Get Off!!

When I first saw this picture I just thought it was funny. Then I looked at it again and started to wonder how something like this happens. THEN I realized it happens all the time, and not just with dogs. For our purposes, Lets call the dog on the ground Buster and the dog sitting, Chief.

Things I noticed about this photo:

1. Same kind of dog

2. They are pretty much the same size

3. Buster looks sad and defeated

4. Chief looks like its the most natural thing in the world. It has become so common place that he hardly even notices what's happening.

So my conclusion is that Buster allowed Chief to over power him and be in control. who cares? they are just dogs.

So many times I find myself being "sat on" by other people. People who are similar to me, who are not any better than I am (physically, mentally, or emotionally) and yet, for one reason or another, I allow myself to be intimidated into submission. Not as often as I used to, and maybe not to this extreme but it does happen.

We all make choices to allow ourselves to be put down by people around us. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." We allow it to happen. Sometimes these people do it on purpose, either through subtle hints or blatant put downs. Sometimes they are people close to us who don't even realize they are making us feel "squished". Fact is, Buster is just as great of a dog as Chief but over time or experience he has let himself believe that Chief is stronger and more capable. I have done this so many times. Because of experiences I've had or things people have said to me, I let myself believe that other people deserve more. That it's okay to let people use me and have their way ALL the time. Frankly, its not true. I need to become my biggest fan. Especially when I find myself on the ground being crushed under the weight of another. I need to find my inner strength-and face my "Chief" head on. We were not sent to this earth to act small. Or to allow others to make our decisions or determine how we feel and where we will go in life. We were created equal. We have all been created for greater things and it's time we start acting like it.

Who am I to judge?

Today I want to write a serious blog- because I've been doing a lot of thinking the last week. Last Sunday I was sitting in church, by a friend of mine, and the thought came to me that she is more than I realized. I mean, she's my friend so I think she's great but it really hit me that she is a child of God with promised blessings and a purpose in life. Then I realized the same was true for everyone around me....and yes I've known this my whole life but I don't always give it the consideration and respect it deserves. Most of the time I am just impatient because people aren't doing or saying what I think they should. I admit I am not perfect and sometimes I forget that I'm not the only one on this earth trying to accomplish something and be a better person. Then last night my mom and I were watching a show called "who do you think you are". its a show about celebrities who find their genealogical roots and stories. Anyway, last nights episode was Gwenyth Paltrow and she was researching her great grandmother because her grandfather and family had said horrible things about her. Anyway, through the course of her research she discovered that her great grandmother, who had once been ambitious- had been kicked out of college the same year her mother and brother had died of illness. Then she married and her 3 yr old girl was run over by a wagon just 3 weeks before she delivered another baby- The woman was probably suffering from depression and her family didn't understand and resented her their whole lives. Why do I tell you this? because I think we all do that to some extent- we are too quick to judge those around us without knowing the circumstances that make us each who we are. We sit back, without any knowledge of an other's trials or maybe we think we do know and understand everything (but we probably don't since we can never feel what another feels) and conclude that they are mean spirited, arrogant, unforgiving, weird, a hermit, etc....when perhaps we should just be kind and reserve judgment. In this particular case- two generations were submerged in bitterness and resentment because no one bothered to look a little deeper- they were too focused on their own wounds to consider that someone else may be hurting as well. Then tonight my niece played the video of Susan Boyle singing "I dreamed a dream" click here I've seen it before but in light of my thoughts this week I was touched by it again. No one expected her to sing well because she wasn't a beautiful woman and yet- the talent she had inside of her was incredible. I know this is sappy but I really am amazed by the talents the people in my life posses- and I'm not just talking about performance talents- I'm also talking about the talent of patience, to love others, to withhold judgement, the talent for listening and understanding others. I am talking about the talent for sharing the gospel and speaking with the spirit I am talking about all those talents which are so often overlooked by the world. I have been overwhelmed this week by the worth of those around me and so grateful that they have been placed as examples in my life. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ- that when I do fall short and pass judgement too quickly on others I can be forgiven, that each of us can through that atonement rise again and continue on our path to become someone great- maybe not in the eyes of the world- but in the eyes of God and all those whose lives we touch and improve. I pray that each of us remembers who we are- beloved children of God. A God who knows us each by name and cares what we become. I pray that after we remember who we are- that we will also remember the same about the people around us. "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" - that includes strangers, friends, family, and ourselves.

Limited Seating..

So today I was thinking..." a dangerous past time" "I know" ..sorry disney reference. Anyway- I have been thinking about how fear can physically limit our accomplishments. And in some cases, Fear can literally paralyse us from realizing our potential. I was thinking about how irrational that is. For instance, we are afraid to tell people how we really feel, or try something we've never done, or in some cases play a sport but why?? because we might say or do something dumb? we might not be perfect? well guess what...no one is perfect. And anyone who tells you they've never messed up at anything is lying to you. For example, I get really really nervous when I have to sing in front of people. One person or one hundred people my reaction is the same. I had a recital a little over a week ago and I did in fact mess up. The track played a little slower than I had practiced and I forgot two notes but no one threw anything at me, no one boo'd. The fact is no one but me probably even remembered my mistakes after I sat down. And it is the same with anything we do...we are probably the only ones who remember our failures. What if I don't pass my test? what if I say the wrong thing? well...life will go on, my friends and family will still love me, and I will be a better person for it.

Its true that there are those people in the world who would love nothing better than to step on you when you are down, or rub your failures in your face...but perhaps its time to remove those people from your life....If all the world is a stage, and you have the leading role- Then play your part, play it big, accept your role- strengths and limitations combined. You will have more fun...your audience will enjoy it more...and to those who would throw tomatoes- don't invite them, there is limited seating at your theater- VIPs only- they can go to someone else's show.