I'm Ugly and I'm Proud!

Anyone remember that line from Spongebob? Or am I the only one that was childish enough to watch it? For this last blog post, I wish to write something so simple to us, yet it's just as foreign. Being content with yourself. I've learned this past week, and really this past semester, that I am not ideal. I'm not even close to where I thought I was (self-detrimental humor sucks sometimes). I've understood that I'm not perfect for as long as I can remember, but I'm starting to know that I'm not perfect. And to be honest, some of that may be on BYU...

We are told by Paul himself that we can have all that the Father has; we are joint heirs with Christ. I remember this quote from Elder Christofferson, and I'm paraphrasing, "Humility is not the same thing as humiliation." Of course we want to cement who we are, as we are always told here at every BYU devotional, every Sunday, and even in our classes. I remember sacrament meeting a few weeks ago, someone said that if we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourself, and we treat everyone with kindness, why don't we treat ourselves like we treat them?

Hence the blog title, I believe in traditional, morals, the whole nine yards. Tradition is how people find themselves, and how they start to know who they are. One talk I heard by Jack Christensen said "you think you know him [Christ], but you don't". It's okay to not know something. Just because we may know something or everything, it doesn't make us right. That was one insight I had this week.

Here are a few of my other recent realizations:

1. History does not repeat itself. People serving their beliefs and desired outcomes repeat what people in history have shown us will fail.

2. It's easier to destroy something than to create it. Mankind thinks we progress by finding something to knock down or destroy.

3. From NCIS: "Always let the suspect draw his own conclusions"

Peace. I'm out.

P.S. Don't be me and procrastinate this last MCOM assignment. All-nighter!

The Evolution of Tradition

Is that possible? Can tradition evolve from what it once was?

I heard a quote just within the past two hours: "I've been so busy looking at the chess board on my own, I forgot to be a part of it." Tradition exists because we choose to continue it. I've been thinking about this lately: why am I starting to like tennis? Don't get me wrong, I still hate golf. I associate enjoying golf and tennis with age. Should I? That's up for debate. But here's what I learned: I am getting older.

We're on our own. Have been. Will be. I was on the mission, and am at college. And getting older does that. So is it a problem that I am starting to like tennis? I don't think so. But I realized that I'm acting like I'm separate from the chess game. Acceptance is hard, but it shows, and if used correctly, it provides miracles. It will always be important, but some will deflect it for years.

I think of tradition as old. Think of my grandfather. But the only way to want the tradition is for us to understand how it makes us better. So, although this post is short, this answer speaks for miles. I'm doing what President Uchtdorf told us, "Don't take yourself so seriously". Tradition may be tennis and golf with my grandfather, and now tradition is me and tennis. That is because I am becoming who I want to become, and the only way to do that is through acceptance and change.

(End post with Michael Jackson song...you know what I'm talking about)

Ask the Duke, this isn't Justice

I've learned about the world recently in a light that I never really had. It's actually because of my Econ 110 class, of all things. Now, I'm not talking about LAPD type crime, but rather, Major League Baseball, of all things. If you're in my MCOM section or know me, you probably know that I love baseball. But here's why I have an issue with the MLB: why aren't players equally punished to the seriousness of the infraction? And my observation for this week: money really does make the world go round.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in mercy and am an advocate of it. That will never change. Where the issue lies with the MLB is that people are willing to look the other way if something bad happens. To an extent, this is in no way a representation of real life. Here's an example: Rougned Odor, the second baseman with severe anger issues for the Texas Rangers, was suspended for 7 games after he clocked Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. 7 games?!?! Being that I am not in the MLB, if I clocked someone because I got mad at them for a stupid reason, as Odor did to Bautista, I'm in jail. And chances are, I'm either facing felony or misdemeanor assault charges. Oh and add the lawyer fees. Can't forget those. Not one cent was taken from Odor. Or, why are baseball players still paid, and in some circumstances allowed to play, while appealing a suspension? Again, as a civilian, if I'm caught with drugs or steroids, that's some fun jail time. And for these athletes, unless in certain situations like domestic violence, no criminal prosecution?

Okay, now I'm done bitching about it. But here's where it matters for us: just don't be stupid. That's my life motto, simple as it is. You don't want to be the one who was known for looking the other way. I suspect attorneys for the MLB Players Association get involved with civil prosecution, and make it disappear. Again, I believe in mercy, plea deals, etc.. There's a reason steroid testing is getting smarter and why players still cheat the system: they don't get in trouble.

My Life is More March Madness than Lonzo Ball's! You heard that right, LaVar.

"Perspective"...yeah, I hate that word. I feel like it always implies that I am in the wrong, that someone else's view is correct. Now, I'm in pretty decent shape, but my friends can and will tell you, that there is no place for me in the tournament. I'm like 5'9", 150. I have a better chance of beating Michael Jordan in one-on-one (LaVar Ball, anyone?). So what could I learn from something I have no part of? That's exactly the magic of it! As I write this, I'm watching the Kentucky-UNC, Elite-8 game. As good as these athletes are, normally, I wouldn't watch this game. I'm a die-hard USC Trojans fan; it was good while it lasted. But this game is fun! It's been fast paced the entire first half. Some points come from the playbook, but most are from improving in the moment. March Madness is all about the upsets, just look at South Carolina and Oregon in the Final 4. Points that should be easy are blocked, as UNC is dominating. Shots that are tougher somehow come from plays that are sloppy at best. Point being: my life is more March Madness than Lonzo Ball. 

Although he probably won't ever see this, this picture is for you LaVar, with love. Shaq humbled Jordan, I doubt you'll have a chance

Whether you watch college basketball or not, if you follow sports, you know the name Lonzo Ball. Everyone has known he was going to the NBA after one year. Everyone knows his father will yet again, say something stupid. Lonzo Ball's life is under the microscope. I don't want to use the word "scripted", but people have known what his intention was after the tournament. Conversely, my life isn't predictable as Lonzo Ball's life. No one is following me to the NBA draft, and no one cares. My father is not telling people the only team I will play for is the Lakers. He isn't telling someone to sign a billion-dollar-shoe deal for me and my brothers. (Apparently, anything under a billion dollars is not acceptable!) Does it sound like LaVar Ball could be exploiting his kids? Shots that should be layups in my life aren't just blocked, but after being blocked, the basketball hits me in the face, slamming me on the court to leave me there. Fast breaks that I shouldn't be on randomly occur in my life. It's the closest thing I will get to March Madness. I'm figuring out that no matter how much I try to prepare, I won't be prepared. But it doesn't mean that I shouldn't prepare. 

I have always been someone who tries to make everyone happy and help them with what they need. My experience: people are mean, and people are jerks. People can really suck! They want their life to be Lonzo Ball, predictable of success. Here's where I apply it to my life: I deserve to be famous just as much as Lonzo Ball does. But, his skills far surpass mine. And although we deserve to be famous at the same level, we have differences that prohibit that pursuit. Look at Oregon and South Carolina; they shouldn't be in the Final 4. I shouldn't be in the Final 4. But that doesn't mean that I can't be. Take that to life: we all have the opportunity to success, but people bet more on upsets than logic. 

One of the half-time-show hosts of the Kentucky-UNC game said this about the tournament:

"You've got to bring your game, not your name"  

That's the fun of March Madness. 

That's also the fun of life, as well as the suck.

Try to upset the others, but don't let it happen to you.  

The Reason as to Why This Blog Exists

The Millennial generation carries well-known stereotypes such as lazy, narcissist, rude, etc.. Although I make fun of it, I am part of the generation. But what I learned this week was just how real, and scary, it is to be part of this movement, if you will.

I recently started watching a show called, The Great Indoors, a show on CBS with Joel McHale. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. The reason that this TV show is relevant is because it centers around making fun of Millennial stereotypes. This show has gotten bad reviews from people, but guess what?: The offended are Millennials! In my opinion, this show is doing everything right, down to a "T". One episode makes fun of Tinder, another gender labels. I've attached both. I want to get rid of a tendency I may have of "change yourself, change the generation". I'm all for activism, but it kind of seems like a load of crap. Take it as a blessing: people who still believe in traditional, and ethical, I may add, principles are just distinguished even more. Why should I, or you, care?: Guilty by association.

How do I plan to use this? To be honest, I love this show and am around seven episodes behind. When I have time from homework, I am all for watching it. It's funny because it's real. Below this I'm attaching a short interview. It'll look like a long post, but I guarantee it's not. Remember, it's 7:30 on a Saturday night, and I'm a college kid.

Stephen Fry, who stars in the show as a travel editor who becomes the boss of a group of millennials in the digital department of a magazine, jumped in to say that he believes there is “an element of coddling” in the generation and “an element in which you have it tougher than the generation before.”

“Yeah, no shit” the millennial reporter, not named by Deadline, fired back, before saying she wanted the question answered by Gibbons, not Fry (who noted a previous generation in his family was sent to Auschwitz).

“A great example is how you interrupted my answer,” Gibbons replied.

Another incensed millennial reporter later rhetorically asked: “Do you want millennials to watch your show? Cause you come out here and said ‘Ha, ha, ha, millennials are so sensitive and PC,’”, branding his comments “so negative”.

The Great Indoors co-star Joel McHale interjected that if the show is offending millennials, it is “the best strategy ever”. 

The Hard Reality of, well, Reality

I'll be honest, I hate reality. Thinking about it, I understand more than I know, and I don't think that I'm alone. Here's what I'm thinking, but it's only a thought. Maybe we don't learn things when we think we do. Psychology and neurology have gotten us far, but here's my theory. I believe that we don't necessarily learn when or how we think we do. I think concepts exist, and naturally, we come to make the connection when new material is introduced. Does this sound like learning? I believe that learning is a personal, cognizant action. I think, subconsciously though, we make connections that we haven't been introduced to.

Here's where my title comes into play. I believe that I have recently seen these connections in my life. And not that I'm just observing them, I actually believe that I've been making some. Don't get me wrong, I completely believe in religion and the role of inspiration. I feel like reality and fate are intertwined by the way we explain it. Reality seems to have an outside influence, as if we are subjects to the reality of fate.

I have a quote from Bill Watterson that I have seen in my life. "Reality continues to ruin my life". Although we don't know what will happen in the future, can we do and know more than just anticipate it? Some may call it OCD, and maybe it is, but I've noticed that the more we actively observe, the less we know, but the more we understand. I believe there is a lot more to tendencies than we believe, but reality is just as bad as it is good.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Netflix

What's the similarity between a car, television, socks, and Netflix? Other than owning each item myself, the big connection is my free will. I could be without them tomorrow, and would drastically feel the effects of not having these items. Today, I see them as a standard, not as a luxury. I believe in God-given signs and I believe in God-inspired wonders. I know about free will, but it never hit me until now. But "free will" is like the chance the Lakers have to win the NBA title this year...non-existent.

I have come to understand the notion of "the will to live" though. The only reason I say "free will" does not exist is because there is always a consequence, positive or negative, resulting from our actions. (Oh, and before I continue, regarding free will, that girl from like three posts ago didn't work out, and I used my free will to end it). And here is where Netflix comes into play. I love Netflix! I've finished Baby Daddy twice, CSI: Miami once, and I'm currently around season 5 and 80 episodes. There are 13 seasons on Netflix. Recently, I tried watching the first two episodes of the Netflix produced, Santa Clarita Diet. NETFLIX: PRETTY BAD CHOICE! I love comedy, but that was down-right disgusting. Really not one of your best choices Drew Barrymore, and to be honest, I can't watch her act for a while. I don't hate much. But I do hate that Netflix is the new HBO..no rules, no clothes, all TV-MA. I don't do zombies and I don't do gore. I'm relaxed about practically everything, this, not so much.

Remember that teaching growing up: the media we use influences us? Yeah, I never totally bought into that one. But growing up, it has hit me harder each week. I never thought a Netflix show would be a sign of it though. The more we grow up, the more we make mistakes. The more we grow up, the more we succeed. The more we grow up, the more we set our own goals according to our will. And the more we grow up, the more we understand what our will tells people about us more than it tells us about ourselves.

Now what's a good quote to end this post, maybe something from some old, mentor-status person. I'm thinking Morgan Freeman, good 'ol Denzel, maybe Oogway? Okay, here's my choice from Will Arnett playing Bruce Wayne : "First rule: Life doesn't give you seat belts". What I know: Life has no seatbelts, but understanding the impact of your will, it'll save you from going through the windshield.