Tabiatha was one of my many Young Women, and she had a glorious way with analogy. I think of her as I write this particular Personal Progress post.
Marachino cherries are found happily crammed together in a bottle. They're different in size maybe but pretty much they look, smell, and taste the same. So many marachino cherries grouped together gives a happy feeling, yes?
Well, now let's split a banana. Then, lets take a scoop of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream. And lets then pour on some hot fudge, strawberry, and carmel toppings. Now we'll pile that a foot high with real freshly whipped cream. Are you picturing the gooey sweetness? We're going to sprinkle the top with a few nuts. Now, let's take one cherry away from its friends and put it on top of the mountain. Where's the fun? Where's the most flavor? Right. At the bottom with the congregating banana, sauces, and ice cream. Sometimes it's not easy being stuck up here with the nuts!
That's what it's like to move, and that means you have to make and keep making moves of your own. Changes, like moving, are a part of life. Those times when we go from comfort to discomfort will happen again and again in various forms.
Choice and accountability #2 is about making a move in weak spots. So the three focuses I've chosen to strengthen from "For the Strength of Youth" are: Service, Physical and Emotional Health, and Friends.
I've chosen service because service to others gives me a greater opportunity to know other people and to serve is to lift another.
I've chosen physical and emotional health because I struggle with routine and habitual work outs and I want to take good care of myself.
I've chosen friends because I put myself last too much and need to physically play with friends more. I see their names on Facebook more than I see them and that's sad.
I know sometimes we can feel like we have no friends. It may surprise you to know teenagers and adults go through those same phases of feeling alone at times. We move, or join a new community, school, or interest group and our social circle changes. Sometimes, that's hard.
So what do we do about that? Think about these questions. Do I stop to talk to my neighbor or peer or do I lower our eyes and simply pass by? Do I try to deepen relationships with acquaintances that might turn into friendships? Do I reciprocate invitations, when someone has invited me to their home or do I just let it lie? Do I sit idle and wait for another to make the first move? Do I give into my discomfort to just stay inside the zone? Do I accept opportunities to serve another? Do I get involved in my school, ward, community, interest group to broaden my social circle?
Who really makes friendships happen? We do. Old friends don't have to leave us wanting. In reality, we don't put a cherry back in the jar because it seems too alone. No, we bring it down to mix with all the flavors, and it is so yummy! Friendship begins with ourselves. Make a move.
