Nice People (New Years Resolution)

I like nice people. Of course, this should be inevitable. But my appreciation for nice people--the people who smile at you, open the door for you, go out of their way to help you--has grown recently.

Everyone should know how a grumpy person can ruin your day. You may wake up with a smile, but then the world grates at you and pulls at your heels until all your patience is spent and it's all you can do not to scream. Or you could be grumpy yourself, and an even grumpier person can pull you down into the sticky depths of endless grumpiness.

Today, with the news broadcasting never-ending reports of wars, economic difficulties, murder, rape, destruction, pain, suffering, betrayal, and the television and music glorifying violence, explicit language, fornication and death, it's not difficult to find ourselves submerged in negativity. It's no wonder our world is falling apart at the seems. And people are the seems of the world: we are what determines the future of humanity. And if we let negativity rule us, then what hope does our world have?

However, there are those people who cling to what little hope exists. People who would rather walk in the light than hide in darkness. Who gather up the courage to smile when everyone else is frowning.

These people own a deep, sincere part of my heart. They could be a sibling, a neighbor, the cashier at the supermarket, a quiet-spoken librarian, or a stranger that passes you on the street. They are someone who offers gentle assurance, or simply a heart-felt smile.

A few days ago, I was unhappy and bossy and frustrated when my mom and I visited the library. I was going to grab my book and promptly leave, but while I was searching for it, a kindly library surprised me by asking if I need help. I couldn't remember the title of the book, only the author's name. The book wasn't on the shelf, so I expected the librarian to sigh, apologize, and return to desk and forget about the flustered teenager looking for a Cinderella retelling.

Instead, she promised to search for the book on her computer, and returned momentarily with a list of other similar books. She brought me around the shelves, patiently explaining each book on her list.

Earlier, I had been anxious to leave, to get my book so I could curl up in my covers and leave the frustrating world behind, where everyone treated me with contempt, like they never had time to spare me--but following the sweet librarian, I realized that she had gone out of her way to talk to me. (Also, we were talking books, and I'm usually more comfortable around someone who is willing to discuss good books.)

The librarian's hair was thin and her clothes were old-styled, but as she smiled at me in her motherly way, I thought she was beautiful, and I'm not sure if she understood how sincere was my "Thank you so much!"

The librarian who checked out my books stacked them in a perfect pile, largest book on the bottom (I checked out 8 books, six of which the first woman had introduced me to), and I commented to my mom how nice both of them had been to me.

I had eight new novels, a new friend, and a smile on my face. Life was good.

I don't want to be that "grumpier" person. I hate being the reason someone's mood is dampened. Sometimes it's hard to smile. Sometimes I'm just fed up and angry and too emotionally fatigued to compliment rather than scorn.

One thing I lack is patience--ironically, my favorite people are patient people. So I have to work my hardest to become that. I shouldn't be someone I hate.

I don't want to strengthen the darkness. I want to empower the light. I only hope I can be that "kindly librarian" to someone in distress. I know the joy that comes from making someone else happy. Wouldn't it be lovely to know I helped brighten someone's day? That I made their heart warm with happiness, with hope?

Wouldn't it be lovely if every single person tried a little harder to make someone else smile? We can start by smiling ourselves.

My 2009 New Years Resolution is: MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT. This has many meanings, but overall, it means "Don't let your life pass you by." One way I can make this happen is to be happy (Every minute of unhappiness is sixty seconds of happiness wasted) and I can't be truly happy if someone else is unhappy.

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” James Matthew Barrie

The world is mean, so we have to be that much kinder. It is harsh, so we have to be that much more gentle. It is negative, so we have to be that much more positive; optimistic. The world is filled with hate, so we have to love that much harder.

“Always be a little kinder than necessary.”

James Matthew Barrie

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to frown, give life a thousand reasons to smile."

365 days doesn't divide 1000 equally (2.78), so starting January 1st, my goal is to everyday list one reason to frown and ten reasons to smile. Each reason will be different. By the end of the year, I should have 3,650 reasons to smile.

I wish you the Merriest Christmas and a fantastically wonderful New Year!

I love you! Keep smiling!

<3: Jillian

Ice Storm

The natives have warned us about Indiana weather, about freezing rain. I thought it meant it was just really, really cold. So this morning when I woke up (at 5:30am) to get ready for seminary, I thought little of the rain outside. When I learned that all the schools were closed and there would be no seminary, I thought it was a little ridiculous. I mean, I'm Utahn, right?

I fell back asleep, and when I awoke, I looked out the window and what did I see?