Music and Running

So before when I would go running I would always take my ipod and listen to music because I thought it would make me more motivated to run harder and longer.  Then about a month ago I stopped taking my ipod with me and I realized that the music was more of a distraction than anything else.  Without it, I was free to think about life, which is always a good thing.  The prophets and apostles have been telling us to slow down and take some quiet times to really ponder and for me not listening to music while running or during the whole commute to and from work has helped me to be more in tune with the spirit and evaluate where I am in life.  While music is a good thing (as long as it is clean and doesn't drive the spirit away), it is also good to take a break from it.

News

Sometimes it really drives me crazy when the news or other magazines distort reality and what is really happening in the world.  I came across this picture and it seems like this really is how the news is sometimes.  Also a while ago I was talking to a friend about the news and we were talking about how a lot of news stations won't talk about happy news as often because they get more viewers from the negative (and maybe scary) news.   I don't know if that is true or not, but I would believe it.  It seems like a lot of people are just out there to earn money and not for the greater good of the people.  

Miss Representative

I was amazed by this movie.  Seriously, the whole way I look at media and the world changed because of this movie.  The part I was most shocked about was the limited number of women with careers in the media and those who do are down talked or portrayed in a more sexual light.  Also I was amazed at how poorly women in leadership positions are treated and how many men belittle and make fun of or sexualize their every action.  I hope that when I have daughters and even sons that I can teach them how wrong the media truly is and what standards they need to uphold in this very male dominant world.

WIFI

Is WIFI/wireless a good thing or not?  I have thinking about this question this weekend a lot.  I think that it is nice, but it is also a huge distraction!  For instance, when there are people over and everyone is on their computer or smart phone or some other device, there is no conversation, just silent social isolation.  It takes away from family time, from study time, from doing a number of other wholesome physical (rather than electronic) activities.

This weekend my husband and I were in Idaho with a bunch of his extended family and there were several times that I noticed a few people would just be on their electronic devices and not communicate or interact with the rest of the group and for me, I love family time.  I loove playing tangible games, talking, and having fun together.  This weekend, I did not use my computer once.  I did not check my email, I hardly texted or called anyone and I had a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend.  On the other hand, in the past, I have been known to spend gobs of time sucked into electronics and it makes me feel icky and lonely.  I personally feel that when there are better things to do (like spend time with family), electronics are not necessary and in fact they hinder family time.

Favorite Commercial :)

I love this commercial, it is so cute and it makes me laugh.  What I love most about it is that it portrays a very positive imagination and family relationship.  Anyways, here it is if you haven't seen it:

Mainstreaming

It is incredible how the media will mainstream our beliefs.  For instance, I went visiting teaching earlier and we got talking about animals and how because of being mainstreamed by the media, to us some creatures seemed more dirty and evil, like rats.  We both agreed that rats just seem more evil and dirty because that is how they are usually portrayed in cartoons and other media when in reality they are not much more dirty and certainly not more evil than some other creatures like a hedgehog (which is what my visiting teachee owns).  I just think it is really interesting how the media really does change and alter how and what we think.  So we should be very aware and careful what we watch!

Billboards

So I have an internship up in Lehi this summer, and so I have a 25-40 minute commute there and back and I see all sorts of Billboards advertising just about everything under the sun.  I noticed today as I was driving home on i-15 that the  ones that stood out to me the most were the simple ones that emphasized just ONE point.  The ads that were very wordy and crazy I had a hard time figuring out what some of them were for, because I was driving by after all.

I just thought it was interesting the things people advertise and how they do it.

Because of this class, I have been more and more aware of all the media surrounding me each and every day, and it is amazing what I see that I never knew was there in the first place!

Just Wait

I read this article the other day and I very much appreciated it.

http://powerofmoms.com/2012/05/joy-or-just-wait/

It is true that so many people dwell on the negative and hard times in raising children or in life in general.  However, I think it is so important to hear an encouraging word from someone else when you are struggling.  I loved this article and although I am not a mother yet, I am so excited for the joy that children come with.  Of course it will be impossibly hard at times, but with great trials comes great joy, I know this is true.

Read the article, you won't regret it :)

The Majestic

I am not really a fan of very many Jim Carrey movies, but The Majestic is one of those few exceptions.  My husband and I watched it a few nights ago and it was a real tear jerker.  It is a sad  but poignant movie.   The jist of the plot is: 

The film portrays a man who suffers a complete memory loss from a car wreck just outside a small town on the California coast.  Much of the plot and mood of this film is based on the mourning of this small town at having lost 64 of their sons to the horrors of WWII.  He is mistaken by all as the MIA son of the ever-optimistic owner of the town's movie theater and becomes an icon of hope for all the townsfolk there.  As the story unfolds, the movie effectively and powerfully portrays the coming to terms of a courageous but wounded American town and the bittersweet sacrifice of their cherished sons -now forever gone.

The film had me reflect upon a talk I love by President Thomas S. Monson entitled "Mrs. Patton -the Story Continues" (October 2007 General Conference).  In his talk he reflects on the true story of his neighbor widow and her grief at the loss of her only son in the Pacific Theater during WWII.  He talks of the hope in the Savior that all may have with the sudden loss of a loved one.  President Monson talks of the healing and hope of the Atonement and Resurrection; that through our beloved Savior, all may live again -and live united as a family.  He cites such beautiful scriptures as John 11:25-26, John 14:2-3, and Alma 40:7, ending with the following:

"...As part of my message, I explained to Mrs. Patton that such knowledge would sustain her in her heartache—that she would never be in the tragic situation of the disbeliever who, having lost a son, was heard to say as she watched the casket lowered into mother earth: “Good-bye, my boy. Good-bye forever.” Rather, with head erect, courage undaunted, and faith unwavering, she could lift her eyes as she looked beyond the gently breaking waves of the blue Pacific and whisper, “Good-bye, Arthur, my precious son. Good-bye—until we meet again.”

I quoted the words of Tennyson, as though spoken to her by Arthur:

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea, …

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar. 

...my personal testimony as a special witness...[is] that God our Father [is] mindful of her—that through sincere prayer she [can] communicate with Him; that He too had a Son who died, even Jesus Christ the Lord; that He is our advocate with the Father, the Prince of Peace, our Savior and divine Redeemer, and one day we would see Him face-to-face."

 I too know of the power of the Savior's supernal sacrifice and resurrection.  He has given us a way to see, embrace again, and to always be with those loved ones we thought to be forever lost.  Our Redeemer has mastered the seeming despair of death and the complete tragedy of sacrifice and loss -and so is it any wonder that in Corinthians we read: "O death, where is thy sting?"  United again will be those many mourning mothers and fathers.  Held again will be the many wives and children of those who've died for a better world.  Their grief will be finite and, come resurrection's dawn, all injustice of broken heart and inconsolable sorrow shall be made aright.  And to all those who have died in the defense of freedom, or those who have lost a loved one in that cause, I end with this powerful scripture:

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." "... and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

(John 15:13, Mathew 10:39)

For the LOVE of reading!

When I was little I loved to read books.  As a toddler, I would pick up fun picture books and just walk around the house reading my books to everyone and anyone that would listen.  Before I knew how to read the words in the books, I would make up the story myself based on the pictures on each page.  The older I got, the more and more time I spent with books.  I would stay up late into the night and read them after my bedtime under the covers so my parents would not know.  Books certainly had a great impact on my life and they still do. 

One of my favorite series of books as a child was the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne.  I loved the adventure and I always felt like I was standing right beside Jack and Annie as they went on their quests and adventures in each book.  This series impacted my life in many different ways.  I was pretty shy as a child and did not have too many friends, so books were my outlet.  Especially with the Magic Tree House series, I became fast friends with Jack and Annie.  I felt like part of the group and part of the exciting adventure.  When I read those books, JAck and Annie were not solving the mysterious adventures alone, I was right there with them!

The Lorax

So I love animated movies (Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks-you name it).

Anyways, last night I went to the dollar theater and watched The Lorax movie with my husband and I LOVED IT!  I am not a major environmentalist (but I do care about it).  It just had a great message and was a cute movie.


I loved the quote at the end that said this:
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better,
It's not"- Dr Seuss (The Lorax)

I think this is true in things other than just trying to save the environment.  I think that if we want things in our own lives to change, than things are only going to get better or change is we care a whole awful lot.

Anyways, if you haven't seen it, do it-it only cost a few dollars! :)

Time sucker

What is it about the media on the internet that just seems to suck away all our time.  I am not like this everyday, but I do get caught in the trap sometimes.

It starts with something small like checking my email, which is all good and fine.  Then I realize I need to update our budget, and then I check facebook (which in all honesty is becoming kind of boring) but it STILL sucks you in.  Then I want to catch up on the latest episode of one of my favorite shows.  Then I think about what to make for dinner, so of course I check pinterest for ideas and I end up spending 3x as long as I planned.

Hours go by, and what have I accomplished?  Honestly, not too much.

Media has this way of being so enticing to people (and well me), that we think of it as more of a need.  They no longer just want  to watch their favorite show, but they need to.  They feel they have a parasocial relationship with a character and so they must watch the newest show.  We prioritize our daily time to include our favorite media, whether it is reading a magazine, watching tv or a movie, or browsing facebook.  I know I have been guilty in the past of having a TV-show marathon where I would spend hours and hours watching a show that I was hooked on at the time.

For some people their media consumption could be described as an addiction; they could not possibly go on with their lives until they read the latest news or watch their favorite show.

It is clear that media has a great influence on our lives by dictating the trends of today, changing our attitudes or assumptions in life, and taking our time.

I am not saying that the media is bad, in fact the media portrays many good values (as well as bad).  I am merely saying that media has an unmistakably large influence on our lives today.