Striving for Good

Watching an ad for a particular political commentary show (won’t name it here) reminded me of how “in your face” our media has become. He or she who yells the loudest seems to get the most attention. Maybe this is due to the overwhelming amount of media we are all subject to. The internet, TV, magazines and so on compete for our attention. It seems like someone is always trying to tell us something and everyone thinks they have to be louder or more provocative than everyone else in order to be heard. Unfortunately, not only does this tactic seem to work, it only grows more intense over time. However, I’m reminded that media only has the influence that we allow it to. As I watched this ad, I decided I would never watch the program it was advertising. I don’t want that tension, that loudness, in my home. My home is a peaceful place, and I would never allow people to come in and destroy that peace in person, so why allow it on TV? In fact, I think it would be useful to find mo...

Staying up late tonight and found this on TV. Fantastic scene. Here's the URL if you can't click on the video. https://youtu.be/i6MG74Xm5Y8

This is a great story of human compassion. A man in North London had climbed on a bridge with the intent of committing suicide. Details are scarce, but a passerby on the bridge reached out and pulled the man in through the rails so that he could not jump. Then others came and held him the two hours it took for emergency help to arrive. From the picture, you can see that the crowd even wrapped rope around his body so he wouldn't fall from the bridge. Eventually, a fire engine with a hydraulic lift lowered him to safety. The whole story is here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4456800/Police-stop-man-jumping-North-Circular-bridge.html .

https://youtu.be/45RqUmxDXiY is the link if the above doesn't work. I was impressed to see this video from Princess Kate and Princes William and Harry about mental health. They had a discussion (the most I've ever heard any of them speak at one time) about the need to be open about how we are feeling, especially when deep feelings are involved. They also discussed the importance of a support structure, such as one's family. I was really impressed. I am not a mental health professional, but it doesn't take being one know that the ups and downs of life can get to all of us at times.

I’m excited about this new blog because I have been pondering for awhile about all of the negativity in out there these days and the need to produce good in the world. I spent years (and still do sometimes) getting involved in political debates about all types of issues. It took me a long time to realize that arguing with people who have their minds made up really doesn’t help anyone. They will not change their minds and the argument just made me more upset. So, I have been thinking for a long time about what I can do to counteract this negativity. One little blog may not be very much, but it even if a few people read it and get something from it, or relate to something we post, I’ll feel like we’ve accomplished something.

I'll never forget the first time my visiting teacher came to see me for the first time.  She and her daughter, about 3, walked into my home a little frazzled.  Her 3-year-old was also missing pants.  That's right... pants.  I knew we were meant to be friends right then.  Here she was, a faithful and friendly Mormon mama trying to fulfill her calling when on the way to visiting me for the first time, her daughter had an accident.  It would have been easy to text me to cancel and turn around, but she didn't.  She trudged on and shared her authentic life with me.  How grateful I was!! Since then, I've tried to take inventory of my own life and motives.  Am I living a real, authentic life?  Or am I living a rose-colored, suck up all the bad kind of life?  On this blog, you'll see me living my authentic, non-photo-shopped life and doing it all while striving for good and joy.  I hope you share your own authentic moments- times...

Welcome to our new blog. We are three sisters who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are living the best lives that we know how to and created this blog as a way to share our experiences. We hope you enjoy.