Patterns

These Personal Progress Blogs are coming fast, I know. As soon as one is done, I choose another, that way I'm consistent about it. I find that if I take breaks after a completion, that Personal Progress can be forgotten, and for me, that's not good. There are variances in experience challenge. Some are quick, and others take time. My next experience takes a little more dedication.

Choice and Accountability #1. Make wise decisions and solve problems. Follow a pattern of regular scripture study and prayer to help in making personal decisions. Every time I see that, I know I can do better. It's so simple and yet so easy to let slide some days. I remember visiting BYU-I during Mother's week with Katie. This student ward had a star Sunday School teacher that I'll remember a long time.

"Who would like to say the opening prayer?" When he asked, not one hand raised. "No, one? Oh come on, this is exciting, Who wants to talk to God? We should all want to talk to God." That new perception had many hands. It became an exciting blessing. After the lesson, he asked again, "Okay, now who wants to talk to God?" And again hands went up everywhere.

I think when we look at scripture study and prayer as a should, and feel weak when we are not regular about it, it disempowers us. But as a "get to" it brings new energy and excites us into trying these gifts to better ourselves and our lives. I'm not as good about this as I can be, and am taking this on to be more regular so I get to learn and grow spiritually, and keep in tune to know better how I can serve in the different facets of my personal life, and make good decisions for personal growth and improvement. I've a lot of work to do here.

...to make you hear, to make you feel; but above all to make you see.

~Joseph Conrad

Unexpected Surprise

You're probably wondering what the OUS at the end of Personal Progress stands for. Well, here it is, Onward, Upward and Spirals. It's a fun ride.

Today I completed Individual Worth #5. Participate in a ...speech...performance , in your community or at church, and share how that participation strengthened feelings of individual worth and self confidence.

I had the GREATEST honor ever to learn about public speaking from the master, Peter Jacobi, through Highlights. Peter shared with me that he went to Salt Lake many years ago to train several general authorities in media interviews, and he remembers and has fond feelings for "Mr. Packer." After learning from him and having my first school visit taped by Highlights and played back and critiqued by Peter and our group, I came back with gems of great spotlight wisdom. Life In the Spotlight taught me to see the lectern as a friend. I told Peter I still get nervous, and he told me nervous is natural, and good because that keeps us on our toes always striving for the best we can give.

Yesterday, I was nervous. I was one hour early this morning to Chemeketa College. As I sat at a table going everything in my head, I saw a vision that completely took away any fear. A whole long continuous line of fourth grade students walked back, some looked at me and smiled as they passed. When they congregated outside to continue the tour, I went out and asked the leaders if this was a field trip. It was indeed! They told me that many of these children came from families without higher education. These children starting from third grade go to visit colleges and schools teach them that not going to college isn't an option. They will go to college. That and the wonderful excited children smiling, pointing, beaming happy to be at a college just had my heart singing all day.

My host was wonderful and my classes enthusiastic. One mother brought her 3rd grade child and it was fun to see her laughing. (She's my writing audience.) I was surprised to learn two journalists and a photographer were present for interviews and a photo shoot, but they were very kind and not too distracting during the events themselves.

So how did this strengthen me? I think in between speaking opportunities we forget that it isn't scary but is total fun. One of the hardest things for me at an event, is when someone asks me where I got my degree. I don't have one. That gets awkward, and that's what I was nervous about--but this is the first time no one has asked. And that was sheer wonderful. They saw me, and what I had created. In the end a teacher there for Children's literature told me it was a wonderful presentation, and how they'd been talking about how some picture books aren't really appropriate for children. She told me all of mine are and how happy she was to see that.

On individual worth, I came away with a wonderful feeling of validation that my writing makes a difference to someone. My confidence with these groups soared to the roof. And when young Ruby shook my hand just beaming, I felt again there no place I'd rather than be than in this magical world. Writing is next to motherhood. And with this, my Father in Heaven has found me whole, filled with joy. I know the public side might not always be easy. I will be nervous at times, and that's okay. Once I'm there, nerves are behind and it's all just sharing with another.

"True ease comes from art not chance, as those who move easiest, have first learned to dance."

~Alexander Pope

A Journey Begins!

Sometime ago my son commented on the fact that I often wear my Young Women's medallion, earned while my elder daughter was a YW, when I went through the Personal Progress Program for the first time.

"Aren't you a little old for that?" he asked. I giggled and shrugged, "No, never."

Let me tell you about my Young Women's medallion. It's a long process to earn the YW recognition award. It takes real work and perseverance, and mostly, it takes determined desire. It is equal in effort to the Boy Scout Eagle award the Young Men work for. And for my girls, we treated it like nothing less, holding YW recognitions similar to Eagle Court of Honors, as girls earned their award.

I was really surprised when my bishop knowing I quietly completed the program (as he signed my book) presented me with my own medallion. I'll never forget that special moment, or Bishop Garner's grin calling me back up to the podium where I had been conducting. And you'll see me frequently wearing it simply because my medallion tells me, "I can." It tells me I can be brave, I can be strong, I can step out of myself to try the new. It reminds me I've done it before. In the process of completing the program, you change. You can't help but change because you grow into a stronger person, and a more aware being. And it tells me the only thing to stop me from trying anything is my own messages in self doubt. Someone once said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." I wear it because it's a message to other YW that they can, too.

I can. That message became clear when my first Personal Progress journey pushed me to have the courage to go to NY alone with Highlight's Chautauqua. To try for the scholarship, I was given. My first ever writing workshop, weeklong, knowledge filled, and HUGE! Chris Clark said in the opening banquet prayer, "Lord, help us to realize it is not who we are that hold us back, but who we think we are not." That opened my eyes that day. We are all sons and daughters of God with great ability and purpose. The personal progress expands our world and opportunities as we work to improve in body, mind, and spirit, at home, in church, and in our communities. In Truth, this program, is a gift.

So, here we go. Round two of personal Progress. I'm starting all over joining girls everywhere. And especially my girls, can come here to know they are not alone in the up downs/ because no doubt, it's real work.

Today I completed Individual Worth #1.

I chose to start with individual worth because it's the core of knowing who we are, and "feeling" that truth. For me, knowing who I am, is the super power food-- for personal progress that feeds me into everything else. I really liked the scripture Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee." That just little bit reminds me that we are true spirit sons and daughters of God, He knows us, and we were sent here with a plan to become our best and return.

We shall not cease from exploration, and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started, And know the place for the first time. ~TS Elliot

I'm excited to explore!