Under Pressure?

I don't handle pressure very well. When people want me to do something, all they need to do is put a little pressure and persistance into it and usually, that is all that is needed.

So...how can I overcome pressure?

I was a little on the bored side at work today so I started analizing this whole 'pressure' issue and learn to say no! This is what I taught myself:

To begin with, we must understand three important laws of life.

First, pressure is not something that is naturally there. It's created when we question our own ability. When I know what I can do, there is never any question. If I am unprepared for a school exam, I feel pressure, but if I know I know the answers because I have studied and practiced, there is no question and no pressure. Pressure is eliminated by confidence, confidence is created through consistency, consistency comes through perfect practice. If this is so, any of us can do it and eliminate pressure from our work, school and play.
The second law of life is time. There are only 24 hours in a day, not just in some people's day, but in everybody's day. Time makes everybody equal. The way we become unequal, better or worse, successful or a failure, is determined by how you decide to use those 24 hours. Because I cannot be two places at once and do two things at the same time, instead of worrying so much about how to say no to negative influences, if I use my time wisely by dreaming mighty dreams and setting positive goals and simply saying yes to something positive, I won't have time for the negative; my positive actions will say no for me.

The third law is to realize there are two ways to be controlled and influenced - from within and from without; by you and by others. The solution to pressure, then, is finding out who you really are and what you really represent. Only then will you know what you want to be. As I learn this, others won't be able to adversely affect my actions. In fact, I probably shouldn't even associate with others who don't act or think like I do and, therefore, I'll avoid outside pressure altogether. Remember, if the things you think about are different from the things you do, you'll never be happy. When you're consistently yourself in thought, work, and action, pressure will not affect you.

Good Times

This past week has been SO FUN! I went to the only winning Jazz game of the series (darn that Jazz, they break my heart every year!), has an Arrested Development/Ear Candle party, preformed in our choir dessert show, saw Marcus and went to Wicked! It's been ever so busy...and of course I have taken pictures all along the way. If you haven't tried Ear Candles, you should. I didn't do it that night, but it seems like it cleans super well. I shall try it ... one day.

Working hard all semester really paid off. I think that we sounded fan-freakin-tastic! This year we sang in a CES Fireside, Saturday afternoon Conference and this dessert show. It was super fun...but I am SO glad that it is over and I have my Wednesday nights free again! Yeah!

Saturday night we went and saw the comedian Marcus. I've seen a few of his shows and he NEVER disappoints. If you get the chance to see him...do it! And he is even easy on the eyes! This show was particularly good because there was one person who didn't think a joke was funny and tried to get in a fight with Marcus! I few pushes from security and he was kicked out of the show. Poor Michael J Fox...you know that we are laughing with you, not at you!

I didn't get pictures at Wicked...but it was AWESOME! I liked the Elphaba in this production more than the other one that I saw. The actress played Elphaba was the young Cosette in the ORIGINAL cast of Les Mis. She was SO good. I always enjoy Broadway, especially Wicked...and I LOVE seeing it with people that are watching it for the first time. Everyone needs to try and find tickets before they leave.

All in all...great weekend! What's in store this weekend, you may ask?

ENOUGH SAID!

What would you do?

I received this e-mail today from a friend at work. I've read the story before, but today it just kind of struck a heart string. I don't know if the story is true, but I hope that somewhere this happened because you just don't hear about these things anymore.

"What would you do? ... you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraiser dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued.


I believe that a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled come into the world, an opportunity presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.

Then he told the following story:


Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'So you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the dame is in the 8th inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'


Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.


In the bottom of the 8th inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by 3. In the top of the 9th inning, Shay put on a glove and plated in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.


In the bottom of the 9th inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game.


Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.


The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over... The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.


Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stand and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.


He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball .. the smallest guy on their team who now has his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circles the bases toward home. All were screaming and all spectators were on their feet. 'Run home shay! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.'

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between 2 people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said: Every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

I guess I like this because it really hits home. I don't know if I would be the one to let Shay play. I don't know if it was my choice I would have been that welcoming. It scares me to stand up sometimes to things or people that are different. Sometimes the road less traveled is the hardest one to follow.

...Carlos who?

So...we got a new player on the Jazz. His name is Carlos something...

Whoever he is, I hope that he is here to stay. 23 points and 22 rebounds!! Honestly?

Seriously: I am SO glad that old Boozer finally came back to us! That was one of the BEST games that I have been to! Lame-o Kobe only shot 10% in the first half...that is the first time in 9 years that that has happened to him in a play-off game. We kept Kobe to only 5 for 24 from the floor. Amazing!

I just hope that Okur is well enough to play on Saturday because I have a feeling that the Lakers are going to try and come back with a vengeance.

GO JAZZ!!!

Sign me up!

These are the boys that are going to play the 'wolf pack' in New Moon. Hello...yummy!

Looking forward to a fabulous week...

I can't even express my excitement as this week approaches! My work called this morning to offer me tickets to the Jazz/Lakers game 3 and 4!

Plus...I get to go see WICKED this week. Any theatre production I get to see is a plus...but Wicked is the ultimate! I've seen it a couple times and it is so hard not to sing along.

And on top of all that awesomeness...I leave for ITALY in 51 days!

The only downside to all of this is my stupid knee! I went for a long walk yesterday to enjoy the sunshine and I can barely move it this morning! I don't know how I will hobble around Italy, but I will do it. I am having a brace made that should be coming in a week or so, so that should help. Also, we are having a Biggest Loser contest at work and I am trying to be really good and lose some of the extra pounds that seem to accumulate through the past holiday season. I am down 12 pounds so far...but any weight loss tips are most helpful!! Loves!

The Triumphant Return of Yours Truly...

I know, I know...I have virtually abandoned this blog. I should apologize to all my loyal fans (haha), but that would imply that I would never do it again; and I probably will. You see, my life is just not that exciting. I am not living in Italy, like Rachel. I am not totalling my car, like David. I'm just living my same, boring, mundane life. But, it is my life. The life of Susan.

My last post was early January this year and it's sad that there really isn't anything that is worth reporting about since then. Valentines Day came and went. St. Patrick's Day was the same. I joined the institute choir at the UofU, which is pretty awesome because we were able to sing in the Saturday afternoon session of conference. What a cool and unforgettable experience it is to be singing in from of all those people (let alone all those that it was broadcast to!) with the enormous organ backing us up. Although the practices were LONG and so repetitive (PR-ayer, PR-aise, PR-ayer, PR-aise) the spirit was felt so strongly and it literally felt like we were singing our testimonies. And, I must admit that the angels had to be there pushing out those notes that are just a little too far out of my registry. If you look up that session: you can clearly see Brit and I in the first song a couple of times!

Last month Brit, Randah, Tricia and I took a trip to Long Beach to go see one of our favorite comedians: JOEL McHALE!! It was so much fun traveling 1500 miles in 3 days...really! Just hanging with the girls was probably one of the funnest road trips of my life. It's going to be hard to topping it, but we are sure going to try!

Jazz games are always a constant too. Heaven bless my work for giving me tickets to these awesome games. I took turns taking my brothers since Rachey wasn't here to come with me. I went to a lot against the Rockets. I had a dream that I married Yao Ming so my work thought that it was hilarious that they give me the tickets to all the Jazz/Rockets games...which I was fine with! There were even a few times that I was able to get down onto the court. Jamo and I were probably the luckiest when we got to stand in the line up and give all the starting 5 high fives as they were announced. It was amazing! (Jamo even won an air hockey table that night for being the lucky text-er. He is selling it for about $300 now...)

As sad as it is, that is really all my new for the past 3 plus months. 55 days left until I leave for ITALY (not that anyone is counting...) I tore the ACL and MCL in my knee playing basketball last week and opted for surgery after Europe...so it will be interesting trying to hike around when my knee is doubled in size and I walk like a retard. But, I am bound and determined that it isn't going to slow anyone down! You will never hear my complain! We will be in Italy from June 10th to about June 25th and 5 days later I will have another knee surgery. One one good thing can come from this...2 MONTHS OFF OF WORK!!!!

Sayonara 2008

As a blogger, I am contractually obligated to post one of these, you know.
As I look back on the past year, some things stand out. I am yet, another year older, another year wiser, and have a lot more stories to look back on. Some memories I laugh at, and some still bring me to tears. But, all my memories made me who I am today, and who I will be throughout 2009.

Here are some of my favorite memories of 2008:

12. Jazz games. These will always be a special memory with Rachel and me. We were able to attend lots of games and make lots of signs for Kyle Korver, who will inevitably, one day, join our family…somehow
11. Lots of hanging out with friends and family.


10. Rachel, Caitlin and myself took a little road trip to Moab. I gave up tickets to a Jazz playoff game to go, and it was actually worth it. It was super fun to hang with just the girls and sleep in a tent; we haven’t done that for years!!

9. The parentals, Dave, Rachel and I took a short trip to California to see Wicked! Out Itinerary was as follows: Fly out – get rental car – go to beach – eat – see Wicked – sleep – go home. It was exhausting to travel like that in less than 24 hours. But, it was AWESOME!! And I LOVE Wicked!

8. In June my entire family (except David) was able to take a trip to see all the national parks in and surrounding Utah. This was super fun because I had never been to most of them. It was good to all be together, the older we all get, the more fun we all have hanging out together. And, I guess that that is a good thing if we are stuck in the same car for hours on end…

7. Rachel moved to Italy in July to nanny for a military family. We had a big going away party for her and she left the first week of July. She’s having a great old time traveling and learning the language. And, I am having a grand old time saving every dollar I can to go see her this summer.

6. At the beginning of Sept I moved out to South Jordan with some people that I met on KSL.com. I was a little bit leery because I didn’t know very much about them all…but I did it anyways, and it’s been one of the best decisions that I have made! Brittany, Randah and Nicolette are my roommates and I really couldn’t ask for better. We just talk and laugh together…and throw legendary parties!!
5. In September I took a trip to Seattle with Marli, Seth and Trevor. Seth and Trevor served their missions there so they took us around. It was my first time and it was so wonderful!


4. October was a busy month; I turned 24 and celebrated for many days with friends and family. And on Halloween, me and the roomies throw a big Halloween party to which over 80 people attended!

3. Thanksgiving with the Mendenhall Family was super fun. Cramming everyone into my parent’s house is always a good time. We even got Rachel up on the webcam so that everyone could talk to her! It was great.

2. Christmas and New Years this year was fun to. Things just don’t seem the same when our family isn’t together, but we deal with it. The roomies threw another successful party for New Years and I did get my New Years kiss. I am loving living in a house with these girls!

1. And the NUMBER 1 most exciting thing that happened this year: UTAH defeating BYU and ending their season undefeated!! I was lucky enough to have seating in the M.U.S.S. on the 3rd row. I pretty much feared for my life the entire time, it was AWESOME. And this story carried on into the New Year when UTAH killed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl…when the nation said that Utah only had an 11% chance of winning. Now, UTAH is the only team undefeated in the Nation! GO UTES!!

With that…there is only 1 thing left to be said:
Here’s to 2009. Hopefully this year will bring more laughter than tears, more joy than fears, more light than dark and new journeys on which to embark. (I didn’t mean for that to all rhyme, but after the first couplet I decided…what the heck) HAPPY NEW YEAR!