The Middle Ground

Food is central to human existence. It sustains us. We gather around it. Our economy is ran by it. However, research suggests that the Western diet is killing us all--cancer, obesity, heart disease, even mental illnesses can all be linked to the high-in-saturated-fat, low-in-vital-nutrients lifestyle most Americans live.

As a dietetics major, I find myself immersed in study after study about what this nutrient does to your brain or how this food increases your risk of cancer. To be honest, I've found myself becoming slightly paranoid. Does that chocolate shake I had last night really increase my risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? Will the grilled cheese sandwich I had for lunch make artherosclerosis imminent?

I'll remind myself by telling you: there is a middle ground! It's called moderation.

mod·er·a·tion

ˌmädəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. 1.

   the avoidance of excess or extremes, especially in one's behavior or political opinions.

   "he urged the police to show moderation"

   synonyms:

   self-restraint, restraint, self-control, self-command, self-discipline

Maybe it elicits an eye roll or a multitude of negative opinions, but what are of our lives couldn't do with a little moderation? With a synonym like "self-discipline," it can't be that bad of a thing. Merely a difficult one. 

Eating the very best we can about 70% of the time is going to be the most healthy, realistic, and rewarding. 

Two Basic Motivating Forces

"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life." --John Lennon

Please don't ever tell me that fear is a more powerful motivating force than love. Just don't. Fear does nothing but destroy. Destroy relationships, dreams, the "what-might-have-been's." There is no power there.

Recently, I've found that I've let fear creep into my life. The unknown can loom larger at times than others, and it's easy to take this as a cue to back away or stand paralyzed. Today I realized: what would I lose if I let this fear grow to control me?

I choose love. I choose the most powerful motivator and creator. And what a relief this determination is! It brightens the unknown future, beautifies the present, and dismisses dark days past. You may submit that John Lennon was a druggie, a hippie, or simply a musician, but he was right when he said the fate of this world rests with those who love with all their being.

This Magic Moment

Music has always been an important part of my life, and during the past seven years, I've been privileged to participate in ten different choirs. It afforded me many opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise--from meaningful friendships to character-building work to the satisfaction of seeing tears run down an audience member's face. There is nothing quite as exhilarating as standing in front of hundreds of choir students, hoisting a first place trophy above your head while your winning choir applauds and whoops triumphantly.

Despite all of this incredible stuff, let's get down the nitty-gritty here: Why do we care about music? Because music is a language of its own, made up of pitch and rhythm and lyrics. These elements come together in ways that transport us to other times and places, make us feel and think in different ways. It's magic. Have you ever seen someone dance without music? The human experience without music would be much the same: a strange, unnatural waltz without destination.

The Logan Institute Singers performing in the Logan Tabernacle

Why is Utah broken?

It's snowing... again.... lame. I don't think anyone's told Mother Nature it's April 14. Looking on the bright side, at least it gives everyone something to talk about! Almost every stranger I interacted with today mentioned the dreary cold and wetness lying outside the warmth of the TSC. Why is it a typical thing to make small talk about the weather? Even though small talk is known for not being sincere, the weather is a common human experience that one can't really escape. Unless they live in a locked room with no windows... a.k.a. prison. But something tells me that prisoners aren't the kind of people to make small talk anyway.

I'll just be sitting here in the fluorescent lighting, dreaming about brighter, warmer days. 

“If fate doesn't make you laugh, you just don't get the joke.” -Gregory David Roberts

I can't help but find myself laughing at the moments, especially as of late, where life has come up to me and yelled, "PLOT TWIST!" My life has taken new directions that I didn't think were plausible or possible. Although it can be frustrating at time, it is somewhat exciting to peek around each corner and not know what's coming. Life can't be compiled in a list of good and bad because honestly they don't always cancel each other out or cannot be equated; however, here's a few things from the past year.

NO BUENO

• All of Hope's friends decide to attend Brigham Young University. She does the contrary and goes to Utah State University, seeking her own path.
• Hope is somewhat nervous about starting college and pursuing her major.
• During student elections at USU, Hope decides to be bold and run for Service Vice President, despite being a freshman and not having the network needed for such a zealous endeavor. After one of the most difficult weeks ever, a loss by 50 votes is devastating.

BUENO

• On October 9, Hope started dating the love of her life, Joshua Deron Tinsley. They are getting married on May 20, and he is the best friend she's ever had.
• Hope loves college and has done quite well. Dietetics is her passion and will allow her to help others.
• Other opportunities have come along, such as serving as Executive Vice Chair on the CAAS Council and the treasurer in the Dietetics Student Association. 

Through the good and the bad, it's important to laugh... and that's what I find myself doing. Because in the end, fate's joke is pretty dang funny.

Let's Procrastinate.... Later

Today I saw a guy with a mustache and a sign that read: "Let's procrastinate.... Later." Although it was very funny, I had the sudden epiphany that I haven't posted a single blog post for English 2010, and the semester is swiftly drawing to a close. Why have I done such a crazy thing?! Oh well. In fact, I am sitting in the middle (Well, I'm not in the middle. I'm on an aisle.) of a Chemistry 1220 S.I., jumping between solving electrochemical reactions and writing this desperate first blog post. 

Which brings me to a question: why are humans so good at procrastination? Yes, some are better than others, but we have all done it at one time or another. This rather philosophical musing of mine could elicit several responses. Nevertheless, my answer is this: it is difficult to take the first step. Or leap. Or bound. It all depends on the difficulty of the task you are undertaking, whether it's leaping off the high dive or bounding (in a frantic manner) into writing 14 blog posts before the semester end. I'm all about making short and long term goals, so my new aim is to become better at taking first steps/leaps/bounds. Hopefully procrastination will no longer be a presence in my life.

Love Like It's Our Job

A few weeks ago, I lost a best friend and family member; however, I know there are many people who may dismiss the death of a pet, reasoning, "Oh, it's only a dog." They have obviously never met Wilson.

A few years ago, a young girl (me), pining for a fluffy companion of her own, used her newly-acquired Powerpoint skills to create a presentation titled, "Ten Reasons We Need a Dog." After a good laugh and some reasoning of their own, my parents gave in, and we brought Wilson into our home. I absolutely adored my little black miniature schnauzer puppy, spending hours teaching and playing with him. He quickly became a part of our family, and his smart, loving personality endeared him to everyone he met. Whether we were hiking by our favorite creek or reading in the grass together, Wilson was simply content to be by my side, and often, when I was upset about something and needed a shoulder to cry on, Willy would comfort me, a look of love and concern in his intelligent eyes. 

I have been filled with indescribable anger and sadness at Wilson's passing, feeling that no one can possibly understand what a void it has left in my life. I question daily why my young, seemingly healthy dog had to leave me, and I see shadows of him everywhere. It has taken quite a bit of faith in Heavenly Father's plan for my buddy and for me. 

The other day my sister sent us a magnet with the saying:

Good dogs are with us for a little while to teach us how to love like it's our job... because it is. 

I find this quote spot on because if there's one thing Wilson knew how to do, it was to love. Think of how amazing the world would be if we humans took upon ourselves the task of unconditionally loving and accepting one another.

Our job in this world is LOVE. 

Wilson, thank you for teaching me this.

 It's a privilege to love you and be loved by you.

Wilson's last birthday

P.S. Meet Brinkley. He becomes a part of our family this week.