Remembering the Sacrifices Made

Ronald Reagan gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery:

I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country....Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.

Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we -- in a less final, less heroic way -- be willing to give of ourselves.

I am grateful for the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives while fighting for the freedoms that we enjoy. I am so blessed and feel so grateful to live in this country. I don’t remember enough that this nation was founded and is protected with blood, sweat, and tears. May God bless all those who have served and are serving in the military.

I listened to this emotion-filled version of Tim McGraw's song, "If You're Reading This." My heart is full. It brought tears to my eyes, twice in a row. I hope we all remember the sacrifices made for us.

More to Life

I’ve had this quote up in my room for a few months. It was one of my rare attempts to be crafty. Usually, it reminds me to not do too many things at once. But when I read it the other night, I looked at it in a whole new light. This time, it reminded me of the importance of accepting the Lord’s timing.

We often expect life to come at us faster, thinking that if we get what we want out of life sooner rather than later, we are successful or even more blessed than others. But the Lord expects us to learn patience. That could be with education, wealth, possessions, physical stamina, or any other desires we have or goals we set for ourselves. The happiest people I’ve known are those who not only set goals but who are also patiently working to achieve those goals.

As children, we learn from Aesop’s fable that slow and steady wins the race. But so many of us have the Veruca complex and with everything say, “I want it now!” In reality, we should be more like “cheer up” Charlie. And I don’t even know why I referenced that movie because I don’t like it, but hey, it is so applicable!

Life can become so fast-paced if we allow it. Sometimes we think the busier we are, the better. If we spend more time on trivial things, we obviously have less time for what is most important. Without even trying, stress levels rise and happiness declines. The most demanding times in life are the moments we need to slow down the most.

In conjunction with this, I’ve learned another principle: Silence is golden. It provides time for deep introspection. We can evaluate if our actions coincide with our priorities and if our priorities align with what we want out of life.

I love slowing down, but please, if you are driving in front of me, don’t apply this principle literally. J

My Happy Place

When I am stressed, I go to my happy place. It is a state of mind that changes my attitude about life. My happy place has always been the beach. There are plenty of other peaceful places: the mountains, the temple, my home, anywhere outside with a good view or sunny weather. But when I go to my happy place, I imagine myself sitting on the beach soaking in the sun. There is a calm breeze. The water is perfect temperature and the weather is just hot enough so that you can get wet but you don’t need to get wet in order to be cool. The only sound you hear is the ocean. The beach is a place I have rarely gone to literally, but when I am there, I love it.

Happiness can seem so far away, and the beach is so far away from me. But happiness and peace are right at our fingertips. I was at the beach over the weekend with my family. I felt the most relaxed I have been in a long time. I forgot about life and instead focused on the sand between my toes and the warmth of the sun on my skin. It is such a peaceful place. It has continued to lift my mood for the whole week.

Sometimes I think I can be perfectly content sitting on the beach for the rest of my life. I pointed this out to a co-worker who had lived in Hawaii when going to school there, and she said that after a while of going to the beach every day, she got so sick of it. That made me reflect on whether the beach really is my happy place. Would I find joy in laying out in the sun day in and day out? No. I find joy in serving others, in living the gospel, in working hard, in spending time with friends and family. And I may need to imagine myself sitting on the beach when I am stressed, but I can be in my happy place always. I can always find peace if I am looking for it.