Let's Talk TR!

In case you were unaware...

I LOVE MY MAJOR.

Yeah, I know that everyone says that, and that's probably because they're in their respective majors for a reason.  My senior year in high school, I had my life planned out.  I was going to major in Psychology, go to grad school and pursue a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and I was going to make the world a better place.  I was going to leave my mark on the world.  So that last part is still part of my plan, but the rest has definitely changed.  Then, I had never even heard of Therapeutic Recreation.  I had never considered working in state hospitals or rehab centers, or with children with disabilities.  I was going to work with people who were seeking advice and consultation on improving their relationships...

Fast forward to my first ever class in college - PSYCH 111.  At 8:15 am.  For 2 1/2 hours.  (Just a little side note - don't EVER torture yourself by taking an early class that also happens to be forever long...Is it common sense? Maybe.  But don't think that "Oh, I got up earlier than that all 4 years of high school, it will be okay!" NO.  It will NOT be okay.  In high school you also weren't adjusting to a new sleep schedule, or lack thereof, or destroying your good eating habits with Ramen and ice cream.  Just don't do it.)  Anyways, I loved my Psychology class. I really did.  But I came to realize that it is not what I wanted to do.  My mom had told me about TR before I came to BYU, and I had considered it, but I had my life planned out.  I thought I knew what I wanted to do.  "Thought" being the key word.  Isn't it funny how things hardly ever turn out the way we plan them to?  So I decided to learn more about it.  I took a Careers in Recreation class in Fall, and thus, I fell in love with the idea of TR.  I can help people, have fun, and get paid.  But really.  People get paid to do what I am going to do!  It may not be much, but what does it matter if you love your job?

For all of you people that think that Therapeutic Recreation is not a real major...think about this.  How often do you participate in a recreational activity for your own benefit?  To de-stress, or gain confidence you didn't previously have by accomplishing something you didn't know you could do?  Now think about that in terms of people with disabilities.  We all have impairments, which are things about us, such as poor eyesight, that are abnormal.  A disability is a restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a way that is considered normal.  A handicap is a barrier that is caused by a social or societal stigma of one's disability.  We don't have to treat people with disabilities differently, but we do anyways.  We all too often define them by what they can't do as opposed to what they can.  We think they need our help or assistance, when they may very well be more capable than we are in completing some tasks.  They may already have an impairment, but we don't have to give them a handicap. Think back to what recreation does for you.  Now imagine how much greater of an effect those same activities would have if we but gave people with disabilities the chance to participate in them.  They can gain confidence, overcome social barriers, learn new skills to perhaps keep them out of further trouble, and most of all improve their quality of life.  

As a CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist), I would function first as a therapist, then as a counselor, then lastly as a resource.  I know there are so many people with disabilities who don't think that there are options for accessible recreation available to them.  By making these options known and helping them to  participate, the self-perpetuating cycle, or self-fulfilling prophecy of personal and societal reinforcements, would be broken and optimism, confidence, and self-worth would be abundant.  

If you still think that my major is just arts and crafts, think again.  Recreation is of the upmost important aspects of one's life, and a life without recreation would not necessarily be fulfilling.  Don't put anyone down; look past their disability and see a person who loves to play and have fun just as much as you do, for it is equally, if not more important to improving their quality of life.  And most of all, remember that they are God's children, your brothers and sisters.  They're human beings sent to this earth with trials, as we all are, but their's are perhaps manifested in a different way.  We can show our love for them through service, kindness, and respect.

If you struggle with understanding disabilities, please read these articles.  It sheds light and love on how we can be more accepting of those that are different than us. :)

Simplicity

I really enjoy the little things in life I've realized.  Maybe I'm just more detail oriented, or maybe I'm just easily amused.  Let's be real though - they are what make life bearable among the storms of the adversary.  I enjoy the sunshine and the brisk cold of the mornings.  I like getting that sudden rush of adrenaline when you wake up realizing that you've overslept.  I enjoy the dry humor of professors, and the things that I learn that will haunt me for the better in my daily life (eg. people-first terminology or different aspects of architecture).  I love the songs you hear that apply to your life so perfectly that you just listen to them on repeat non-stop.  I appreciate boys that hold open doors for girls (you may think this is a given, but I've noticed it more and more that people out West don't do it as much as they do in the South...).  I love walking around campus without headphones and realizing the beauty of my surroundings, and I especially love the apple trees I see and smell while walking to the Utah State Hospital.  I find joy in the smile that I can't contain when I see someone on campus that has no shame - the ones that are so comfortable with themselves that they will do just about anything to brighten someone's day (eg. the boombox guy - I'd like to see anyone tell me that their day is worse after seeing him and getting the Fresh-Prince song stuck in their head!).  I thrive off of the sudden bursts of knowledge and truth manifested through the Holy Ghost that give me strength and comfort in my decisions.  I admire the power I am given to feel my Heavenly Father's love for His other children.  I am so thankful for religion classes and the new things I learn regardless of the amount of time I have spent studying on my own for years on end.  I like seeing people I know on campus, or even getting smiles from random strangers.  I gain comfort in the random acts of kindness, whether it be through service or unexpected texts from friends.  I love love love the temple and the immediate serenity that I feel as soon as I enter the grounds.   The list could go on and on, but I decided to have a simple post this week, so I hope you appreciate it as much as I liked writing it. :) In short, you will increase your happiness if you take the time to slow down and recognize the simple joys in life - they're always there whether or not we recognize them.  Remember, by small and simple things are great things brought to pass! 

"When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects.  Such faith can transform an individual's life from maudlin, common every day activities to a symphony of joy and happiness." - Elder Richard G Scott

Spiritual Peace

Disclaimer: I hope these things make sense to all who take the time to read it.  There are so many thoughts racing through my mind, I can hardly gather them in a manner that is concise.  I hope I do them justice in this post. :)

Let's just say that this weekend has caused me to completely rethink my entire life plan.  And after thinking about it for a whole session of conference (about 2 hours), I threw it out the window.  Needless to say, those of you who heard the news about the changing of the missionary ages for males and females know why this is so.  

You guessed it, I have decided to serve an 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I am not doing this simply because now I can, or to prove to anyone that girls can do what boys can do, or even to show my diligence in taking advantage in this push for "women's rights", as some might put it.  I am doing this because the Lord has made it very plain to me that this is what He would have me do.  I have had some challenges lately, and until this point, I didn't quite understand why.  However, upon hearing the Prophet of God announce that I am now able to serve a mission, 2 years earlier than previously thought of, I have no doubt that this is the best way to spend my time.  He has been preparing me for this for quite some time now.  I hope that perhaps most of you will understand why, and trust me when I tell you that I know this is right for me.  Giving up everything worldly to devote my life fully to the service of my Heavenly Father and His children is something I could never regret.  I just have to make sure that I go with the right intent, not expecting it to be easy by any means.  It's going to be harder than anything I could ever imagine, but I know that Heavenly Father will take care of me as long as I am doing what He would have me do.  Everything that He has planned is better than anything I could ever plan for myself.  His will and timing are supreme, and although we may not understand it at the time, it will all work out for the better in the end.

"If you will respond to share your beliefs and feelings about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a spirit of love and a spirit of courage will be your constant companion, for perfect love casteth out fear." - L. Tom Perry

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this.  I love my family with all my heart, but to be able to take 18 months and focus it on enabling other families to feel the joy and receive the blessings of being an eternal family is an opportunity that I could never forsake.  There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that someday you may be reunited with your family once more, even after we have since left this mortal life, never to be separated again.  I want every family who has ever lost a loved one to know that there is hope after death.  Through the blessings of the temple, all things are possible.  

If there's anything I've learned the recently, is that once you're off balance, you don't get to choose what happens to you, but you get to choose how you deal with it.

"Let us simplify our lives a little.  Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship - the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace." 

- President Dieter F Uchtdorf

So by learning that I am supposed to be on a mission has finally granted me spiritual peace.  I can now simplify my life and get on the track to where Heavenly Father needs me.  I could not be more thankful for this opportunity I have been given and I know that Heavenly Father had me in mind when He inspired our Prophet to make this monumental change.  It's just a further witness to me that He knows me more than I know myself and that He wants the best for me.  And I can tell you with a surety that He loves you and knows you just as well.  Even when you are feeling down or alone, know that He will never leave you comfortless.  He is always there, hands stretched out to each and every one of us, waiting for us to reach up and receive His help.  You're of such great worth to Him, no matter how far you may have strayed from the path.

"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.  While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast.  We have the incomprehensible promise of exhaltation - worlds without end - within our grasp.  And it is God's great desire to help us reach it." 

- President Dieter F Uchtdorf

If you want to know more about the LDS (Mormon) Church and especially missionary service, please visit mormon.org/missionaries

Creating a Good Life

Guys.  I think I'm addicted to blogging.  Just about every day I think of something new I could post about.  I don't feel so bad taking the time to do it right now despite all the things I should be doing, however.  Let me just fill you in as to why.
Today I had to go to classes and somehow still fit in the time to study and possibly take a midterm before work. I went straight to the Cougareat after class to study for my Creating a Good Life Through Recreation class (which I think is ironic since we discussed how testing crushes your intrinsic motivation to actually learn...).  Anyways, so I went to study, was super productive and then at about 1:15 I thought it was best to start heading to my Intro to TR class.  I made it to the RB stairs only to have this sudden realization that my class starts at 12:30 not 1:30.  After checking the time in disbelief and panic several times, feeling a little disoriented by not knowing what to do or go next, I just starting laughing (thus adding to my aurora of insanity probably perceived by all that were so fortunate as to pass me).  You have to know that I never  miss class, not even intentionally, let alone unintentionally.  I think this is what stress and having an on-call job does to me. I went on to take my test, because I just honestly couldn't take studying for it anymore.  I did as well as I could have anticipated.

Now for the somewhat related lesson of this post:

"The true meaning of being alive is not just to feel happy, but to experience the full range of human emotions." - Edward Deci  

I have noticed this semester more than ever before that it's okay to feel emotions other than happiness.  I've had some not so great days, and although I can find the good in them I find joy in knowing that I am capable of being in a state other than that of elation.   This wasn't the case at first - I tried to suppress them and act like they weren't there, because I'm supposed to be happy all the time, right? WRONG. It's okay to feel down - it's part of our mortal existence.  If we avoided every hard thing that we were faced with, then we would have nothing to show for our lives - we would never improve or gain strength or courage.  I had previously wrongly associated unhappiness with being spiritually unfit, you know, the whole "wickedness never was happiness" deal. This is not always true, however, as being unhappy does not have to be directly associated with sin - that type of unhappiness is self-inflicted. As long as you are experiencing a perhaps unfamiliar range of emotions, don't be afraid of them for fear and faith are incompatible.  Have faith that the hard times will pass.  Facing trials we are given with faith enables us to realize our divine potential when we succeed in overcoming them.  If we avoid hard things, great things will inevitably avoid us.  Sometimes things may not work out the way we want them to or plan for them to, but that does not indicate that we are unworthy to receive certain blessings, or that our Heavenly Father does not love us.  Instead, we should think of it as a means by which we can learn about ourselves.  His plan is always better than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves.  In the end, I can promise you that as long as you allow for Him to guide you in all your endeavors you will have absolutely nothing to complain about in the end.  Life can't always go the way we want it to, for Heavenly Father's will always trumps ours.  These experiences will be ones we look back on as examples of when our faith has carried us through difficult things.  Feeling discouraged is not an emotion only the weak encounter.  

Think about it.  What is our purpose on this earth?  To gain a physical body, right?  Consider this scripture  found in D&C Section 138 (The context of this is a revelation given to Joseph F Smith concerning Christ immediately following the crucifixion, where upon ascending into Heaven He visited the spirits of those who were awaiting their Resurrection):

50.  For the dead looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.

You would think that this would be the opposite.  Our bodies do indeed pose some limitations, but without our physical bodies, we lose the ability to express our emotions tangibly.  We would not be able to hug, laugh, or cry.  I don't know how our spirits experience emotions, but think about a baby.  When they are first brought into this world, it is the first encounter they have with the ability to express their emotions, the first time they are able to cry.  Ultimately there is something you need to understand: Satan is jealous of our bodies and our abilities to have concrete expressions of our emotions. Let us not forsake our bodies and the ability they give us to feel emotions, even if they are not always the most comfortable ones to experience.  I don't know if this is doctrinally correct, but I believe that Satan can tempt us to suppress our mortal experiences - we shouldn't feel guilty for feeling emotions our bodies are made to feel - we were given the opportunity to have mortal bodies knowing full well that we would go through hard times - our emotions can be considered a means by which we identify them.  No person has ever made it through this life without feeling sorrow, not even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In short, love your body.  Love your mortal abilities and the lack thereof.  Be happy for the capacities you have to feel happiness and pure joy as well as those not so pleasant emotions - they allow for growth and more importantly they let us be grateful for the good times we experience.  But most of all, remember to be thankful for all that God has done for you. Do not forget the tender mercies He provides, for those are the constant reminders of His love for each and every one of us.  Be realistic about your expectations, and don't become too discouraged when we cannot be perfect at everything we try, although perfection is our ultimate hope.  In the meantime, it's okay to have bad days, but do not fall into the rut of discouragement, for that too is Satan's way of dragging us to His level.  Rely on your Lord and Savior, for He is the one that can remove all our doubts and sorrows, all we have to do is have faith in His Atonement.  He loves you, and I love you.  Remember who you are and what you stand for. :)

"There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.  My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not.  Be of good cheer.  The future is as bright as your faith." - President Thomas S Monson