I'm gonna run right up this hill.

“We can become the masters of our own destinies by practicing self-discipline and by setting worthy goals that will lead to higher ground so that we can become what our Heavenly Father wants us to become.- M. Russell Ballard

 

completing ANYTHING rocks, actually...

So remember that time I signed up for a half marathon the first weekend in May? Okay, now remember how I neglected to calculate the number of times this would require me to run outside in the cold? In the SNOW, even? DeeAura doesn't run in the cold. No way, Jose. 

But that was in my past life. Currently, DeeAura runs in the cold. And likes it. (If I say it enough, I eventually believe it...it's a little trick I do with my brain sometimes.) The mirror on the back of my bedroom door may or may not say "You love running in the cold!"
 
My brain is still somewhat resistant to this mental trick, but I think I'm coming along just fine. :) This past Saturday was opportunity #1 in the form of a local 5K. As I ran through icy slush puddles and fresh powder, with my feet still pretty frozen, this song came on my ipod...and it just made the whole rest of the run really enjoyable. I even ran through a frigid puddle after the song was over and thought, "Ah, that feels good..."

I know. It's crazy. I'm crazy. I don't even care. :)

WHOLE WIDE WORLD

Mindy Gledhill, Stuart Brawley

© 2010 Blue Morph Music (BMI), Stage Three Songs o/b/o itself and Brawleywood Music (ASCAP)

I’m gonna walk a hundred miles

I’m gonna whistle all the while

If that’s what it takes to make me smile

I’m gonna walk a hundred miles

I’m gonna run right up this hill

Summer sky or winter chill

If I gotta take a break I will

But I’m gonna run right up this hill

I wanna hold the whole wide world

Right here in my open hands

Maybe I’m just a little girl

A little girl with great big plans

I’m gonna go and take a chance

I’m gonna learn to ballet dance

Learn a little something ‘bout romance

I’m gonna go and take a chance

I’m gonna live a crazy dream

Impossible as it may seem

Doesn’t matter what the future brings

I’m gonna live a crazy dream

You tell me, “don’t try it”

I’m warning you that I won’t buy it

All failure is fleeting

I trust it always has its meaning


 

AND: have you seen the new youth LDS website? I am currently obsessed with it. It's a goldmine of fantastic. I was reading everything I could get my hands on yesterday, and came across this quote from the Young Women's General Presidency, some of which is included below:

"We believe that one virtuous young woman, led by the Spirit, can change the world. As a Young Women general presidency, we have observed young women doing what they believe is right, standing as witnesses, living the gospel standards, and truly making a difference. It is amazing what one young woman can accomplish when she is virtuous, listens to the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost, and then acts!

This year, believe. Believe you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves you and will help you. Believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. He is your light. He is your hope. He is your exemplar and Redeemer. Believe in yourself! Believe in the power of all young women living the standards. All together we can seek after those things that are virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy. All together we can make a difference in our world."

-YW General Presidency 2011

How priceless is that? And not just for teenagers/young women. For everyone. We are to be continually striving to be better, to do better, and to become even more every day of who we are meant to be...who He would have us be. And when we do that: one person has the power to change the world. Change, change, change...It reminds me of one of my favorite BYU devotionals from this past year by Elder Costa. While speaking of an inscription on a painting of a ship in harbor, he said:

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are for." 

"The phrase was in my native tongue of Portuguese, to be" has two translations: The verb ser refers to something that is fixed or permanent, while estarpertains to something that is transitory. The verb used in the inscription on the painting was estar, meaning that the ship — although anchored — was in the harbor temporarily, it will not be there forever. I was reminded that ships are meant to navigate the oceans and to experience adventure. I was reminded that it is the same with us."

- Elder Claudio R.M. Costa

 

If harbors are temporary, then further experience and growth is therefore permanent.
 Which is totally cool because I sometimes just sit around trying to figure out exactly how I can change things to make myself more uncomfortable. :) You know, because that's how you know you're growing. 

Or something like that...