Better Everday!

So I've never been much of a blogger. Never really even considered it because I couldn't think of anything I would want to write about myself to be posted for the whole world to see. But lately I've been reading a really great book entitled "Everyday Greatness" by the one and only Stephen R. Covey and realized that there are some things that I would want to post for the whole world to see. Because, of course, I do intend on the whole world reading my very important blogs :)

I love a good quote or a good inspirational story and this book "Everyday Greatness " is full of em. It's made me want to search more and more for words of wisdom that ring true and spark a desire inside of me to be a better person. In fact, one of the first things I do when I get to work is hop onto lds.org or other random sites to read an inspiring talk or quote that I know will help me make the coming day a great day....an even better day than the day before. I really feel that all of us have the potential to create the life that they want. Each of us can be the main character in such inspirational stories that I love to read. Each of us has the potential to be someone who changes world, because you can change the world just by changing someone's world. By that I mean that all it takes to truly make a difference and leave a mark is by changing one individuals life for the better. Because by doing that, you have made their world a better place and in effect changed their world.

I think that most of us have that desire to make a difference and to live a good life. To make a lasting impression for the better. Sometimes it feels overwhelming though - how can we do this? Is it one huge feat that we have to accomplish before we can say - I have made a difference? Do we have to overcome a deadly disease, win an Olympic race, adopt five starving children living in Africa, or make millions of dollars to give away to charity? Although each of these things would definitely be considered charitable and awe deserving - I feel like the changes most of us can and will make in the world won't come from such large acts, rather it is an accumulation of small and simple, but good things. In a recent General Conference talk given by the Elder Bednar, he offered a great metaphor for this. He explained that a beautiful painted masterpiece is actually the vast collection of individual brushstrokes - none of which in isolation might be very interesting or impressive. However, as we back up to take a good look at the painting, the individual brushstrokes combine together to produce the beautiful masterpiece - worthy of hanging above a fireplace for all to see! I love this analogy. One brush stroke might not be a masterpiece in itself, but after multiple brushstrokes you can create something beautiful.

A similar analogy I like to think of is a runner. Can someone who runs once a year for an hour be considered a runner? I don't think so. A person becomes a "runner" because they consistently run. Whether its for 10 minutes everyday, or an hour every other day - they are considered a runner because it is something they consistently do. Similarly can we be considered a good person if we make one charitable contribution of $500 a year or because once a year we decide to bake a cake for our neighbor, while the rest of the year we are short with our family and never think to extend a helping hand with people who might be in need because we are too busy with our own lives? I don't think so. Can you be considered a follower of Christ by going to church from time to time or reading your scriptures every now and again, but during the course of a normal day taking hardly any or no thought to Him? It takes consistency and repeated behavior of a particular act before you can consider it a part of you. Through small and simple things great things come to pass. It is the accumulation of small, but great acts that will determine what kind of person we are and what legacy we will leave behind us.

So what does that mean? It means that everyday is important. Every hour, every minute, every second. A smile to a stranger, a kind word, or even biting your tongue when you want to snap at someone (and even suppressing the bad thoughts!) - these things all add up and amount to your own personal character. It means working a little harder at becoming the person we want to be everyday. Setting goals. And then working everyday to accomplish them. These individual, isolated events will all decide our character and the person we are. The challenge we face is to make sure that the brushstrokes we paint - although small and simple movements - will help us work toward that beautiful masterpiece of a painting.

Okay - sorry not all of my blogs will be this long. This is basically my theory on life and something I have come to feel very strongly about - and the reason I wanted to start this blog - so I wanted to expound. Each blog post will be dedicated to making ourselves better everyday! "Living our lives in crescendo" as Stephen R. Covey would put it. Basically I'll just post up any inspirational thoughts, quotes and/or stories I have come across that have helped and inspired me in some way so that others can enjoy them too. The key to these quotes is using them to create an action plan for ourselves. Words can ispire, but it takes our own self discipline to make good things come from them! Please feel free to add your comments and thoughts on things that I put up and any other quotes or stories you might have. I would love to hear them!