Happy New Year and Thank You

I am very excited for this new year. 2010 was a difficult year for me, but as I have been thinking about it, it was also an incredible year. I did so much: graduated from BYU, made new friends, strengthened many friendships, enjoyed nature, and learned so much. Some of my plans for 2011 are to get a job, take the GRE, apply to get my Masters in Library Science degree, exercise every day, help someone every day in some way, take more time to just think, and to take more time to look for the beauty in the world.

At first I was reluctant to make any goals; my plans have been so easily changed lately, but I have become content with the fact that things don't have to go exactly as planned. I just need to grow and learn and do what is right. My goals will help put me in the right direction, but if they change, I can adjust them or make new goals. This is a big step for me because I am a perfectionist. I tend to want things to go exactly "perfect," but I've been realizing more and more that my version of perfect is not necessarily what will help me or those around me the most. Heavenly Father knows what he is doing. He knows me and is helping me every step of the way.

I have been feeling so blessed recently. As many know, I do not have a job right now, and I haven't really had a job since August. It's been pretty easy to get discouraged because I don't like having nothing to do, I don't like job hunting, and money is tight. However, it has truly become apparent that Heavenly Father is watching out for me. At the beginning of last week, I was feeling pretty down, but then there were a flood of friends sending me encouragement through their kind words. I also have had so many friends inviting to share their food with me, which is incredibly helpful to my budget. Some of these friends I haven't even talked to much in the last year, but I am so happy to be spending time with and talking to them. I have been able to hear things that are exactly what will heal my worried heart. I have felt so much motivation to accomplish more than I had been accomplishing. Despite the hard parts, life is truly wonderful. I am so grateful for my friends, this beautiful earth, and just everything! I am incredibly blessed. I hope that I can share the love that I have been feeling with everyone around me.

Job Hunting

Job hunting is quite possibly my least favorite thing ever! Ok, that's probably an exaggeration, but I definitely am not a fan.

I was talking to some friends, and they were reminding me that I need to tell people why I am the "best" person for the job. Here's the thing, I do think that I will be a wonderful employee, I do think that I will go above and beyond my employer's expectations, I do think that I am talented, I do have confidence in myself; however, I don't want to say that I'm better than anybody else. First off, everyone has talents and strengths, and everyone also has weaknesses. I personally think that people are pretty amazing. I mean, yes, people have their faults, but when you really get to know someone, you find out that he or she is pretty great. Who am I to say that I am any better than someone else? (This goes along very well with my desire to have ties in games. Why can't everyone win? I think my competitiveness is quite low, and I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing.) I suppose I don't actually have to say that I am better than any other applicants, and I can simply explain why I would be a wonderful employee, but even so, the whole competitive nature of applying for jobs is not my thing.

Also, applying for jobs is quite monotonous. I get to sit at my computer, fill out applications with the same exact information, change my resume, send emails, make phone calls, go to interviews, and then get rejected again and again. At least if you were doing similar things at a job, it wouldn't amount to nothing.

Alright, I'm done being negative. Life is pretty great despite my lack of a job. And not having a job has helped me in many ways, and probably most of the ways I don't even know yet, but I would like to list some that I do know. I have developed much greater trust in God. I know that even though this time is hard, God is strengthening me and helping me. I have strengthened my relationship with God. Prayer is so much more important to me now than it was four months ago. I have had lots of time to spend with my friends, roommates, and family! I have become incredibly grateful for the things that I do have in my life. I am having to learn patience. I have developed a better understanding of myself. I am having to learn to be the one who receives when I typically prefer being the one who gives. I was able to go on some fun trips!

I hope I get a job soon. That would definitely be good, but for now I will enjoy the free time that I have! I'm very excited for Christmas! It is my favorite!

When I grow up. . .

My friends have told me several things that they think I should do with my life, such as

• Open a flower shop
• Open a bakery
• Make greeting cards
• Become Mrs. Claus.
  

I actually love all these suggestions! I love flowers, and baking, and sending nice notes to people, and making up poems, and I guess doing Mrs. Claus type things (haha, my friends are funny). However, I am going into editing. I love my major and minor classes. I love reading, and spelling, and grammar, and words. I'm excited for what life will bring! It is good!

Whoa, slow down world!

It seems like all my friends are getting married or going on missions, which is so cool, but holy guacamole! I'm not doing either of those things in the near future. I love my life but sometimes it just seems a little dull. I should do something exciting, pronto. That's all. I love life!