My 11 Year Old Self

I pulled out my 11 - 12 year old journal this morning and had a few really good laughs!  Obviously, all journals are not full of wisdom.  At least I have proof that I have grown up some!  I like to look back with love and compassion on my younger self.  I was trying hard to figure out this world we live in, and I think I was doing the best I could.  Here are some quotes from July 1979 with the spelling fixed, and a little added punctuation so it is easier to read.

"Yesterday was a day of a great many excitements but there was one particular time when the girl Tina was babysitting got mad walked out and slammed the door.  Since there was nothing Tina or I could do we went through some cards and wrote down some commitments to choose from and do.  I chose from the commitments I got.  I chose eight of them in which I hope to complete them all within about 12 months."

"Today I woke up at 10:30 giving me the total of 11 and 1/2 hours of sleep last night (a little overdone).  Starting today, Bed by 10:00, up by 6:30"

And here's one that made me laugh out loud.

"Yesterday I found out a guy ... liked me.  Imagine that Me!  He got his sister to ask me if I liked him.  I, like a dumbo said, sort of when he is my 2nd or 3rd choice.  What a nice day.  All the talks were good and interesting."  

 I'm so glad I am not 11 or 12 anymore but it is fun to read the words my younger self thought were worth recording!

Happy People Remember -- and Forget

Everyone remembers and forgets things -- right?  I think the trick is focusing on the things that are good to remember, and letting go of the mistakes that we have already done our best to correct.  But what if I don't have a good memory?  Well, that is what journals are for -- or blogs, or videos, or pictures.  I admit to having an advantage because I love to write.  I have a gratitude journal, a prayer journal, a happiness / trust notebook, a notebook for taking notes at church meetings, a blog, and a journal for spiritual experiences.  This doesn't even include the emails I write, and the stacks of printed poems or songs that I have written, and other things that I have just typed into the computer because I want to remember!

Why write things down?  Well, I have a tendency to remember the wrong things!  I remember all of the mistakes I made, and all of the things I think I said wrong, and all of the things I "should" have done.  These things are especially likely to come to mind when I am tired.  When I am tired, and all of the negative memories start scrolling through my head, I can turn tragic really quickly.  I can feel like I haven't progressed ever and I am always going to be doomed to saying and doing the same wrong things over and over and over.

Thankfully, I can pull out my journal (usually the spiritual experiences one) and start reading.  Almost always, as I read, a surprising calm settles around me, and I can see that I am not hopeless.  I can remember that Heavenly Father is aware of me, that He sent His son for me, and that neither Heavenly Father or Jesus think I am doomed or worthless.  I can see that, even if it is ever so slowly, I have made progress over the years.

If you look for the word remember as you read the scriptures, you might be surprised how often if shows up.  Heavenly Father wants us to remember that He loves us.  That He sent Jesus to help us.  That even with all of the mistakes we make, we are valuable.  So, when the going gets rough -- try to remember those good things, which will help push out those feelings of gloom and distress so that you can forget them -- at least for a while!