The Piano Player's Folly

So here I am in the BYU commons, and I should  be working. However, I have opted to surf the web and do absolutely NOTHING of worth for the next hour because I am sick and tired of studying. I had a massive, disgustingly hard test last night (don't even want to know how I did... everyone else was moaning afterwards too, so maybe there will be some redemption), and my midterms have been forcing me to stare at books and quizzes for the entire week. I deserve a break!

One thing I do NOT deserve, however is to listen to this annoying piano player... The BYU commons (aka "The Terrace") has this piano in the corner for people to play on. I really haven't figured out why exactly it is placed there- I think most people would rather play piano in a private place so they can play their hearts out- but it is there all the same. Anyway, most of the time, you hear fun little Disney songs or whatever, but then you get the occasional peacock that decides that playing some huge, supposedly incredible piece for everyone to hear is a great idea. Well, it isn't. It's annoying.

This is the infamous Terrace piano. I think this is the
same guy too!

As you can probably guess, there is someone here that has been doing that very thing. Not only did he choose to BUTCHER a contemporary piece that he shouldn't even ATTEMPT, he's deciding to make up  renditions of about every pop song or Nintendo song ever written (He's playing Mario's theme song right now and playing it 100% wrong.. like, if I'd never played around with it on the piano myself, I may not even recognize the song at all) and it's so unoriginal that it's making my ears bleed.

Maybe it's just the fact that I've spent 19 years of my life perfecting my piano skills and have been trained by some of the greatest pianists in the world. However, I can tell that this guy's playing (PS- he's been going for over an hour. It's not looking good for anyone else who wants a turn either) is making other people uncomfortable too. It's like... sacrament meeting. You don't go and sing "Jesus- What a Wonderful Child" during sacrament meeting. Yes, it may be a tribute to Jesus, but the energy in that song is highly inappropriate for such a venue. Likewise, playing a showy piece in the middle of a relaxation area for high-strung students eating lunch is disruptive and abrasive... as least to me!

(PS... This same pianist just played the song from "Zelda: Twilight Princess" where Link is a wolf and is tenderly carrying his wounded comrade to Zelda's castle... and then he howled. No, Link didn't howl on the game, this pianist just howled... out loud... I can't take this).

I can't say that he's horrible, but it's undeniable that I'm really just wanting peace and quiet here! Save it bro!

How to be Happy: Dr. Paula Fellingham

In my career prep class yesterday, I was introduced to an AMAZING woman-

 Dr. Paula Fellingham.

Talk about inspirational. If you want to feel loved, important, and be able push through any adversity that's thrown at you, follow her (and my) philosophy. Hearing someone with such a vision reminded me of my own convictions, some that I forgot for a while as I was stuck in the dumps. Here are some of her amazing thoughts, and you HAVE to read her book called Believe it, Become it! It will "change your DNA" as she says. This isn't just for women, for business persons, or people interested in her website, www.thewin.com (but check it out for reals. Again, life changing). This is for anyone that breaths. 

Here are some of her points made in the lecture on Wednesday afternoon:

No one can offend me without my permission... *Eleanor Roosevelt*

“Don’t let the bad permeate 

you- you can choose what 

stance to take.”

Will power cannot ever 

be taken from you-

even in the most horrible

 circumstances, that is

 the one gift you have.

“NEVER tell yourself or let other people tell you that you’re a terrible person over a mistake you made in the past. Instead, remind yourself of this statement,’I made the best decision I possibly could with the information I had at that time. I have more information now and can thus make a better decision now.’ With this one statement, you recognize the learning experiences of life and find happiness in that learning rather than simply dwelling on the negative.”

“Happy people don’t 

receive one success 

after another- it’s 

just that happy people

 use their outlook to

 brighten their 

perception to gain joy. 

Unhappy people take

 twice as long by 

focusing on the negative 

to obtain the same 

successes as “happy” people.”

8 ways to create joy and confidence

1.  Live in Gratitude

2.  Offer love and kindness

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving them better.” –Mother Theresa

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1.      People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

2.      If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

3.      If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

4.      The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

5.      Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

6.      The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

7.      People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8.      What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

9.      People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

10.  Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

3.  Be flexible and Cheerful

4.  Be passionate about something and DO it!

5.  Be positive  and use positive self-talk and self-prophesies

6.  Ignore your negative thoughts

7.  Eliminate ALL negative expressions

8.  Stop asking bad questions

“What can I do to make myself feel happier right now?”

9. Learn to love! (Your God, Your Fellow man, and YOURSELF)

Gain a life vision- it will change the way you approach conflict and  trials in your life and thus the outcomes of each and every thing you do- you will find purpose. Thanks for your amazing insights Paula!

Dr. Zoe Hart and Me

Dr. Zoe Hart, played by Rachel Bilson on the CW hit series, "Hart of Dixie," is my favorite right now. Why? I feel like she and I are really similar! Sometimes I feel like I am a fish out of water or a chicken in a duck pond. I find that, while watching "Hart of Dixie," I can relate to everything she goes through in a way. Maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with that show :) I luff it.

What do you do when you feel like that though? We all have days where we think that the World is out to get us and things just don't go the way you planned. Sometimes we don't just think it- it may be reality! Those days definitely stink, and it's hard to be strong through those moments. However, like Zoe Hart, we have to be stronger than we're expected to be. That's where you prove your abilities to handle anything. Forget about trying to "fit the mold" or change who you are to please other people- there is no "normal" in the world, so why try to adjust yourself to meet other people's definition of it? Find your values and stick to them- THAT is what is important. 

More than Zoe Hart though, God is the number one source of my comfort. He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to not only pay for our sins, but also to suffer along with us as well. He loves and understands each one of us, even when other people don't. I like to think of the Wimmicks and the stickers story each time I get down. We are His, and that is all that matters. Follow his precepts and laws, and you're on your way to greatness and success.  I love him and I know He loves me. I am very grateful for the atonement and every application it provides me.

So what I'm saying is simply this: love yourself for all your weird little quirks! Push through it like Zoe Hart when people don't believe in her! Most importantly, remember that God loves you and Christ suffered so that he could understand you. Turn to Him when you're down- He gets it!