I’ve got a long list of 32 various topics to write about (in this blog alone, not to mention my other blogs), so I’m going to speed through it and hit as many as I can. Not a day goes by where I don’t find something to blog about, really, and if I don’t write about these things, the list will continue to grow and I’ll never catch up. Maybe I should just delete the list. ~devious grin~ Anyway, to appease my subconscious alter ego, here we go on a madcap dash through…through…through the river and over the woods. Er, um, well, never mind. :)
Language acquisition is something that really interests me. I’ve studied Latin and Greek and Old English and Coptic and Egyptian and a few other languages here and there (like Spanish, French, and German), and 1) learning new languages and 2) maintaining them is a fascinating topic. Right now I’m of the opinion that as far as reading goes, it’s good to get a basic feel for the grammar (basic, not detailed) and then jump into a text, taking it in large gulps and working on it as you go. That’s how C.S. Lewis did it (see Surprised by Joy). Next topic.
What’s with everyone wearing earbuds everywhere they go? Wait a second, I’m supposed to be looking for the good. Let’s try that again: I think it’s wonderful to smile when you pass people, to be in tune with nature and your surroundings. For me it’s my meditation time, when most of my ideas come (that and in the shower). Hmm, much better. :) Next topic.
Over the past couple of months I’ve started to realize just how much imagery Isaiah uses, and how much he was a poet. And it tickles me pink. I can’t wait to meet him in heaven. A kindred spirit, to be sure. Selah. Uh, I mean next topic.
There’s so much to learn! The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. It’s overwhelming and daunting at times, but that’s okay, because the rest of the time I’m delighted that there will always be more, that the well of all this fun and joy (knowledge) will never run dry. Meetup.com looks interesting, too. Next topic.
I’ve been waking up at 5:30 and going to bed between 10 and 10:30 most nights, trying to follow the counsel in D&C 88:124 — “Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” And it’s great! I love it, both the quiet stillness of the morning in which the Spirit can be heard much more easily and the fresh, delicious sunrise air (not to mention the sunrise itself, with the warm rays peeking out from behind the mountains in a friendly glow). Next topic.
Writely is really cool. I like being able to access my documents wherever I am (which is very nice as I’m still laptop-less). Next topic.
I can’t wait till the GDrive comes out. ~drool~ Next topic, quick! :)
Hey, I should’ve written about this in my “Accentuate the positive” post a few minutes ago: Kathy Sierra talks about how Angry/negative people can be bad for your brain. Next topic.
- Now that I’m trying to accentuate the positive and look for the good, I don’t know if I can say anything about it at all. ‘Nuff said. :) Next topic.
In Family Home Evening a few weeks ago, one of the girls said that she tries to imagine Jesus standing next to her in all she does, and that it really changes her decisions (for the better). I ought to try that — I can definitely think of a few situations where I would have acted differently had the Savior been standing by my side. Next topic.
For my Language and the Scriptures final a few weeks ago, we had to memorize 16 verses of scripture and then write them down. (We memorized them beforehand, of course.) It was great, with the words of the prophets and of the Lord becoming my friends. I want to fill my life with good things — good words, good music, good art, good everything. Not the fashionable or the glitzy or the expensive, but the good. Next topic.
I haven’t mentioned that I got invited to work on a Mormon art book with the Mormon Artists Group, called New Symbols. Our submissions are due Labor Day, which is nice because I’ll have all summer to work on mine, and the book will be published next year. I’m sure I’ll blog more about it later. Next topic.
Check out MormonWiki.com, a child of the More Good Foundation (which I’m more and more impressed with). Next topic.
If you ever need to typeset music, check out LilyPond. The syntax is a bit like programming, but the power is there. Next topic.
Time.onrails.org is a nice, free way to keep track of time on projects. Next topic.
Actually, that’s enough for now — it’s bedtime.
[tags]languages, C.S. Lewis, Writely, Google, More Good Foundation, MormonWiki, LilyPond, LDS, Mormon[/tags]
Comments
One of the things I like most about MormonWiki is that, as a positive-LDS publisher, I can take and reuse the content on my own websites. Don’t take my word for it, make sure you take a look at the Licensing. But this is great because if I wanted to create my own website about Mormonism, or even just a page or two on a different site about what I believe, I can use content from the MormonWiki to get my site or pages up quickly.
I don’t know about Kathy’s entry being applicable in all cases. I’ve been pondering this idea for the last little while too. After reading the section in A Grief Observed about a couple being compliments to each other, I’ve seen how two people often take on the opposite moods in their interactions. Just watch two people, it seems odd, but I’ve noticed when I’m around sad and depressed people I become more alive and cheerful inside in an unconscious effort to brighten things up. On the other hand, I can be sour or cynical around happy people (alright this isn’t always true, it really depends). I doubt I’m the only one to let my emotions be effected by others. I don’t know what this means for me in the long run, I’m sure it’s not healthy, and perhaps I will become more depressed and cynical if I do not change or become a social worker for life, haha.
Anyway, all I know is that if I am ever harsh on others I know I do not have the spirit with me. Besides, there is always something wonderful about being around the gentle happy people who are not blinded by others failings and flaws, and can see, at least, the potential of those around them. I’m sure it is a gift worth seeking.
Throw in your two cents