Parting in Such Sweet Sorrow...

I'm going to try to not be too melodramatic in this post, but I literally just watched the last episode of my all time favorite show thirty seconds ago. Alas, "Hart of Dixie" has now ended, and I literally teared up during the last 5 minutes. They did such an amazing job in wrapping up the show. I'm literally still basking in chills. They ended the show with a song showing how everyone ended up with whom they should be with, and the whole town was happy and dancing and singing. Then after the credits rolled, I literally felt nigh unto depressed that I would never live in Blue Bell (the fictional city the show takes place in); I would never hang out with these characters again. Then, I seriously started thinking about my life. Why am I so deeply vested in fictional characters in a fictional place with fictional lives? Since when has television become the master of my emotions? There are so many things in my life worth getting vested in emotionally in a positive manner. If I could throw half of my passion for that show into my work, I think my work engagement would be through the roof. If someone figures out a way to transfer that energy, please let me know. ;)

Netflix Withdrawals are Real, Y'all

Soooo, this week has been super busy for me with family in town and lots of tests and projects as school and work are both crazy busy. It's been a productive time, but I have found that inwardly, I really miss watching my Netflix show, "Hart of Dixie." My husband and I have about 4 episodes left in the entire show, and I find that I can't wait to see how it ends, but I also never want it to end. I would find myself thinking about these characters throughout the day, and today I realized, that there are so many better things in my life than my favorite shows...which are NOT REAL. That got me thinking about other media forms that I might have withdrawals from if I didn't have them. Then in class on Monday, Dr. Coyne had us turn in all of our cell phones. I admit I felt a little anxious about that at first, but then forgot about my phone completely. It was nice to be distraction free throughout lecture. It inspired me to take inventory of my social media time, music, tv, etc. time to see where am I spending my time, and where in the spectrum of "good, better, best" does it fall?

Mormon Freakin' Messages--Get Me Everytime

I absolutely love Mormon messages. I watched the new one with the largest ever Hallelujah chorus, where people recorded themselves singing and nearly bawled. I feel that Mormon Messages are a gift from God to bring the Spirit, instill hope, and teach us doctrines and principles that helps us to think and ponder. My particularly favorite Mormon Message is "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them" by Elder Nelson. We definitely are living in a time of turmoil and trouble; however, if we keep our eye centered on the Prince of Peace, then we can not fail and I would say even surpass the anxiety, fear, and worry that permeates our hearts and society. I am so grateful that the church and the Lord is utilizing media in such a way.

Social Media

I am contemplating how I spend my time. This week I realized that I spend way too much time "scrolling." I hardly ever post, but I am always in the loop in others' business. I realized that Facebook especially has decreased my life satisfaction. It is so easy to compare myself to others and see the rosy side of everyone's lives. I see my friends traveling all over the world or exhibiting their talents, and I end up feeling less than. I don't know if I'm the only one who has this tendency, but I find that my life is a lot better when I'm not comparing myself to others that I know. My goal is to cut down on my scrolling on social media.

My New Obsession...that My Husband Likes too!

Soooo....there's this new show on Netflix that I'm kinda really liking. My visiting teacher told me that it was the best chick flick ever this last month, and I already have finished Season 1 with my husband. The show is "Hart of Dixie." It's the story of this doctor from NYC, who has no bedside manner skills and is working to  become a surgeon, when she finds out that her biological father left her a general practice in the south. She takes the opportunity and learns much about living and love and herself throughout the show. I swear this TV show has more plot twists than an action flick. Anywho, I highly recommend this show because I feel like I have learned more about being assertive and true to myself throughout the show. There is so many instances of prosocial behavior throughout the TV series as well, which makes me feel not as bad for being so obsessed with it. It's been really adorable as well to see how much my husband loves it. His reactions rival my own and sometimes surpass them when something crazy happens.

What I Would Like to Study...

I made a discovery the other day while I was driving. Usually while I drive, I listen to the radio or the songs on my phone. However, this time I listened to the Book of Mormon on CD. I noticed a distinctive difference in my driving. Most of the time, I find myself feeling, thinking, and acting slightly aggressive (i.e. speeding, negative feelings towards other drivers) while driving for no reason. However, when I was listening to the Book of Mormon, I found myself driving the speed limit and having more prosocial thoughts towards other patients. I would love to see if there are any studies that correlate certain types of music with road rage. I want to listen to the Book of Mormon more when I drive; I know it will definitely improve my driving and aggression levels.

How the Lord Uses Media

Isn't it amazing how much the media can be used for good or for evil? There is a lot of trash on the web these days, but I think that the Lord has been able to direct His church for the better on how to use media. I served my mission in the Oakland Temple Visitor's Center, and it was amazing to watch how the media that the church produced changed hearts for the better through the videos on the Restoration, the Mormon messages, and even through the "I'm a Mormon" campaign. Often times, I used these things as a tool because some things are better felt through seeing and hearing than through just listening to me speak. The Holy Ghost can definitely testify of the messages the media presents when it is proclaiming doctrine. In class we talked about how the scriptures are even media because God is trying to communicate a message to His audience -- us! However, it is up to us to determine how that message is received.

"My gift is my song...and this one's for you"

This is blog #3 for my awesome media class. Today in class we talked about music and the power it has on us spiritually--for better or for worse, academically, and personally with the very shaping of our identities. I know I just posted on music, but I feel the need to discuss it again differently. The last thing our professor asked us to do in class today was to pick a song that would sum up our lives. As I was thinking about it, this song popped into my mind. I hope that if I were to leave this earth at any given moment that people would hear the words of Josh Groban: "You are Loved" and think of me and the interactions they had with me. I decided and reaffirmed today that I want my every encounter with every single person I come in contact with to have some of the same impact that this song has on me. That decision led me down a different thought process as well: If my words should be powerful, uplifting, kind, inspiring, and motivating (as the Savior taught), shouldn't the music I listen to reflect those same feelings? In my mind, what I receive in my life will determine what I give others, and I want to give the best from within me.

Just some food for thought...and for your enjoyment, here are the words to Josh Groban's song (also check out the link above for the music video):

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved

The Impact of Music

This is blog #2 for my media class assignment. I just recently got a new radio in my car (thanks to my amazing husband) because my volume was broken in my sweet 1997 Honda Civic. Now, I can plug in my Spotify to the car and listen to what I want to listen to, since my radio has inadvertently stopped working with the new radio. For the last month or so, I have had my jams blasting just because I could. However, today, I found that I couldn't stand the noise and drove without my jams, and I found that I was less stressed while driving and demonstrated lower amounts of road rage. I firmly believe that music does impact one's mood, and I want to be better at choosing music that will inspire and uplift me.

How Netflix Took over My Life

This is my first post for my Media and Family Development class. I will be going back and forth between personal blogs and assignment blogs. For my media class, I am to blog regarding media-related content, what I notice about it, and how it is integrated in our lives. Yesterday, I completed a media-free day and was amazed by how much media is infused into every aspect of my life...and furthermore, how vulnerable I felt without my technology for the day.

To give a brief history of my media experiences, I have never been super up with the times when it comes to technology-I'm usually 3 years behind or so. I never have enjoyed video games, but movies are usually my guilty pleasure. However, ever since I got married and inherited a Netflix account, I have found more time sucked out of my life than I ever thought possible. Instead of the usual DVD I pop in, I have opened a world of limitless shows that have no commercials. The Flash and the Arrow have become my drug of choice. Christmas break was binge break, and I watched several seasons of both shows, which is most unlike me. I found that I became obsessed with these shows, even to the extent that I was dreaming about them at night. I just finally got caught up with the series present-time and wait on baited breath until the new episodes come out on January 20th and 21st.