. Overcoming them is a daily struggle.

2.) My physical fitness is probably on par with about 40% of my peers, but I have a long way to go to be on par with over 50% of my peers.

3.) I haven't missed a blog post yet, and I definitely feel as though they've become more relevant.

4.) Ama's Watch is going well, and I'm making sales on top of those I made directly through the Kickstarter itself.

5.) Still on track to graduating in August, though I'll still have 15 credits left to tackle come summer.

6.) I will be starting my career at Future House Publishing. The trick is figuring out a supplementary income.

7.) I have not finished any of my half-finished books. However, I'm really close to one (maybe 90% finished?).

How about your goals? Don't be afraid to be accountable in the comments below!

Hey there! This is a commentary about the post I wrote on December 31, 2014! Click here to read the original!

#EngineForGabriel - What You Need to Know

"Ok, I'll bite," you say. "What is #EngineForGabriel?"

The best way to introduce this is to show you the YouTube video that inspired me to write this post in the first place. So here it is!

"Cool, Zac," you may say to me. "Why do you even care?"

It's a good question. Obviously I do for some reason.

Gabriel has a dream. I may bash the idealistic notion of following your dreams, but that doesn't mean I'm not a dreamer myself. I'm trying to self-publish a book on Kindle Direct, for crying out loud. If that doesn't scream 'dream-chaser,' I don't know what does.

But let's say Gabriel makes it into the air using this engine of his. That is inspiring. That is legendary. That will challenge the perspectives of all realists everywhere, including myself. Dreams can happen. Dreams can come true.

So I want you to consider your life. Have you ever had a dream that seemed unattainable? A dream requiring mountains of obstacles to overcome? Are you chasing one of those dreams right now?

Well, for all the dreamers out there, support #EngineForGabriel. Let's make a man fly, and in doing so, inspire contemporaries and generations to come.

Unfortunately, Ylvis' rabid fans got there more quickly than I could. I couldn't find too much information on updates, but here's what I found.

So we can't donate to help out now. However, click here to visit engineforgabriel.com. And even though you can't help out, be sure to follow the story and see Gabriel make his first flight!

Make dreams happen.

Journey - Sunday Snapshot #12

Breaking Noon - Sunday Snapshot #54

Life is Like Running on a Soccer Ball

Let me break down my life right now.

I am taking 10 credit hours. I also show up to and participate in a 3-credit class, in which I am not enrolled.

I am working about 15 hours a week at Future House Publishing.

I write a blog post and structure a social media campaign every day, which can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours.

I am working on several other personal projects, including the novels Ama's Watch and Courting Disaster.

I'm also trying to be physically active, as well as maintain an active dating life (which is going great right now, thank you very much ;).

If I were to utilize an overused cliche, I would say I'm juggling a lot in the air right now. But who likes reading overused cliches, am I right? So I say my life is like I'm running on top of a soccer ball.

I'm not behind on anything. Everything is right on schedule. I feel confident in my successes, and am learning from my mistakes. I haven't fallen off the soccer ball yet, but I'm going to have to keep running hard to stay on top. And who knows? Maybe my efforts will score me a goal soon.

What is your life like? Juggling? Running on top of a soccer ball? Something else? Be sure to comment below!

What Happened to the One-Eyed Cat?

Near the beginning of the new year, I wrote a post about my one-eyed cat. Click here to read that post.

The cat, Archie, looked like he'd gone through some sort of fight that left his left eye ever closed. When I opened his eyelid, I saw nothing but pus and blood. I was convinced he'd lost the eye for good.

After I came back to college following the winter break, my parents took Archie to a vet. The vet worked his antibiotic magic, and soon, Mom and Dad were able to send me new pics.

I could not believe it. His eye is still a little cloudy, but it looks like he's well on his way to recovery.

The message behind the post I wrote at the beginning of the year was simple. Be like an animal and don't fret about things you can't control. Don't let outside circumstances affect your personality or who you are. Be true to yourself.

And look. That cat made it out of his trial.

So can you.

The Strong Ox and the Weak Ox - A Parable [V-Day Week 2016 EXTRA]

As I wrote last Wednesday's post, I thought of a cool little parable to illustrate my points. Unfortunately, the post became super long, so I decided to cut the parable and feature it in a different post.

 If you would like to know what inspired this story, or if you would like more knowledge about how oxen pull together, click here and read the three paragraphs that begin with "President Boyd K. Packer ..."

A group of oxen were milling around in their pasture when a farmer came by. "Hey there, oxes!" he said.

"We're called oxen," the Nerdy Ox said.

"Whatever," the farmer said. "I need two of you oxes to pull my cart to the next farm over. Who's willing to lend me a hand?"

"We don't have hands, but we'll lend you a hoof!" the Nerdy Ox said.

The farmer pointed at the Nerdy Ox. "He's not invited. Is anyone else willing to volunteer?"

Two oxen stepped forward. One was much larger than the other. "We can do it," said the Strong Ox. "I'm a little bit stronger than him, but we're best friends. I'm sure we can manage."

"Well, let me yoke ya, and we'll get goin'!" said the farmer.

The two oxen pulled the farmer's cart along. However, the Small Ox tired. He had to push much harder to keep up with his stronger friend. It didn't take long for the Small Ox to drag his hooves. The Strong Ox didn't notice at first, pulling her load as best as she could, but because she carried a majority of the weight, she tired as well. Both oxen came to a stop.

"What are you doing?" the farmer said. "We still have miles and miles to go!"

"Something is wrong," the Strong Ox said. She looked to her smaller companion. "What is wrong, my friend?"

The Small Ox ducked his head in shame. "I am not as strong as you. I cannot keep up with your pace, and as such, have allowed you to pull most of the weight."

"I see," said the Strong Ox. "I really did believe we could do it together. However, I see that, because I am stronger than you, we cannot work as a team as well as we would like to. Let us go back, and I will find a more equal partner."

The oxen pulled the cart back to the pasture. The farmer replaced the Small Ox with the New Ox, whose strength matched the Strong Ox. The Small Ox watched with sadness as his friend worked with the New Ox to pull the farmer's cart forward out of sight.

After some time, a new farmer came rolling up in his cart. "I need two oxen to help me pull my cart to the next farm!" he said.

"Thank you for calling us oxen!" the Nerdy Ox said. "I was worried none of you ignorant farmers knew anything about proper English semantics!"

The new farmer thought about what the Nerdy Ox would taste like in a burger.

The Small Ox turned away from new farmer, ashamed, but then the Other Ox nuzzled his side. The Small Ox saw she was close to his size. 

"Come on," the Other Ox said. "Let us pull this farmer's cart."

"But I already failed to pull one cart," the Small Ox said. "How can I pull another?"

"Because we are of the same size," the Other Ox said. "And together, we will share the load."

So the new farmer yoked the Small Ox and the Other Ox. 

The two oxen shared the same weight and load. Neither pushed ahead of the other. Together, they pulled the cart all the way to the next farm over, where the Strong Ox and the New Ox waited.

V-Day Week 2016: Why Dating is Superior to Job Hunting - Throwback Commentary #57

Hey there! This post is a commentary discussing the post I wrote on September 19, 2015. Click here to read the post from September!

Happy Valentines Day week! I figured even the throwback deserved a dating theme.

When you read the original post, you see how confused and frustrated I was about my future. Things have changed since then.

I am more confident in my future. I have some tentative plans regarding my career and educational prospects. I am breaking into the literary industry. I forged connections I hope will leapfrog me to success. In a few weeks, I hope to be able to report on the status of my endeavors.

The moral of the story is, no matter how bleak and confusing my future may seem, when I press forward through the fog, my path makes more sense.

Well, I guess that's only one of two morals. Though I've laid a plan for job-hunting, I am still just as clueless in regards to dating. I would now hazard that Dating is Inferior to Job-Hunting, completely cutting the feet out from under the crux of my previous argument.

Oh, well.

Hey there! This post is a commentary discussing the post I wrote on September 19, 2015. Click here to read the post from September!

If You Feel Discouraged, Check This One-Eyed Cat

You know that saying about herding cats? You know, how it's impossible? Well, it's even more impossible to get a cat to pose for an actual picture. Goodness.

If you didn't know I was a cat person, click here.

This is my family's cat. I've grown quite attached to the animal over the years. He's lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, and now Washington. A few days before I came home for the holidays, the cat got into a nasty fight that ended up taking out one of his eyes.

As I spent time with the cat, I noticed his personality and demeanor was pretty much unchanged. He was as affectionate as he'd been before. He was as friendly as he'd been before. It was like he'd never lived through the trial that had ultimately defaced him.

I've seen that in other pets, too. My brother's dog had an injured knee that may be permanently damaged, but the dog kept trying to walk it off anyway.

Animals seem to understand better than humans that there's no use fretting over a trial we can't control. Sometimes, bad things just happen. I've found that the greatest amount of happiness in life comes when we don't only wait for the sunrise, but also appreciate the light cast by the stars.

Sunday Snapshot #6 - Foothills (Classic)

Throwback Thursday #50 - Make Something Happen

Today's throwback comes to us from November 19 of last year. 

Alas, even though I was really excited about eating everything with chopsticks, I never really got into the habit. I had this whole mini-arc going about using nothing but chopsticks, and now, I'm back to using regular old boring utensils. Lame!

Either way, I chose this post because I'm preparing to self-publish my novel very, very soon. In the next couple of weeks, I want to have everything read for a crowd-funding push this January.

I'm going to make something happen. 

Click here to read Make Something Happen!

Sunday Snapshot #48 - Travelogue

Of People and Trees

2 Chronicles 2:8 - "Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon ..."

In pondering things recently, I have come to a conclusion.

People are like trees.

I have met people who've shown me trees growing out back behind their homestead. "You see this?" they say. "I remember when this tree was only a sapling."

I've seen entire trees uprooted and moved across a country to be replanted. These trees have thrived.

I've seen trees withstand storms and hurricanes and the very forces of nature and remain standing, ready to face another day with no visible wear or tear. 

I've seen trees have names carved into them. I've seen trees droop in winter and bloom in spring. I've seen trees serve as havens for children. I've seen trees act as foundations for grand structures. I have even seen trees get knocked down, most of their roots exposed to the air, and yet still somehow continue to flourish.

Trees are strong.

People are strong.

You are strong.

I Got a Haircut!

3 Nephi 4:33 - "And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God ..."

Once upon a time, I was getting shaggy. I mentioned this to my friends.

"Oh!" one said. "I want to cut your hair!"

"Cool," I said. "That will save me five bucks. Have you ever cut hair before?"

"No." 

"Do you have a kit?"

"No."

I thought about that. 

The 4 for $4 deal at Wendy's called to me.

"All right, let's do this!" I said.

Obligatory before picture.

Obligatory after picture.

So we found a kit, and she got to work. The end result actually turned out pretty well!

I learned several things from the experience. For one thing, there's nothing like a potential total disaster to bring people closer together. We Core Four were all nervous about how things were going to turn out, especially our budding hairdresser herself. The relief that followed our combined anxiety has allowed us to have a rollicking time remembering the experience in the weeks that have followed.

For another thing, I had a blast putting my head into somebody else's hands and waiting to see what happened next. There was something liberating about removing my responsibility for the near future, and I imagine those same feelings could be replicated by doing other things as well. After all, the world is big. I've never tried things like sky falling or BASE jumping or mountain climbing or scuba diving. Why not let an expert show me the ropes?

I think the main point is, we humans are programmed to find risky situations exciting. I found something as simple as getting a haircut from a novice thrilling. Imagine how thrilling life could be if we stepped out of our comfort zone more often.

And you don't even have to do something big to do that.

I Did Not Make Out on Squaw Peak

Psalms 23:4 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ..."

As is common among many people, I got into a funk a bit ago. So, in order to combat this feeling, I took a drive up the canyon.

Now, I'd heard of 'Squaw Peak' before. I'd heard what people had said about this particular overlook, that students and lovers usually went to Squaw Peak chiefly to make out. I'd heard enough about this place to make the decision never to take a girl there because then she'd think she knew what was coming.

But, I'd never been there myself. I didn't even know where it was.

This time, I drove up the canyon and spotted the sign marking the dusty old road leading up to this local legend. I figured I'd see what the fuss was all about and turned off the main road.

The drive up to the overlook was twisted, windy, and long. I drove for nearly half an hour, just waiting, expecting the next curve to reveal my final destination, but it was long in coming. On and on and on I drove, just enjoying the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the air and the silence of a trundling car engine in the middle of nature.

And then, finally, I made it.

And I didn't understand.

Why would anyone want to make out up here?

The view was spectacular. It stretched for miles and miles. I could see landmarks I recognized, roads I often traveled, places I didn't even know existed. I sat on the edge and just stared off into the distance, trying to piece together how small I really was, how insignificant my life was compared to the teeming valley that seemed but a hand away. 

I was awestruck.

I couldn't believe I'd never been here before.

I eventually tore myself away and trundled back down the mountain, just thinking. I wondered how many couples had missed the sight in favor of a few minutes of pleasure. I wondered how many sights I'd missed as I wandered down in the valley below, only able to see right in front of me. How many things had I missed on the other sides of walls, of trees, of my own problems?

I didn't know.

But I decided I wanted to keep my head up more often.

And that was enough.

Perseverance: Alex Boye Concert

Mathew 10:22 - "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

This past weekend, my family and I went out to go see a concert put on by the one and only Alex Boye, if you didn't already read the title. Here's a quick photo summary of what that was like!

YAY SO MUCH CONCERT

I don't know if you followed Alex when he went on America's Got Talent (I don't watch the show myself), but, about midway through the concert, he told the audience how, right before he got disqualified in the second round, he told the judges his dream to run a live show.

After Alex got disqualified, he posted a single hashtag on his social medias: #notdoneyet

Then, he made an announcement. I was under the impression that this was the first time any member of the public had heard about this, but there it was, out in the open.

Shortly following his departure from America's Got Talent, some big time hotshot fellow called him and offered him his own live show, every Friday night, in Vegas. The point of the story was, what some called this performer's greatest failure led to his greatest success.

Interestingly enough, I heard this message only four or five days before I received that rejection letter turning down my full manuscript.

I doubt this failure of mine will lead to my greatest success, at least right now. However, I, too, can say I'm not done yet. I have a whole life and a whole career in front of me. I'm not going to give up yet.

Appreciation: Spiders, Mosquitoes, and Beetles

Genesis 1:26 - "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ... over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Don't forget to add your voice to Tuesday's thinkjoust! The poll is located just to the top of the column on the right-hand side!

I'll be honest with you; this beetle has absolutely nothing to do with the post. This particular insect was just more visually appealing than the other subjects we will be discussing presently.

Several of my comrades have returned from their forays into the basements of my workplace complaining of a most insidious group of marauders - the deadly spiders.

Of course, from what I can gather, most people only dislike spiders because of the way they move. Something about the way those eight little legs churn give people the willies. I've also heard that a lot of people are scared of being bitten by a poisonous spider. That's a genuine fear--I've seen horrible pictures of the effects some spider venom has on human flesh--but it's rather racist to assume every spider you run into is poisonous. Look up the poisonous spiders in your area so you can identify them. Odds are, 95% of the spiders you run into are completely harmless, right?

Right?

No? You still want to assume all spiders are poisonous? All right, I'l try a different tack.

The common house spider is one of the least proactive predators on the planet. Seriously. It weaves a web and waits for something to fly into it. Yes, I'm aware some spiders are more hunters than fishers, but let's be honest here; the spiders we're familiar with are probably all web weavers.

The cool thing about these web weavers is that they straight-up protect us from far more aggressive insects. Take the mosquito, for instance. Not only can those little blood-suckers fly, they are able to maintain a near-invisibility when their nighttime hunting begins. They leave bites all over your body, which itch like the dickens, and you can be sure they didn't sterilize their proboscis after biting your friend and then coming after you.

Spiders eat these things. By the dozens. Spiders are useful. Spiders are our friends.

These arguments fell on deaf ears. An exterminator was called to eradicate the spider population in the basements. Though I never saw the sight, hundreds upon hundreds of our mosquito-eating friends lay prone on the floor, their legs pointing toward heaven.

I kid you not, literally a day after the extermination, I heard people complain about mosquito bites for the first time all summer.

I truly do believe God puts everything here on earth for a reason. "Why did he put spiders on the earth, then," someone might ask. I would respond that the spiders are here to protect us from mosquitoes. "Why did God put mosquitoes on the earth, then?"

So we can appreciate spiders all the more.

You, too, have a purpose here on earth. There are so many things you do, every day, that someone notices and admires. No matter how insignificant or disregarded you may feel, your contribution means something. It has worth. Don't be afraid to let your light so shine.

Weaknesses: Terrible Repair Job

Ether 12:27 - "... for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them."

It was a beautiful day at my workplace. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I was strolling through a building double-checking my job well done.

As I passed by a certain sink, I noticed something seemed off. Oh, ho! I thought. What's this?

Upon further inspection, I discovered this.

Well, what was the point of that? I thought.

I left the building shortly thereafter. The sun was still shining. The birds were still singing.

Everything was fine.

Whoever had been assigned to work on that hole in the wall had ended up covering it up rather than just taking care of the problem. I'm sure he had plans to eventually come back, but as it was, the problem still remained. Any of the youths coming in for a conference would undoubtedly be more intrigued by the cover-up job than they would have been by the hole itself.

Much like a hole in the wall, I am continually aware of my negative qualities. Sometimes, I am actively attempting to improve myself. Other times, I try to ignore I have a problem and move on.

I have personally found that, as I make improvements, the overall pain I feel decreases because I have to shoulder the burden for a shorter amount of time. When I try to ignore the things I dislike about myself, it becomes much harder to bear.

No matter what happens, though, things aren't as bad as they seem. I may have a glaring weakness, but there are still so many positives out there in the world today.

After all, the sun is still shining. The birds are still singing. And I am still working.

Evolution: And Another Thing ...

"Finding Joy in the Journey" - Thomas S. Monson

Yesterday, I described driving up a canyon to take some time to meditate. It while I was up there that I realized something very important.

I like going on drives without destination.

I have had many friends throughout the years who have advocated meandering drives. Some of those friends even go so far as to invite me to hang out with them on those drives. For the most part, I've turned them down. What's the point of moving when you're not heading anywhere? I thought.

My perspective on similarly simple things has also changed over the years. For example, whereas I used to fear and loathe dogs, now I, at the very least, tolerate them. It's funny to me how the passage of time can provide and prompt experiences and subtle changes to work within us, most of them without us ever recognizing them.

My drive yesterday was therapeutic in a way it never was back in the day. But now, I think back to those who first planted the seed all those years, and I thank them strongly.