another year, another chance to make a change

     Each new year brings another opportunity to reflect on the past 365 days and to look forward to the next 365 days.  New Year's resolutions give us the chance to decide for ourselves what we want to change or improve upon throughout the coming year.  But most likely more often than not, those resolutions made on New Year's Eve are pushed aside and forgotten about within a short period of time.  In my opinion, this happens because we are selfish.  We make resolutions regarding ourselves, so when the time comes to carry out those resolutions, we reevaluate what we want at that moment and most of the time we want to do the easiest thing which usually does not include making a change or improving anything about ourselves.  According to one online poll, the top ten New Year's resolutions for 2010 were listed as follows:

1. Stop smoking
2. Get into a habit of being fit
3. Lose weight
4. Enjoy life more
5. Quit drinking
6. Get organized
7. Learn something new
8. Get out of debt
9. Spend more time with family
10. Help other people

     Coincidence that "help other people" was listed last?  I don't think so.  It's because we are selfish.  So how do we change that?  Maybe we should make it a New Year's resolution to focus more on others.  That way, when the time comes to carry out our resolution, we won't have to reevaluate what we want at that moment because the resolution doesn't affect us, it affects the people around us.  And if we follow through with our resolution, we won't have to worry about missing out on doing something that could change or improve ourselves because by helping other people we will be helping ourselves.  So challenge yourself this year, not to help yourself, but to help others.  They say there isn't a happier feeling than the feeling one gets while serving others.  And after all, we are all wishing for a happy new year, right?  So here's to making it one.

winter weather

     A new year approaches and it feels like a good time to start a blog.  I'm not much of a writer though, so we'll see how long this lasts.

     I just finished another semester at Salt Lake Community College.  I have now officially completed all of the prerequisite courses for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.  My application is in the mail so I am crossing my fingers and hoping that I will be accepted into the program next fall.

     As a senior in high school, I had the opportunity to peer tutor several students with disabilities.  Although it was tough at times and my patience was often tested, my experiences with each of the students changed who I wanted to be in the future.  I loved being able to make a positive difference in each of their lives and I knew that I wanted to continue working with people who have disabilities throughout the remainder of my own life.  After graduating from the OTA Program at SLCC, I would like to work with children who have disabilities in an educational setting.

     This year, two of the students I had the opportunity to peer tutor were nominated Homecoming King and Queen at Murray High School.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think this one is worth a million.  Congratulations, Dillon and Alisha.

Homecoming 2010
Stetson Seitz, Alisha Michials, Dillon Earl, Nicole Walker

     As Christmas approaches, I hope that we can all remember the true meaning of this holiday season.  President David O. McKay said, "True happiness comes only by making others happy - the practical application of the Savior's doctrine of losing one's life to gain it.  In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service."  President Thomas S. Monson said, "Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas Spirit.  Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed.  The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than things.  To catch the real meaning of the "spirit of Christmas," we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ."

     I am looking forward to spending the holidays with my family and I cannot wait to see what this coming year has in store.  Merry Christmas and I wish for you all a Happy New Year.