In case anyone who follows me doesn't know yet, I have started a new blog for reasons which are explained in the new post so check it out: http://jamesonolsen.blogspot.com/
It's worth your while.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
New Leaf?
So I am trying a new thing...Now that I have church at 1:30 pm, I have ample time during my sunday mornings, so I am going to try write more regularly on my sunday mornings, at least every other week...wish me luck.
This week has been exhaustingly awesome. I was involved with the incoming class all week, both through the leadership conference AggieBlue, and Connections. It's been a really interesting week in the sense that I am seeing how I wish I could have changed about my first year on campus, and things that I didn't know existed that could have been so valuable to me. (i.e. I found out I have a librarian that is assigned to my major that can help me with my projects and papers...I was blown away.)
I really am excited for this new semester though, I have some goals and plans set that is really going to make me use my time wisely. I'm kind of in a make or break situation, and I am by no means going to break. I mainly think cutting out t.v. is going to be the most crucial part of the equation. I think the demands I will have on my schedule shouldn't make it too hard for me to give up some of the shows I watch.
As you can see by the fact that this was posted a lot later than 1:30, it hasn't been a perfect transition to writing a morning blog, but at least I got it started. That's something.
This week has been exhaustingly awesome. I was involved with the incoming class all week, both through the leadership conference AggieBlue, and Connections. It's been a really interesting week in the sense that I am seeing how I wish I could have changed about my first year on campus, and things that I didn't know existed that could have been so valuable to me. (i.e. I found out I have a librarian that is assigned to my major that can help me with my projects and papers...I was blown away.)
I really am excited for this new semester though, I have some goals and plans set that is really going to make me use my time wisely. I'm kind of in a make or break situation, and I am by no means going to break. I mainly think cutting out t.v. is going to be the most crucial part of the equation. I think the demands I will have on my schedule shouldn't make it too hard for me to give up some of the shows I watch.
As you can see by the fact that this was posted a lot later than 1:30, it hasn't been a perfect transition to writing a morning blog, but at least I got it started. That's something.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
LG (Life's Great!)
Yeah, it's not a new story that months pass between my posts so I won't make any excuses.
Right now I'm in a secluded place, a place where I get a lot of thinking done, I'm listening to Dave Matthews, which takes me back to some good memories. My mental state has been so relaxed and satisfied that it's made me think about what got me here, what has happened recently to make me so close to nirvana?
It's been so many things, I'm surrounded by good people that make me smile and inspire me to be my best self. I especially have to give a shout out to my roomies at the A-Team house, you guys are awesome. Besides the people I think it's that I have a perfect balance of work and play, I have only taken 2 or 3 days off this summer, but I know that I am going to be doing something fun at night so it keeps me going, plus having two good jobs to mix it up keeps things interesting.
Also things are picking up with my involvement on campus, both with Service Center as the PR Chair, and Student Alumni as the Membership Chair, It makes me feel useful, knowing that I am in a way a cog (however miniscule) that helps keep the university turning. Also both of those positions keep teaching me new things and skills which, if you really know me, is what makes me happy. Always increasing my knowledge or skills.
I think the biggest thing that has contributed to this feeling I have right now is that I am increasing my self-mastery. There are several things I could talk about in which I am developing this attribute, but I'll focus on one. Recently I ended 1 year of going without potato chips, which were at the time my greatest weakness as far as junk food goes. It really wasn't that hard, and I don't really crave them even now that I can eat them. The whole experience I think planted a bug in me though, now I want to keep doing it with other food types, like soda, french fries etc. So Monday, while I was with some close friends celebrating the birth of America in beautiful Huntsville UT, I got talking with a few people about the subject and by the end of the conversation, half a dozen people had agreed to go a year without candy with me. I really didn't expect to have other people join me, but they did! We just decided that none of us need candy and we don't really crave it, we just eat it when it's convenient, and the occasional time you pass by the aisle in the grocery store and have a sweet tooth. On top of that it's the one food group that has virtually no nutritional value. So we made the pact, from July 4th til the next time the fireworks fly for America, myself and a small band of people will be candy free. I have received mixed reactions from people when I tell them about it, some are amazed by it, some are unimpressed, some are critical that we aren't eliminating all sweets like cake and brownies (I say one battle at a time), then there is my brother who didn't care for the idea at first, but after thinking about it for a bit, decided to join in himself. The reaction that most stuck out to me (meaning it caused me to write this post) happened a couple nights ago, there were a few people in my room talking, including a girl I don't really know, when she found out about my quest she laughed in a mocking tone and said:
"oh man, you're life is going to suck!"...
Yeah, it really sucks being in control of my life. Being able to deny myself something that seems desirable but in reality won't help me out in anyway. My mission president was a wise man, and also a multi-millionaire businessman, and one zone conference he was asked which attribute he personally thought would lead to success not only as a missionary but in life in general. His response? Self-Mastery. Which coincides with one of my favorite inspirational quotes "A successful person does the thing that needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether they like it or not." -Aldoux Huxley. In other words, self control takes you places, whereas complacency just takes you for a ride. The opposition makes me more excited about it though, it's been about a week now and I've had to turn down a couple offers already, I almost feel like this will help me realize how much I really do eat candy. My biggest competitor so far is the jar of Dum-Dums that sits on the counter at work, staring me down whenever I have a second. I have not caved though! It really hasn't been that hard yet. I guess we'll see once halloween rolls around...
Honestly, I agree with my mission president, there is nothing as satisfying as saying no to something you could say yes to, but choose not to because you know it won't benefit you or those around you. That feeling is success, and it leads to more and more success as you thrive off that feeling.
Right now I'm in a secluded place, a place where I get a lot of thinking done, I'm listening to Dave Matthews, which takes me back to some good memories. My mental state has been so relaxed and satisfied that it's made me think about what got me here, what has happened recently to make me so close to nirvana?
It's been so many things, I'm surrounded by good people that make me smile and inspire me to be my best self. I especially have to give a shout out to my roomies at the A-Team house, you guys are awesome. Besides the people I think it's that I have a perfect balance of work and play, I have only taken 2 or 3 days off this summer, but I know that I am going to be doing something fun at night so it keeps me going, plus having two good jobs to mix it up keeps things interesting.
Also things are picking up with my involvement on campus, both with Service Center as the PR Chair, and Student Alumni as the Membership Chair, It makes me feel useful, knowing that I am in a way a cog (however miniscule) that helps keep the university turning. Also both of those positions keep teaching me new things and skills which, if you really know me, is what makes me happy. Always increasing my knowledge or skills.
I think the biggest thing that has contributed to this feeling I have right now is that I am increasing my self-mastery. There are several things I could talk about in which I am developing this attribute, but I'll focus on one. Recently I ended 1 year of going without potato chips, which were at the time my greatest weakness as far as junk food goes. It really wasn't that hard, and I don't really crave them even now that I can eat them. The whole experience I think planted a bug in me though, now I want to keep doing it with other food types, like soda, french fries etc. So Monday, while I was with some close friends celebrating the birth of America in beautiful Huntsville UT, I got talking with a few people about the subject and by the end of the conversation, half a dozen people had agreed to go a year without candy with me. I really didn't expect to have other people join me, but they did! We just decided that none of us need candy and we don't really crave it, we just eat it when it's convenient, and the occasional time you pass by the aisle in the grocery store and have a sweet tooth. On top of that it's the one food group that has virtually no nutritional value. So we made the pact, from July 4th til the next time the fireworks fly for America, myself and a small band of people will be candy free. I have received mixed reactions from people when I tell them about it, some are amazed by it, some are unimpressed, some are critical that we aren't eliminating all sweets like cake and brownies (I say one battle at a time), then there is my brother who didn't care for the idea at first, but after thinking about it for a bit, decided to join in himself. The reaction that most stuck out to me (meaning it caused me to write this post) happened a couple nights ago, there were a few people in my room talking, including a girl I don't really know, when she found out about my quest she laughed in a mocking tone and said:
"oh man, you're life is going to suck!"...
Yeah, it really sucks being in control of my life. Being able to deny myself something that seems desirable but in reality won't help me out in anyway. My mission president was a wise man, and also a multi-millionaire businessman, and one zone conference he was asked which attribute he personally thought would lead to success not only as a missionary but in life in general. His response? Self-Mastery. Which coincides with one of my favorite inspirational quotes "A successful person does the thing that needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether they like it or not." -Aldoux Huxley. In other words, self control takes you places, whereas complacency just takes you for a ride. The opposition makes me more excited about it though, it's been about a week now and I've had to turn down a couple offers already, I almost feel like this will help me realize how much I really do eat candy. My biggest competitor so far is the jar of Dum-Dums that sits on the counter at work, staring me down whenever I have a second. I have not caved though! It really hasn't been that hard yet. I guess we'll see once halloween rolls around...
Honestly, I agree with my mission president, there is nothing as satisfying as saying no to something you could say yes to, but choose not to because you know it won't benefit you or those around you. That feeling is success, and it leads to more and more success as you thrive off that feeling.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Big Time Happenings
Hey Y'all! I know it's been a while, almost two months...but you know how the end of school goes, I don't have time to breath hardly.
But now summer is here, and I don't have any excuses. Although as I will discuss in tonights post, it still took me longer than it should have to write this.
Well, the big news is I finally moved out. Yep, that's right? I'm no longer at the Dome Home. I need to be sensitive about this, because my mother reads my blogs and she doesn't really appreciate being an empty-nester now. It has had a few adjustments, namely buying my own food...but it has been an overall awesome experience so far. I am living with some great people and the location is great too. It's a house just below Old Main, in fact, as I write this I am sitting on my roof right outside my room, looking up at the big glowing A on this starless night. This is definitely my pondering spot for the summer.
Well, summer 2011 is upon us! hard earned I might add, I was losing my mind by the end of the semester. I have big hopes and dreams for this summer, especially after Summer 2010 was a lot of hype and fizzled out almost instantly. Luckily living in a house with 11 other people helps make the most of summer. We are even going to the extent of making a summer bucket list. Never a dull moment is kind of the idea we're going for here. We have some big plans, our house is going to be the place to hangout for sure, we already have people playing dance central until 3 in the morning the last three days, but we haven't even really got our plans in motion yet.
So the thing that I wanted to address is something that I have blogged about before but has become more of an issue now that I am out on my own...Time Management. I spend a lot of time doing nothing really, which is easy when you always have some sort of visitor at your house, and there is ALWAYS something fun to do. I have been telling myself everyday since I moved in here that I was going to write a blog...well, it's been over a week, and I'm just getting to it. It really is requiring me to be more responsible with my time.
It's all about self control, and I'm doing better the last day or two, which is what brought me to finally write this. I won't bore you with details today, but I will write again in a few days and talk about some more specific plans for EPIC Summer: 2011
I know this has been kinda scattered and brief, but I just needed to get something down to get back in the habit of writing. I'll get more nitty-gritty next time.
Tchau Pessoal!
But now summer is here, and I don't have any excuses. Although as I will discuss in tonights post, it still took me longer than it should have to write this.
Well, the big news is I finally moved out. Yep, that's right? I'm no longer at the Dome Home. I need to be sensitive about this, because my mother reads my blogs and she doesn't really appreciate being an empty-nester now. It has had a few adjustments, namely buying my own food...but it has been an overall awesome experience so far. I am living with some great people and the location is great too. It's a house just below Old Main, in fact, as I write this I am sitting on my roof right outside my room, looking up at the big glowing A on this starless night. This is definitely my pondering spot for the summer.
Well, summer 2011 is upon us! hard earned I might add, I was losing my mind by the end of the semester. I have big hopes and dreams for this summer, especially after Summer 2010 was a lot of hype and fizzled out almost instantly. Luckily living in a house with 11 other people helps make the most of summer. We are even going to the extent of making a summer bucket list. Never a dull moment is kind of the idea we're going for here. We have some big plans, our house is going to be the place to hangout for sure, we already have people playing dance central until 3 in the morning the last three days, but we haven't even really got our plans in motion yet.
So the thing that I wanted to address is something that I have blogged about before but has become more of an issue now that I am out on my own...Time Management. I spend a lot of time doing nothing really, which is easy when you always have some sort of visitor at your house, and there is ALWAYS something fun to do. I have been telling myself everyday since I moved in here that I was going to write a blog...well, it's been over a week, and I'm just getting to it. It really is requiring me to be more responsible with my time.
It's all about self control, and I'm doing better the last day or two, which is what brought me to finally write this. I won't bore you with details today, but I will write again in a few days and talk about some more specific plans for EPIC Summer: 2011
I know this has been kinda scattered and brief, but I just needed to get something down to get back in the habit of writing. I'll get more nitty-gritty next time.
Tchau Pessoal!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Regret? What's that?
I almost wrote this post a few days ago, which would have been a mistake. Now I have had time to think it over and although I am portraying the same facts, the tone is a much more positive one.
I realized a few weeks ago that I wasn't happy with where I was, after thinking on reasons why this might be, I concluded that it was because I living with a lot of regret. I wasn't following through on things, I wasn't giving it my all. I was complacent. In other words, I was pathetic. That's how I saw it anyway. Nothing worse than knowing you could have done more.
And that really is all you can do, because you can't control the outcome...as I have learned.
The cool thing was I didn't make a conscious decision that "I am going to live with no regrets", it was just kind of a reaction. I realized I was naturally put more effort into things/projects/relationships and it felt so good. REALLY good. So lesson learned right? Ha. Guess again.
Last week will go down as one of "those" weeks. Things started rough and didn't improve too much. By the weekend I could look back at it as a learning experience but while it was going on it felt more like Chinese water torture. So back to my point, I learned my lesson, then apparently needed to have it ingrained upon my mind because as I applied myself to things in a really big way, my fails became more and more epic. Which isn't too encouraging by the way, but the fact is I know that giving your all is a true principle, so I wasn't about to abandon it. (SIDENOTE: giving your all doesn't make accepting defeat any easier, but it DOES bring peace.) I saw these failures and haven't once thought "If I had only done more", because I had already done my best. That is a huge difference from weeks ago. So, scars and all I felt kinda like this little guy.
He paid a price for what he attempted, but he is satisfied know that he at least tried. I feel for ya little fella.
So this is the part where it's good that I waited until now to write this, because I feel good now. I have had time to feel bad for myself, and now I'm stronger. I believe in the "No pain, no gain" train of thought, as well as the "When one door closes, another door opens" So I wouldn't do anything differently.
Isn't life great? (everyone nod your heads) Yeah I know right? It really is, the ups and downs are what make it interesting. If life was just a straight line the scenery would get pretty boring. So moral of the story: Do everything in you power to accomplish your goals, and think of your defeats this way "In the maze of life, every dead end you run into brings you one step closer to finding the exit." (I'm working on the copyrights for that right now.)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
18.2 Days Later
It's weird how fast time flies between posts. So as the title references the amount of time since my accident/last post, I wanted to explain my situation now.
My car is back, got it this week, she looks better than the day I bought her. My citation was equivalent to if I had gotten a ticket for going 9 over, so except for the increasing debt, I am pretty much back to normal...in some ways.
Remember what I said about being backed into a corner? Well I fought my way out. I am by no means in control of everything now, but I have made some forward steps that give me more determination to do even better. It's cool how the snowball effect can be positive as well, because for the most part in my life it's been only associated with negative things. I feel like I've matured due to these events. I thought I would just share some of the things I have changed/figured out due to the wreck. (Oh and by the way, don't think that all of these things will be in any way directly related to the crash, I've just been more aware of everything since it happened.)
1) Share your burdens, with friends and family, but most importantly with the one who invited us to take His yoke upon us. You're a fool to go it alone.
2) I'm trying to serve more, because the feeling you get from serving trumps self-indulgance every time.
3) I prefer to get up early to finish a project than to stay up until the wee hours.
4) I have been in Jimmer denial...I couldn't never get myself to say I like the kid, until I realized I had no valid to reason to not. The boy has got game! (that doesn't mean i'm a BYU fan though...)
5) Golden opportunities are like LEGO bricks...all the pieces are there, but I have to make it happen, it doesn't assemble itself.
6) Border's is closing...that's actually not a good thing. I'm not sure what to do with myself now when I'm in town with an hour to kill...can we have a moment of silence?
7) I don't take nearly enough pictures of stuff...memorable things happen every day, although I don't think I'll go to the extent of carrying a camera on me at all times.
8) Loving those who speak ill of you is one of the hardest things to do, but it is one of the most rewarding as well.
9) I will make an awesome head of household. My wife and kids are going to love me. Seriously though, it sounds cocky, but my personality is so stewardship oriented that more likely than not, I am going to be a great patriarch.
10) Happiness is being able to laugh at your hardships, where as misery is complaining that you don't have enough blessings.
yeah....all that in 18.2 days. Crazy I know, but that's the way the cookie crumbles, when you think you can't take anymore trials, get your notepad ready because that's when you're finally humble enough to be instructed.
Life is so grand folks. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, I was talking to a friend this week, and I realized that if I paired up a blessing with every misfortune, I would run out of trials long before the good stuff.
Posse out. Until next time.
P.S. for those who have been here before you will notice that I changed the decor of my blog, let me know what you think of it. (I designed the header myself on Photoshop.)
My car is back, got it this week, she looks better than the day I bought her. My citation was equivalent to if I had gotten a ticket for going 9 over, so except for the increasing debt, I am pretty much back to normal...in some ways.
Remember what I said about being backed into a corner? Well I fought my way out. I am by no means in control of everything now, but I have made some forward steps that give me more determination to do even better. It's cool how the snowball effect can be positive as well, because for the most part in my life it's been only associated with negative things. I feel like I've matured due to these events. I thought I would just share some of the things I have changed/figured out due to the wreck. (Oh and by the way, don't think that all of these things will be in any way directly related to the crash, I've just been more aware of everything since it happened.)
1) Share your burdens, with friends and family, but most importantly with the one who invited us to take His yoke upon us. You're a fool to go it alone.
2) I'm trying to serve more, because the feeling you get from serving trumps self-indulgance every time.
3) I prefer to get up early to finish a project than to stay up until the wee hours.
4) I have been in Jimmer denial...I couldn't never get myself to say I like the kid, until I realized I had no valid to reason to not. The boy has got game! (that doesn't mean i'm a BYU fan though...)
5) Golden opportunities are like LEGO bricks...all the pieces are there, but I have to make it happen, it doesn't assemble itself.
6) Border's is closing...that's actually not a good thing. I'm not sure what to do with myself now when I'm in town with an hour to kill...can we have a moment of silence?
7) I don't take nearly enough pictures of stuff...memorable things happen every day, although I don't think I'll go to the extent of carrying a camera on me at all times.
8) Loving those who speak ill of you is one of the hardest things to do, but it is one of the most rewarding as well.
9) I will make an awesome head of household. My wife and kids are going to love me. Seriously though, it sounds cocky, but my personality is so stewardship oriented that more likely than not, I am going to be a great patriarch.
10) Happiness is being able to laugh at your hardships, where as misery is complaining that you don't have enough blessings.
yeah....all that in 18.2 days. Crazy I know, but that's the way the cookie crumbles, when you think you can't take anymore trials, get your notepad ready because that's when you're finally humble enough to be instructed.
Life is so grand folks. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, I was talking to a friend this week, and I realized that if I paired up a blessing with every misfortune, I would run out of trials long before the good stuff.
Posse out. Until next time.
P.S. for those who have been here before you will notice that I changed the decor of my blog, let me know what you think of it. (I designed the header myself on Photoshop.)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Yep...that just happened.
I realize that I have gone over a month without posting the conclusion to my "magic hour" series, but don't get excited...this isn't it. I have other things on my mind. Today I went through an experience that threw me for a loop, I was going to class this morning, and something happened...I didn't make it to class! Why? because I wrecked my car. Yep...that just happened. I really wasn't exactly needing something like this in my life right now...my finances are already tight and my schedule is too busy to be depending on rides from people. (Keep in mind I bought this car two months ago.) Which begs the question: WHY ME? That's kind of what I've been thinking about recently.
Thing is, it's not really a "why out of all the people in the world did this happen to me" type wonder, I guess it's more appropriately "WHY NOW?" I am a strong believer that the Lord does everything for a purpose, often times these are mysterious to my mortal eyes, but when I push through, once I get to the other side of a trial I look back and say "oh, I guess that really was necessary." I am totally at a loss this time. My life has been full of frustrations recently, mostly just me not feeling like I am fulfilling my potential, lack of motivation, etc. ya know, the usual suspects. So at first I was dumbfounded as to why this happened now, before I even got those problems taken care of. Through the day though I have reflected a lot on this, and the conclusion I have reached is that it was necessary to push me in the right direction. I have known about these other things for a while, but I haven't really done much about them, now with my car wreck on top of everything, I am kind of like a badger backed into a corner in the sense that I am now near breaking point, and I have to fight my way out.
I really don't know what to expect in the weeks to come, but I do know that I will become more dependent on the Lord, I do know that I will become stronger, and I do know that I will one day look back fondly on this day because of the changes that it wrought in me.
Thing is, it's not really a "why out of all the people in the world did this happen to me" type wonder, I guess it's more appropriately "WHY NOW?" I am a strong believer that the Lord does everything for a purpose, often times these are mysterious to my mortal eyes, but when I push through, once I get to the other side of a trial I look back and say "oh, I guess that really was necessary." I am totally at a loss this time. My life has been full of frustrations recently, mostly just me not feeling like I am fulfilling my potential, lack of motivation, etc. ya know, the usual suspects. So at first I was dumbfounded as to why this happened now, before I even got those problems taken care of. Through the day though I have reflected a lot on this, and the conclusion I have reached is that it was necessary to push me in the right direction. I have known about these other things for a while, but I haven't really done much about them, now with my car wreck on top of everything, I am kind of like a badger backed into a corner in the sense that I am now near breaking point, and I have to fight my way out.
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| Me today |
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment...Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee...if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high." D&C 121: 7-8, 10Try having a pity party while reading that!
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