Last Entry...The value of life!

I have been extremely sick this week. I have a terrible infection. I am still sick. I feel weak. I know that I will get better and hopefully before Christmas day! The good thing is that I know that there is a cure. My kids are sick too because of me. But we all eventually get better. This week one of my friends had an accident. I don’t know the details but she is in comma. Her family is waiting for a miracle to happen. We have all united in prayer for her. This week I have realized that our lives are so delicate and precious. We need to take advantage of each minute of our lives. We don’t know when it will be our last day here on earth. We can make a difference in the world and in our lives but we need to start right now. There is no tomorrow to be better. Today is the day. Right now is the time. We all face trials and obstacles during our lives but we can make the difference. Our attitude is the first thing we need to change if we want to improve. Sometimes we become our worst enemies. Many times we establish limits and boundaries with our minds. We set barriers that no one except us can open. As future entrepreneurs we need to decide now how are we going to live our lives. There is no tomorrow to make good decisions. This is a good season to help others and also to help ourselves. We need to set high goals and work hard to achieve them. Good things are not given free. The best things in life are achieved by working hard and giving our best every single day. I know that eventually I will recover my health and I want to think that my dearly friend will recover her health too. Life is a gift. In these wonderful season we need to remember the greatest gift of all given by our loving Heavenly Father. He sent his son Jesus Christ so everyone can repent and return to Him.  Our life is full of possibilities. We need to write down all our goals, hopes and dreams. And write down how we will achieve all of them. Our real goals need to be written on paper if not they will be always just dreams. We have to work hard to become better. Everything is possible if we work hard to achieve it. Sometimes during the path we will realize that some decisions were not the best. Don’t worry, learn from it and you will succeed! Remember our life is a gift!

 http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

Be grateful!

I have been thinking this week about "depression “and why it comes to people’s lives. Thinking in myself I sometimes feel sad or depressed because I think that I am missing something. Many times I caught myself thinking in what I would like to do and I don’t enjoy the moment. I have a wonderful and beautiful family and a loving husband. I have more than I need. God loves me and He shows me his love every single day. I think the social media make us believe that we need more. In order to be happy we need to be "perfect". And the worst thing is that the media doesn't show the effort that we have to do to achieve things. So we get frustrated and desperate because things don't happen spontaneously.

God sends us to this earth to be happy. I remember than during my youth I was happy. I enjoyed life. I am not old but I think that I have given a room in my mind to wrong ideas and that sometimes made me sad. While I was reading the talk of president Monson titled "An Attitude of Gratitude" I realized that if I want to be happy and overcome modern "leprosy “ I need to thank him for everything He has given me. President Monson counsels us to remember six things that we need to be grateful for:

1. Our Mother

2. Our Father

3. Our Teachers

4. Our Friends

5. Our Country

6. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I want to share a portion of President Monson's talk: "Like the leprosy of yesteryear are the plagues of today. They linger; they debilitate; they destroy. They are to be found everywhere. Their pervasiveness knows no boundaries. We know them as selfishness, greed, indulgence, cruelty, and crime, to identify but a few. Surfeited with their poison, we tend to criticize, to complain, to blame, and, slowly but surely, to abandon the positives and adopt the negatives of life.

This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

We can lift ourselves and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Let's Change the World!

Many times we think that if we want some changes in our world our governors need to change, the laws have to change our neighborhood has to change but who really need to change is us! I love Michael Jackson song "The Man in the Mirror" especially this part: "I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways and no message could have been any clearer if you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself, and then make a change".

Every change has to start with us. We all need to realize that we are responsible for the world we live in. This week I read the story of Muhammad Yunus he made a great change in the place he lived. He realized that all the things that he was taught in the university about economics didn't apply to poor people because they didn't have access to loans. So he made the change he started loaning money to poor people. Little by little he founded a bank because no one else wanted to loan to the poor. He made a great change and he helped his community. He says: "All human beings are endowed with unlimited potential because of barriers created by our societies individual people never get the full opportunity to bring out their potential. We have created the present world in this particular manner because our minds were trained to behave in a particular set of ways that led to this formulation of the world if we train our minds to think differently we can create another kind of world. For example we accept the fact that we will always have poor people around us so we have poor people around us, if we had believed that poverty should not belong in a civilized human society we would have created appropriate institutions and policies to create a poverty free world. We wanted to go to the moon so we went there if we are not achieving something my first suspicion will fall on the intensity of our desire to achieve it. Don’t give up dreaming be a dreamer and keep on trying to make the dream come true dream about the world you would like to have if we all dream about a better world I can guarantee you that we will  create a better world."

I will like to conclude adding President Monson's quote "Remember that ofttimes the wisdom of God appears as foolishness to men, but the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right." If we obey God's commandments we will start changing our world!

My priorities!

It is hard to find a balance in life especially when you have a family. When I was younger and single I could spend all my time doing whatever I wanted to do. I used to spend my time preparing myself. I spend many hours studying music. I spend my time working and with my friends. I had a happy life. Now that my priorities have changed I feel overwhelmed. I would love to spend my entire time with my family and my kids but it is not real. I need my personal time too. Before I realized that I used to feel guilty when I was not with my kids. But then I realized that it wasn't healthy for me. In order to give to others I needed to have something. I needed to invest time in me to have enough to give to others. I made a list of my priorities and then I started to feel less guilty when I couldn't do some things. First is God and then my family. My studies and social life come after that. So I rather be with my family than on a society event. I now feel happier. I am grateful to God for all the opportunities I have to learn. Being a wife and a young mother is not easy. There are many things I need to learn. I know that I trust God he will give me the tools to overcome my trials. I have found peace and joy as a mother. I know that this is the place where I am supposed to be right now. I am not leading a company because I cannot do it I am not leading a company because I have decided that this is the time for me and my kids. They will grow up fast and this is the time to teach them and guide them. They are my most precious treasure in my life!

Who would I become?

Who would I become?

When we are little our parents usually ask us what we want to be when we grow up. Children have many answers, they said doctors, teachers, policemen, and so far. Now that we have grown up we need to work towards the person we will want to become. And I am not referring to wich carreer we want to study I am referring to which type of person we want to become. We have to work hard to try to become as our Savior is.

It is a hard task to become like He is. It is a process, each day of our lives we need to strive to become better. That is why we need to endure to the end. Little by little is how we make changes. We need to work stablishing goals and making plans. One day we will finally have the opportunity to return to the presence of our creator and He will see all the effort we have put into trying to become like he is. The process is hard and we can't make it alone we will always need to guidance of the scriptures and the guidance that the spirit can give us through prayer and living a righteous life. One day we will hear these words: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Mathew 25:23

Loyalty!

This week I realize that we need to learn to be loyal to ourselves. We can deceive others but not ourselves. We all have a great heritage. We are sons and daughters of God. And we need to act according to that heritage. I had the opportunity to listen to the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and the beautiful way he taught how to be loyal to ourselves and our companions. I love this part when he says: "When we look for the worst in anyone, we will find it. But if we will concentrate on the best, that element will grow until it sparkles." Many times we focus our efforts in the wrong direction. We judge people because they have weaknesses, and all of us had some. We need to focus on the best of the people and as the prophet said they will sparkle.

Everything that we give will return to us. If we trust in the people they will trust back. It is hard to believe that in this awful world with a lot of bad people we can still trust in human beings. But there are still good people that like us is working hard to spread the goodness in this world. The light will always be stronger than the dark.

Good values and principles are still important in this society. If we want good things for our world we need to start the change within ourselves. We can make a change.

The Lord knows me....

I have been seriously thinking of quitting my studies. I feel like it is too much for a mother of two little children. I have too many things to do. I am a wife, a mother, I am starting my own business and also helping my husband with the family business and I am also starting again my education. I have tried to organize myself but there are days that I feel that I can't. I feel that it is too much. I want to spend more time with my family and don't stress up because I have assignments to finish...

This week I listened to a talk given by Elder Holland and his wife on January 18, 1983 on a BYU devotional, titled "However Long and Hard the Road".

The words of Elder Holland 21 years later were an answer to my prayers. I felt the Lord telling me to press forward and don't quit. Good things require an extra effort. Elder Holland tells all the struggles the early members of the church had to endure in order to build the Salt Lake City Temple. I already knew the entire story because I served my mission at Temple Square; I remembered all the sacrifices they made and all the good things I learned from my experience during the time I served. I had the privilege to stand in a place that was built with a lot of effort, they didn't quit. It wasn't easy but they endure to the end. Some of them were not able to see the outcome of their hard work, but now so many are blessed because they endure. I won't quit. I have the opportunity to study from my home and take care of my children when they need of me. I am grateful to God for His tender mercies and for letting me know that he knows me. He does answer our prayers!

Being true to ourselves!

Many times we try to deceive ourselves. We often forget who we are, where we come from, and where are we going. In order to be accepted by our "friends “we lower our ideals in life. All of us want the best of this life. We want to be happy and we think that by being accepted by the most popular group we will be happy. We are too far away from the truth. Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said "Being true to ourselves means being honest". When I was listening to his words I started thinking in my little daughter. I want the best of this life for her. I don't want her to suffer. But I know that she will experience many trials during her life. I want to have the tools to guide her. I am a Latter day saint and I know that it is hard for a young women live according what is expected from her. The prophet said "No other generation in all of history has offered women so many opportunities. Your first objective should be a happy marriage, sealed in the temple of the Lord, and followed by the rearing of a good family. Education can better equip you for the realization of those ideals."

The world is changing every day. The technology is moving forward. But as the prophet said "The truths of this gospel are everlasting and eternal. Philosophies change. Customs change. Culture changes. But with all of these changes, there are gospel fundamentals that have never changed and never will change." We can use the gospel as our compass in life. The gospel will ever point to the north. It is constant. 

We have to be true to ourselves. Our standards may seem wrong to the world. But it is better to follow God than to follow the world. God will always be with us if we decide to follow him! We don't have to deceive ourselves. We know the path and we must follow it!

Achieving the best in me!

Can I become a violinist? Can I be a successful entrepreneur? Can I become the best of me? How hard is this? How much this would take? Why I'm not always the best in everything I do?

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. We want to be the best and this week I learned that it is possible to succeed in life, it all depends on us. Sometimes we blame everyone and everything because we are experiencing hard times. God has given us our free will the opportunity to choose what we want to become. We have the ability to choose whether we want to become doctors or teachers. It all depends on us. I learned this week that if we want something the only thing we have to do is to work towards that. We will have many distractions on the way. But we can decide if we want to accomplish our dreams or if we will stop because the conditions were not the ideal for us.

Anything in this life is easy. Everything requires an effort. I have tried many times to lose weight. I decide that I will follow an exercise plan. I decide that I want to work out at least 45 minutes a day. I make my plan. Day one has some difficulties but it works because I am motivated. Day 2 I feel good because I am following my schedule I work out but instead of 45 minutes I decide that 40 are ok. It's just 5 minutes more so no one will notice any difference. Day three... I was really busy and had no time to work out. But tomorrow will be a new day to start over...

After a month I realized that I have done nothing to lose weight. I am still the same... I start thinking that probably I need to try with a diet because exercise doesn’t work for me... As humans we try to blame others, or our circumstances. Everyone else is responsible of our failures. But this week I learned that I have the potential within me to become everything I want. It won't be easy, but if I persevere it will be possible.

Perseverance.... enduring to the end...

Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don’t give up even when others say, “It can’t be done.” James E. Faust

It is common to hear people saying that life is too hard, and actually it is. We are here on earth to become better. No one can be better without doing anything. No one can finish a race without giving the first step. We know that good things are difficult to achieve. But the final reward after working hard and giving our best is indescribable. Some people try to cheat in order to achieve their goals. They don't walk all the steps of the race. They try to find a shortcut to the finish line. And they can make it to the final line, but they have missed the entire race. And it is in the process, during the race that we become stronger, better and qualified people. We have to endure; many people surrender just a few meters before the final line; before achieving the goal. Perseverance will bring great satisfaction and a lot of accomplishment in our lives. Sometimes it's easy if we know what is at the end of the road, so here is a hint.... if we endure to the end we will be living again with our Eternal Father... I think this reward is priceless... Would you persevere for this award?

Give my very best!

"Think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end, your life will be judged a success." Clayton M. Christensen

How will I know if my life was a success? What am I supposed to do? I think that the answer to these questions is different for everyone of us, and everything depends on our priorities in life. What do we invest our time on? Sometimes we think we have set our priorities. We think that we live according to them.But if we make a list of the things we have done this day. How would we answer this next question? Did I spend most of the time of my day working on my priorities? We may think that God, our family, our education, or our job are our priorities. But if we evaluate each day of one week we would see where our time is really going. The good thing about evaluating is that we can make changes, if we realize we are not working towards our priorities and goals.
I love having the knowledge of the gospel because I know that I can start over every day. We are here on earth to become better. In order to become better we have to experience trials and tests. Those trials help us to become better. As a musician I used to spend many hours rehearsing just one single staff but when I mastered that I was able to see that I was better at that.
When my time here on earth finishes I want to know that I gave my best and specially know that as a mother, a wife,a daughter, a sister and a friend I was a success.

True Blue

"Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." Alma 48:17

This week I learned a lot about the kind of woman I want to become. I aspire to become a successful entrepreneur and I know that if I work hard I will be able to accomplish my goals. I have to make many choices in order to achieve my goal. I have to know and decide now that I will  stand always true to my convictions and principles. 

There are many ways to make money. Sometimes the fastest way is not the right way. Joseph F. Smith had an amazing experience when he was returning from his mission. His life was threatened but he remained true to his beliefs. A man with pistol in hand, demanded, “Are you a Mormon?” Joseph F. Smith responded, “Yes siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.” Joseph F smith remained tru to his beliefs. I picture him like Moroni both of them were great man of God. 

God has provided commandments for our behalf. They are not there to stop us but instead to protect us against the evil of the world. I want to teach my children that there is always a right way to accomplish our righteous desires. We have to trust in God. He will be there for us to support us in times of despair and need and if we endure to the end we will receive the same promise made to Joseph Smith "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."  Doctrine and Covenants 121:8

"Live Like You Were Dying"

"Live like You Were Dying" These are not my words. They are the title of a song from The Bucket List Movie. These words actually hit me this past week. I had an assignment in my Entrepreneurial class and we needed to watch a small video from Raundy Paush. The video was about five minutes long, and we also needed to read the entire speech but when I watched the video I wanted to learn more that I ended up watching the entire video that last one hour and 16 minutes. They were totally worth it. This week I learned a lot. I am a self-motivated person or at least I thought I was, but after watching this man the way he addresses to everyone I understood that I need to give more to life. This week I had a huge thing to overcome. Actually my baby boy had a big trial. He got sick on Tuesday. My husband took him to his football practice but my boy was complaining a lot. He said that he had a stomach ache. We thought he had just a tantrum... but after he puked over five times, we knew that something was wrong. Next day first thing in the morning we took him to the doctor and it wasn't a regular stomach ache. He had appendicitis. I couldn't believe that a 6 year old boy could be experiencing all that pain. He had a surgery. I was scared. I wanted to cry but I didn't want him to feel scared too. So I was strong. After the surgery everything went smoothly and now he is finally back home with us.

After having all these experiences in one week I started to ponder if I'm giving my best in life. I wonder if I am really working towards my dreams and goals. I want to live like if I was dying. We are all eventually going to die , I'm not being pessimistic, is just something that we all have to experience. What will be our legacy? We still have time to start working towards our dreams.

 Here is the link if you need some inspiration for the week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

a mix of thoughts....

I have always believed that my potential has no limits but the ones I set in my mind. Sometimes I rather do nothing than take a chance to do what it takes to accomplish my goals. Sometimes it is easier not to do anything and stay in my comfort zone..... but I know that I have been given much and I need to live according that potential.

Yesterday I listened a speech given by the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. At the beginning of his talk he expresses the love he has for young people and he starts crying. That experienced help me felt more vividly the love that my loving Heavenly Father has for me. I have too many weaknesses but if God trusted in my enough to send me to live in this earth in this particular time is because He is confident that I have the tools to succeed. That helped me to be aware of all that God expects from me. I have to live according my potential. I am not perfect and I'm too far away to accomplish the goal. But I have to set the right path in order to do what He wants me to do. 

The timing is perfect for me. I am starting my own business and I am also starting my new career. I feel overwhelmed by doing this two tasks and those are not only the two things I am doing, I have something more important to do... I am a mother of two gorgeous kids. I love them deeply. I am married and I have many things to do. I have discovered that the only way to survive all this responsibilities and succeed in all of them is by living in an organized way. I need and schedule and I need to follow it. I know of course that I need to do my very best and then ask God to help me have the strength, the health and the heart to work in all of them. I trust in Him. He knows me better than anyone and if I do my part He will be there for me!