The Conclusion: Wrapping it up #20

Welp, this is it. My last blog for Writing 150. I can't believe I am finishing up one of the last assignments of this class. I know that I sound very cliche saying that all of this has gone by fast, but it has. I was reviewing my blog posts and observing how my mannerisms had changed. Sometimes it hard to see how we have improved, but I believe that I have improved in some ways. Not just in English but in my ability to coup with life after the mission.

For some reason, coming back from proselyting full time has been a real struggle. I could see that in some of my earlier blog entrees. For some reason I thought that when I came back I would be a super human. It wasn't that I thought I would be better than anyone else, I just thought I would be more capable and confident than I was before. But then again, the stakes have been raised. BYU is a competitive place. Many of the people I have meet deserve to be in Ivy League schools, but they choose to come here because of the culture. Anyway, I think my experience in English has been a good one. I am especially thankful for the opportunity to have written the research paper on something I hold very dear. Learning about my great great grandpa and his posterity has been a real blessing. There is something special about receiving guidance from blood related relatives who have gone before. I learned a lot about research and effective ways of communicating with reliable sources.

All in all, I think I will be applying the skills I have learned in effective ways. I hope that by doing so I will be able to find success in other aspirations. My late grandpa Throckmorton always talked about the importance writing in a professional life, now I think I'll have a better grip on what he claimed.

The Stress of Life #19

I don't think I am bipolar, but sometimes I find myself completely backward to what I initially wanted. I find myself wishing sometimes life could be a little easier. Sometimes I just wish things were given to me on a silver platter. How great would it be if an angel or something went up to you and asked you "Would you like to be a lawyer or a doctor?" or something simple like "Would you like to have a good day today or a bad day today?" How incredible would that be? Welp, if you asked me today I would tell you that I wouldn't. Today my mind is less crowded and I had an inspiring lesson in Book of Mormon class. I would say that it is a terrible idea! Whenever we wish life was more like that, we can be sure that God is not giving us that inspiration. In fact, who's plan does that sound like? I feel like the advisary is implanting his original plan in our minds once again.

I think the stress of life comes from going back and forth between what we want and what we need. It's kind of like that one Rolling Stones song. If I was prophet for a day I would include the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in the Hymn book. I always find myself stressed when get caught in that trap. I want an A on that test... but have I actually studied enough to get that grade? I want to serve that person... but do I have the faith to actually act on that prompting? I need to do those things to get what I want but sometimes I don't always do the things I need to do. I think that when I start doing the things I need, the things that I want will be come more attainable.

Inspiration? #18

Today in our music class we reviewed some of the works of John Cage. Before I get into a discussion about what I think about his music, I want to say that Classical Music can be very inspiring. I have found that music can have soothing effect on my mood an habits. For example, every Sunday my family (and now me at BYU) puts on Mormon Tabernacle Choir to get that spiritual feeling. It inspires me to think about Jesus and anything good. It is amazing how certain melodies can influence our thinking.

Now, about John Cage. In my music class, we are studying about a man who composed everything that had never been thought of before. That seems a little ambiguous but let me explain. This John Cage is a composer that uses sounds to make music. He has gone against the normal habit of instruments and choirs to create a non-melodic symphony. He just bangs stuff and hits stuff for a couple of minutes until he feels like stopping. He composed a symphony consisting of 4:00 minutes of pure silence. Can you believe that? Well I couldn't until I thought about it more. The Cage philosophy is that everything is music. All the sounds around us make up a symphony.

Many critics hate the work of John Cage, they call him a phony and a scam artist. Making people pay for concerts where there is no "real music." After fighting my initial reaction I began to think that what John Cage was doing was quite innovative. It fights all the assumptions of music and creates something totally unexpected. Although his music may not be my first choice on an iTunes playlist, I think that what he has done is admirable. Going against the grain is the only way that the human race has moved forward anyway.

The Final Brainstorm #17

I am really excited that our final in WRTG 150 will be over before the last week of school. I rather have my finals spread out so that I won't be worrying about taking them too close together. I have been thinking of a couple of things that I could do to make my final for this class a good one.

For my first main point of my three main point, I will talk about how to organize a paper. I loved the difference I felt in making an outline for my paper before I started. I had never attempted that previously. I felt that once I had a clear understanding of what I needed to write about, the research and topics that I wanted to address flowed much easier. It's like an architect that makes a blue print of his project before his begins. Can you imagine someone trying to build something without having a model to follow? It's ridiculous to think about.

My second point will encompass the previous. I will talk about how I have developed a better writing style because of that advice that I received from our writing book. I think my ability to write text will be lengthened because of this quality.

Goals that I will set to help my future in communication will be to never write a paper by myself. I need to be more diligent about using the writing lab as a resource. I don't think you can appeal to the masses by writing everything by yourself. Normally, we don't write for ourselves, so I think it's pretty stupid to not use a second or third pair of eyes to help finish a paper.

I hope I can refine these ideas to make a good presentation orally and textual for the Final!

Thanksgiving Traditions #16

I love thanksgiving. I don't just love it because of the food; although food is a great contributing factor. There is something special about having people related to you within a close proximity. Only a couple time a year are we gathered together, this occasion is a cause to celebrate. I love the traditions within the traditions of always getting together. Every single year as we gather together to eat mashed potatoes, corn, sparkling apple cider, hot rolls, and pie there is always a special little treat to accompany the gigantic meal. A little mesh turkey.

The mesh turkey is a special one. It is brown mesh surrounding a bunch of M&Ms. The mesh has a wire thing sticking out to form a beak looking thing. All in all it looks like a little turkey. Although in my youth I used to see it as just another way I could fit sweets into my mouth, I have found it to be something of greater significance. I feel like our family is symbolized by the M&Ms located within the mesh. Each one has a different color or personality. Yet, we are all gathered in the net of our family bonds which bring us together. I still haven't thought of anything that could symbolize the beak.

I think it is vital to always have some sort of mesh that bonds a family together, whether it be the gospel or sports or a particular hobby that everyone enjoys. All families in this world should work together to keep together a strong mesh. Sometimes one layer may no be enough, maybe we should work on creating larger and larger layers to not allow any M&M to be lost. That's my philosophy anyway.

The World According to Daring Dale #15

I must say, from what I have read and from what I have seen: my life has been lived in a bubble. I have grown up with a supportive family. I have gotten a good education. I have never had serious medical impediments. I have always had enough food to eat. I have been sheltered.

After going to visit some places in South America and Central America I have come to realize that the world is a very different place from the one I had imagined. Especially in these days. There is so much corruption and evil taking hold of the earth. There are so many wars and battles taking the lives of loved ones and hated ones. There is chaos. How it was that I ended up in such wonderful circumstances is a mystery to me. Statistically speaking my chances were not good.

I am glad to have a LDS perspective. If I didn't I think I would be very worried for my future. Knowing that all the turmoil and ruckus has been prophesied gives me comfort. I know that there is something to be said of all the calamities that surround us everyday. Taking a religion class at BYU really helps me see that. A couple of weeks ago our Book of Mormon class discussed all of the terrible things that are happening today. Our teacher quoted something from a talk given by Bruce R McConkie, it stated that the persecutions in the times of the early church are nothing compared to the persecution that we will have to confront the last day. That is kind of scary considering all the things that the early Saints had to go through. I wonder if we will be able to go through those things without to many spiritual casualties.

Life... what is it?! #14

One time my cousin walked into seminary and exclaimed, "life... what is it?!" I thought that his outburst was completely relevant to a seminary setting. I have thought about that comment a great deal over the years and I have a some thoughts as to what I want to do in and with my life.

I think it is an important thing to experience a bit of stress in thinking about what we are to do with our lives. It should be a decision of great intensity. Personally, I feel the stress of this question on a daily basis. I think I may overthink it. My aspirations are great because I have very demanding parents. For some weird reason I could never do anything half heartedly in my home growing up. Maybe it was because I was their very first child but I wasn't allowed to not work hard at anything. Sometime I felt overwhelmed that I was living my life for my parents. It seemed that running away and becoming a professional skateboarder or surfer or rock climber just wouldn't fly with them.

Have you ever read the book "Into the Wild"? I have felt like that many times. Sometimes I just want to run away and see the world, I want to experience things for myself, I have a tug of adventure that blinds me to the comfort of home and a good education. For brief moments I feel like I am trapped in the normal life. Growing up, getting a good job, having kids, and serving in the church. These are all things that are expected of my by everyone I love. If I do anything to threaten those things I will end up disappointing everyone. The dread of this disappointment has always stopped me from doing anything I would regret. I know that no matter what I do, that inkling for adventure will never stop burning in my chest. It will consume me until I find some way to quench it.