just been thinking...

Sometimes I have time to look at other blogs and facebook when I'm not engulfed in reading and grading 'not so interesting' essays written by junior high students. (We're working on the interesting part today in class.) It seems like everyone is an amateur/expert photographer, an impressive baker, a savvy fashionista, a home designer, a consistent exerciser, a seamstress extraordinaire, a political powerhouse, a cool crafter, a friendly friend, and a technology tycoon. Oh, and they usually have adorably painted toenails to boot. It just makes my mind whirl. I am probably none of the above. Actually, I can guarantee that I am none of the above. Sure, I've dabbled in a couple of the areas, but elite has never been my adjective. Don't worry folks, I'm not depressed or anything. I'm just wondering how I fit into the whole scheme of things. It's not really an identity crisis - it's figuring out how to take advantage of the blessings and opportunities I have and doing it well.

Elder Uchtdorf said in General Conference about comparing ourselves to others, "And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others - usually comparing our weakness to their strengths. (That means I can't compare my lack of craftiness with someone else and their extreme talent of crafty creativity because it won't get my anywhere.) This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. (I think he's saying that I will never be crafty...sigh.) As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does."

I don't have great rationale to describe why I'm feeling the way I am, so I guess I will add it to the list of things I'll work on along with my toenails, six-pack, inability to accessorize, and the gross cake I made for the faculty birthday party.

Yes, I'm a work in progress.

But, President Uchtdorf said we need to celebrate our good efforts.

Here goes nothing -

I can clap for talented people. I can make calls, keep in contact, and visit people. I can teach a lesson. I can do my hair a couple of times each week. I can go to bed early. I can make 7th and 8th graders sit quietly in their desks. I can live within my means. I can rock skinny jeans. I can share my testimony of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. I can repent, change, and become the girl I am determined to be. I can do almost anything by myself and be content. I can serve in the church and those around me. I can shop for shoes. I can play all the hymns in the hymn book on the piano. I can lope a horse without hanging onto the horn. I can attend the temple each week. I can paint my left hand fingernails really well. I can tolerate extremely annoying situations.

P.S. I wrote the previous information during my lunch, and after 5th period I had a student who stayed after class, because, through his actions, he automatically volunteered to be my one man floor crew. He wasn't very happy about it, and kept mumbling as he picked the scraps off the floor about how he doesn't like my class because I make him do hard things and because I don't laugh at his jokes. At least I have a clean floor, right?