In His Steps

Some time ago, during my horrible depressive episode, I realized I wasn't getting much from my scripture studying. I was getting more distressed that I could read and remember nothing from what I read, and that I also would feel apathetic about it. Thus, I decided to try a new tactic to make the scriptures and their stories stick better in my head. Instead of just reading them, I would write--not type--them out. I selected a journal I haven't used yet and made it my scripture study journal. This one happened to have a beautiful leather cover, but any empty journal would do. As you can see, I originally had another intention for this journal, but nothing ever came of that, so I just crossed it out and put in my new intention. I chose the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon as my starting point and got started. I'm still writing and only in Chapter Eight, but I will say that this has helped me pay attention to words. Sometimes I still do read ...

I tend not to make resolutions, exactly. I prefer to make goals, and mini-goals under large ones. This year's goals: *Continue to improve my marriage. *Continue to improve my health. -Go see an allergist this month. *Get the doll company off the ground. -Write up business plan and send to brother-in-law for review. *Complete my degree and graduate. *Continue to decrease debt. *Look into houses for purchase. This is the short list. Some very personal goals are not here, nor will they be. A couple of them will probably always be on this list, such as marital improvements. Marriage is not something you're given a certificate for upon the wedding day and boom, all is complete and unchanging.

What Would You Do If Set For Life? Or, In Other Words, Bucket List! Sometimes I get overwhelmed and wish for things that I don't have, and am ungrateful for what I do. But, after making a list of what I would do with the kind of funds that would set me up for life, I realized that these were things I could still accomplish, but earn them, not wish for them to be handed to me. So, I've turned these things into a kind of bucket list for myself, a list of long-term goals. I am leaving a few things off, as the point of them was anonymity. -Pay off all my debts. -Accelerate my education and get my degree faster (this is unlikely without a better job than even my current one coming through). -Spend time with family and friends (more of it). -Start my own business(es). -Either stop working 9-5 and focus on my education, or change to a more fun 9-5. I would like a job I don't dread to show up for someday. -Go for a master's degree in business. -Go for a music degree a...

Doing a checkup on where I am that may or may not become monthly. 1. Continue to work on paying off debts. The strict Pay off Debts goal last year was a teensy unrealistic for a one year goal. *Get car loan moved to credit union by the end of January.        ~I went to my bank and discovered that it is cheaper for me to keep my loan where it is, so this goal is completed. *Create budget that allows a small savings and debt reduction plan by the end of This Week.        ~I admit, I hadn't done this one and then my job changed. So I don't know what I'll be making week to week. 2. Get healthier: cleaning up my diet and exercising. My sedentary job has ruined the progress I made at the beginning of last year.        ~I've done a few things, but largely I haven't been successful, though my work in the restaurant downstairs is helping me get more exercise. 3. Take a self-defense and/or dance class (several is good). *H...

Do you ever sit back and consider your decisions, wondering if the choices you make are the right ones, or, more importantly, made for the right reasons? I'd rather make a wrong decision for a right reason than a right decision for a wrong reason. That's easy to say, but what does it mean? Lately, I've been thinking. I want to go back to school. Why? To get a better job. Why? So that I can make more money? Uh oh. Why? So that I can support myself, pay my debts, and be financially secure enough. The first two are good reasons, but what is "financially secure enough"? A million dollars? In my mind, "financially secure enough" means that if something happens to me, such as accidents, becoming disabled in some way, becoming unemployed for a time, something happens to my car, etc, I can support myself for at least a little while until I can improve my situation or move closer to those who can help me, or both. Is this a bad goal? No. I've had to rely on...