Stages of Life (with Regards to Relationships)

So, I have a friend (YES, I have a friend) who has a rather interesting outlook on the stages of relationship desires as it pertains to both men and women. I thought I might share them with everyone.

Age 18-22, you either want to play someone or be played. At this stage of life most people are just wanting to get some action and don't really care who it comes from or who they hurt to get it. A lot of times you will see the girls going for the bad boys and the men going for the skanky girls.

Age 23-26, that PERFECT somebody is so close! At this stage women know who Mr. PERFECT is and men know who Ms. PERFECT is; but neither of them know WHERE they are. A lot of times this can cause for the guy or girl to not really want to date anyone they see NOT as their PERFECT somebody.

Age 27-30, take whatever you can get. This is the time when you are starting to reach the top of the hill so whatever you can get is probably all you can get. So take whatever it is you can get.

Now these stages are rather controversial and based mainly on level of maturity. They are not all set in stone, you can fudge a year or two (it is said that men are to be given 2 years since they tend not to mature as fast) but there are VERY FEW exceptions.

Where do I land in this? I don't know.

I don't think any of these and this is why I see this model as somewhat controversial. What about the guy or girl who is just looking to find who they like, I'm not sure what I want in a man anymore but I know I'm not looking to be played and I know I don't have a Mr. PERFECT out there, but I'm not willing to take whatever I can get.

So where do I fall?

Applying Ancient Scripture to our Daily Life: Ammon, Rejoice but be not Boastful in your Gifts and Talents

So this week I decided to study in the book of Alma and once again found something that I think can be applied to our modern lives.

How many times have you been told to share your talents and gifts with others but sometimes you might feel that it's being egotistical or overly boastful of yourself. Well in Alma we find the same thing with the Sons of Mosiah.

A little background here, the Sons of Mosiah had gone out to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Their mission lasted about 14 years and during that time they served mainly without each other for companions.

When reunited with his brothers after being apart for a time, Ammon began to rejoice in the fact that they had preached the gospel and been received tremendously by those they taught. He proclaimed his ecstacy of so many rejoicing and being brought back to the fold of God (Alma 26: 1-9)

After hearing the words spoken by Ammon his brother, Aaron, rebuked and chastized him for such boastings saying, "Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting." (Alma 26: 10)

Ammon told Aaron that he was not boasting in his strength, nor his wisdom, but rather his God. "Therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." (Alma 26: 11-12)

A gift was given to Ammon and his brothers, they used this gift and shared the gospel with others. Ammon's joy was for being given the gift and not for how great a missionary he was without God.

Is it wrong to be grateful for the gifts given to us by the Lord? I beleive we need to share these gifts. If I have the gift of providing comfort to others would it not be wise to try and give comfort to all? Yes, tact does need to be used, but to not share and rejoice in our gifts is not desired by the Lord. Developing upon one gift can cause for our receiving and developing more gifts.

Honor for America: Losing Significance?

I was walking to my biology class this afternoon when I looked over to the administration building and noticed the American flag being flown at half-staff today. Whenever I see this I imediately think, "What day is it?" After that question is answered I start to wonder, what is significant about today to don this honor?

So, today is 16 October and as far as I am not sure what happened today to warrant a flag at half-staff. This is NOT to disrespect anyone, but I really don't know why. I know at times people will lower the flag in honor of fallen soldiers from their base or post but ASU, why did you lower the flag?

I would not ponder this question so much if I hadn't already seen the flag at half-staff 5 times already this year when I didn't know why. They did lower it on 11 September, but I know why they did that. Why the other days?

This question is only being posed because quite honestly I feel that if this honor is sometimes mis-understood. I just want to know why before it looses the significance and people no longer reflect on WHY the flag is not at full-staff.

What a week (and it's only Wednesday)

So wow! It's been one crazy roller-coaster of a week and yes, I know this is a little premature and it is only Wednesday, but seriously, it's been crazy!

I got to go to Six Flags, Magic Mountain, in California on Saturday to celebrate a friend's birthday (that post will come shortly on my other blog...) but what a weekend. We drove all night Friday to get there Saturday, spent the day in the park and yup, Saturday night we were driving home. We had a BLAST, well I did anyhow. But yeah, not a lot of sleep was had that weekend.

Emotions have been set lose this week as well as I've lost my best friend recently and hopefully some day he can forgive me. Ever since then it's been up and down and all around and CRAZY!

Missed a couple classes on Monday, little sleep Monday night, even less Tuesday night as I finished up some homework, woke up with 4 hours of sleep to meet a client and she never showed. Hung out all day with my aunt and cousins (I'm still hoping I don't get sick); went to play volleyball, I'm not feeling too good, I should really go see my doc and now I'm thinking about sleep at midnight... yeah, it might be a good idea.

Week isn't even over yet! I have work tomorrow, institute and meeting, Friday is training for volunteer work, Saturday I'm volunteering at a Health promotion event from 0630-1130, corn maze that night, bonfire and studying for a test I have on Monday. MAN! Yeah, it's going to be a LONG week!