that moment when #goodquotesbecomemeaningful

Most of the time I just think motivational quotes are corny. Then something will happen and they'll start to be really meanginful. Like that one time I was on my mission,  and wanted to shirk the responsibility of training a new missionary, especially when I felt myself inadequate and the assignment premature. My companion shared this quote with me, which I promptly devoured (figuratively):


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson


Here are some other quotes I think are just as delicious. I'm making a database here online as a reference when I'll need them in the future. Feel free to add to the list. :)


“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." - Mark Twain


"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it." - Mother Teresa

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."- Michael Jordan


"Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." – George Bernard Shaw.


"Change is inevitable. Progress is optional." – Tony Robbins.


"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." – Viktor Frankl

"Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like." – Will Rogers.

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein.

"Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security" – John Allen Paulos.


:Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." – Helen Keller.

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." – Oscar Wilde.

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." – Alexander Graham Bell.

"You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it." - Albert Einstein.

"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Maybe I should start my own motivational posters business!! Just think of the possibilities!

The City of Parks, Utah

Last week I had the opportunity to fly out to Utah to do a training for the immersion job I'll be taking in August. I started off the week spending a few days down in Provo with an old friend (roommate), Maranda. It was so refreshing to get to spend time with a friend that knows me so well and that I know so well. I think it's been a while since I've gotten to spend time with someone like that.

It was cool to walk down those streets again. It felt so carefree. Maybe it's that I was spending time with Maranda (who has always been particularly good at enjoying life), or maybe it's because I remember that time as being so carefree and I've seemed to assume much more responsibility this past year. I was happy then, and I'm happy now, it's just different.

I traveled to Park City for my training the following Monday. It was a beautiful drive. Let me just say for the 34892043th time how much I really feel closer to God in the simplicity, magnitude, and peace of nature. It also helped that the training, although stressful and overwhelming at times (which I had prepped myself for, so it wasn't that bad), was accompanied by a free townhouse in Park City, complete with a visa card for meals, a personal hot tub, and beautiful running trails. Below is the view from my townhouse. As you can see, I'm excited.

While I spent the days sitting in trainings about "comprehensible input" and workshops on teaching science, math, and literacy in Chinese, I spent the nights exploring whatever I wanted. The hike took a while to get to (with no map!) but I found it eventually. It would have been a beautiful hike had I not thoroughly convinced myself I would get attacked by a bear, and no one would ever find me up there.

 Although dying at the foot of these beautiful aspens seemed pretty comfortable to me...

This was my view as I was driving down the mountain at sunset (and the picture hardly does it justice):

Here is my "team" of other 2nd grade teachers. We came to really bond by the end, after recording our presentations again and again, trying to make them better and provide feedback for each other. We were all delirious by then.

Hsui Mei was my "team leader." (see below) She has taught 2nd grade for a year now, and boy does she have a lot of wisdom. She reminded me why I love Chinese people so much. Super blunt, super humble, and super hilarious. She gave me some great feedback, shared with me how difficult her first year was, and even bore her testimony to me about her role as a teacher. She is a little ball of fire, I tell you.

On my last day in Utah, I also got to visit some of my favorite people in the world: my grandparents!

Aren't they adorable? Yes, they are.

But they are even more than that. They are wise. I have missed them. Every time I visit them, without fail, I learn something new. This time, it was the meaning of love and discipleship. To see Grandpa's ninety-two year old hands open the door for his wife, and to hear about how he still takes care of her meds every day (obviously tired), or to see him open the door for someone else when he can barely open it for himself - it's overwhelming sometimes. And to top it off, to witness his Gordon B. Hinckley-type optimism and good-natured humor in the face of serious challenges - really, I'm so blessed. I love them both.

As if this wasn't a good enough trip already, I got to visit with my good friend J. Peets. There are so many reasons why she is one of my best friends. One of them being: she reminds me of who I am when sometimes I forget. She takes me to REI and inspires me to soak in the outdoors like I love doing but may have forgotten. She does 5 triathlons in one summer, and is a beast at them (who does that?). She constantly pushes herself and fills her life with goodness until it's overflowing.

老师

Remember that one time I got a job teaching 2nd grade dual immersion Chinese? In Salt Lake City? Remember that one time I am moving there come August 2012? Remember that one time I'm flying out for a week-long teacher training in Park City this Saturday? Remember that one time I'm quitting my current job in a month? Remember how I am going to buy a car (hello, adulthood)? Remember how I'm trying to prep myself for all of this change, and for inevitable feelings of inadequacies but still know that I'll be flail-ing? Remember how I haven't spoken Chinese in a year and will be forced to model teaching next week in Park City? Remember how I'm really nervous about all of this? Remember how I will be leaving the green of North Carolina as well as all the people I've come to love? Remember how I'll be starting all over again?

Beneath a few layers of fear, there are more layers of excitement. I need a challenge. I think Salt Lake will be a good place for me. I also have done a lot of soul-searching and have thought this career might be a good one for me as it combines a lot of the things I think I'm good at and enjoy.


That's not to say my womenly intuitions couldn't be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, would it? Heck, I might get out there and realize I hate it. They might revoke the offer in a few weeks after they realize I can't really speak Chinese that well. But heck, who cares! I've got nothing to lose! Except my pride, which I can afford to lose more of.

friday nights

What I did last year on Friday nights:

 What I do now on Friday nights:

What does this mean?

ps. happy birthday to me!

I enjoyed spending my 26th birthday with family. Here we are at CPK about to order....

 ...these delectable pizzas :

My sistah Cath also purchased my fav* cooking blog's new cookbook. I don't know if I've ever been this excited about a birthday present ever. She also made me french toast before work!! Bless her beautiful hide...  

 ...and decorated my door with 26 things she liked about me : 

Remember that time I am super blessed to have such loving people in my life?