Terrific Tuesday: Facebook Chat and We Bought a Zoo

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

IT'S TUESDAY! Yes! I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day. I sure did. It was just a beautiful and very relaxing Monday. I spent it with my family, we watched The Memorial Day Concert in DC, we ate probably the best food on the planet, and we just enjoyed each others company. It doesn't get much better than that. Right? Wrong! Because today is Terrific Tuesday. I actually have something really great to share with you today. It won't be like last Tuesday when I wanted to kick a wall. I don't really kick walls but I'm sure you know what I mean. So why am I so chipper this morning? Well let me tell you.

It all started with a status on facebook. Next, a comment from a roommate from school. Then a comment from our lovely neighbor from across the hall. Then a whole onslaught of comments, one right after the other. My other roommate got involved and then I started posting pictures. And then my other roommate started commenting, and to make this all more understandable...Let's just say that we started a huge love fest with our facebook likes and comments.

I didn't realize just how much I missed these beautiful people in my life. Don't get me wrong, I love being home. I love being with my family. I love it here, but I miss school and the people there SO much. Most of my roommates live out of state, and then my other good friends are all going to Spring semester. I realized how much they really are my real friends. They are people I am going to cherish for the rest of my life. I mean I love my friends here but they are few. That's just life though. We move on, go our separate ways, make new friends. In college though, I feel like you start making the friends that you will have for the rest of your life. Maybe I'm wrong, but I like to think that I'm right.

Heavenly Father put these people in my life for a reason. He knew that they would make my first year at college the funniest and sweetest experience I have had in my life so far. I know that I can go to these girls and talk to them about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! They are honest and real. They will tell you what they think. They will support you in your decisions. They give the best advice. I am so grateful that I got to spend my first two semesters with them. We aren't living together this coming fall, but I know that if we try hard enough we can spend time together as we did before. Maybe not as often, but that will just make those moments even more special. I love them and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the blessings, tender mercies, and examples they have been. Thank you friends for being so wonderful and special!

Now onto my little inspirational quote of the day. Back when I was in school with the fantastic people I mentioned above, we went on a ward activity. We were having a huge combined Family Home Evening. We were going to go see We Bought a Zoo. I remember the week before we had this activity, my roommates and I were pretty skeptical about the movie. We thought it was going to be one of those cheesy and ridiculous talking animal movies. (If you like those...that's okay). We just weren't that enthusiastic about it. I wasn't anyway. Well that night came, we met up with our favorite people from across the hall. We gathered with our ward, piled into cars, and headed to the theater. I wasn't expecting much. Just a great time with my ward family. Little did I know, I was about to watch a movie that would become one of my favorites. Little did I know, we were all about to be inspired by one little quote. In the movie, Matt Damon's character probably has the most dysfunctional relationship with his son. They are constantly yelling at one another. His son is depressed about moving and his mother's death, Matt Damon is trying to make something out of his life while trying to come to terms with his wife's death. He buys a zoo. His son hates him. They yell at each some more and then Matt Damon bonds with a Tiger. His son bonds with the awkward zoo girl that helps keep the zoo restaurant running. Well after a particularly hurtful and poisonous fight one night, Matt Damon goes to talk with his Tiger, and his son as a not so pleasant encounter with his zoo girl. His son goes to talk with his dad about his trouble with this girl, and Matt Damon tells him like the best thing in the entire world. Something that I have tested and something good did come of it.
Oh my gosh…I can’t believe it worked.  
I think this really is what stuck with us for the rest of the night. Just recently, I used my twenty seconds of insane courage, and something great did come of it. Yes it was slightly embarrassing, but hey, it was worth it.

So today, this Terrific Tuesday I want to leave you with this...if there is something that you have always wanted to say or do. Hopefully it's something good and uplifting. If it's a challenge that you have had for quite sometime. If it's something that is just growing in your heart and trying to burst out of your chest, just say it or do it. Use your 20 seconds of courage. There will be many other 20 seconds. Just do it though. Just be brave. Say I can do this...and if something great doesn't come of it now, I'm sure something great will come later. It always ends up that way. I believe in you. Now you just have to believe in yourself. 

Have you had any "20 second" experiences? Comment below and have an awesome day.

13 comments:

  1. Dani, I love this... and you. I am going to tell you one more time how proud I am of you. I love you dearly, and I cannot wait to see you again. We are going to have fun when I get back to Provo.

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    1. Thank you so much Megan. I know I have been saying that a lot lately but I totally mean it and can't say it enough.

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  2. Grab your Nutella and toast 'cause this is gonna be a LOOOOOONG comment! I think you are totally right about the friend stuff. It's hard to stay friends with people from high school. I have about 5 friends that I've been really good about staying in touch with.
    My first year at college I only made a few really good friends, but they all got married. But this past year and a half has been really good--I have connected with SO many people. I have about 50 REALLY good friends and then only two best friends--- one a girl and one a...MAN :)! AHAHAAHAHAHA REEEE! And all these people---especially the two besties---have really helped me to grow spiritually and socially. They are definitely two cute bigger-bigger sized (not fat) Swedish Fish with a side of Nutella and tortillas SPECIAL DELIVERY from Heavenly Father to me! :) And I am SO grateful to Him for them. And for you, DANI! :)

    Now, about "We Bought A Zoo." I kinda started watching it without any expectations, too. BUT HOLY. COW. So good! I cried. And I laughed.
    And now I want to watch it again. I think I will. (Do you think they have it at Red Box?)
    I love the music. I honestly think that's what makes a movie for me. I love art, but it hardly EVER makes me cry. I usually observe art with a technical eye and it's hard for me to really take it into my heart. But music really moves me. Music can come into my heart and change me. It's magical.

    I, too, can attest to the "twenty seconds of insane courage" dealy-bob. I used to hold back on a lot of things, doubt a lot of things. I was so scared to take risks, to get hurt. But really, as soon as I started to step out of my comfort zone, my life began. It literally was like I had woken up. I actually feel like I was two levels down (like in Inception) but now I'm all the way out. So, I've woken up twice--and I know for certain life is REAL now.

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  3. Well, I met this one guy. Let's call him Mitch. Well, I dated Mitch the year leading up to his mission. He helped me wake up the first time. Before Mitch, I had a kinda-sorta testimony. I knew the church was true and stuff, but I didn't act on it. Ever. But when I met him, he made me want to be a better person. I started reading my scriptures and praying EVERY DAY-- something that up until that point I had never done more than two days in a row. At first it was WAY out of my comfort zone to read the scriptures that much--but with love in my heart, it became comfortable. Now, Mitch wasn't the most righteous guy. He had some problems. But we worked those things out together. We loved each other and that's what fixed us both.

    I was completely convinced that I was going to marry that man. I kept in touch with him throughout his mission, but when he got back it wasn't right. It's sad that it's over, but that relationship wasn't for nothing; He had awoken my soul. I owe him for that.

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  4. Now, the man that brought me into real life...man, he's amazing. Don't be surprised if you get more comments about him in the future, haha. I've already given him a name in one of my previous comments, but I cannot remember what it was. But he's my man best friend. We met when I moved to the apartments I've lived in since last summer semester. He was the first to come up to me and welcome me to the ward. When we first met, I had NO idea how much he would mean to me, but I knew he would go down in my personal history as one of the most righteous and amazing men I had ever met.
    Dani, he EXUDES goodness. Always. He loves and cares for strangers like he's known them his WHOLE LIFE. For example, last October there was one time when he and I went to Wal Mart to draw people (he's an artist, too) and we sat on a bench up front where we could see the cashiers. There was one cashier in particular- a hunched, rotund old man. He looked frail and sunken from life experiences, but also appeared sturdy because the way he confidently carried his soul. From time to time he'd push up his glasses, and sometimes he'd have to lean on the counter to stand up. He was an interesting man. My best friend drew lots of people that day, but spent the most time drawing him. After we were done drawing he bought us some candy to share and said, "I want to buy it from HIM," as he pointed at the old man. And so we did. He talked to the old man for a little while with a smile on his face. He asked him how he was doing and REALLY meant it. REALLY, Dani. How many people mean it when they ask you how you're doing? Not many. And the ones who do are the kinds of people you want to be around forever, right? Yep. That's him. And as we walked away from that old man, there was a smile on my friend's face and a look of awe plastered on mine. I had never seen such a simple, COMPLETELY genuine act of Christlike love in my life. That was the day I started stirring a little---I was kinda in between waking and light sleeping. I wanted to be JUST like him, because he is TRULY a disciple of Christ...but just LOVING someone I don't know was a little uncomfortable for me--something I needed courage for.
    That was when we were not quite real best friends. Last November I went to New York to study art and stuff. There was one evening when we were on the Subway and it was completely packed. I was squished in next to one of my art friends and 5 strangers. We were like that for about 20 minutes. I looked around at the happy, tired, sad, blank, and/or empty faces and everything became clear. I knew how my best friend felt. I KNEW that every single person on that subway is a Child of God, and pure love for them washed over me and I just wanted to give them a hug and fill them with hope. My best friend makes me want to be like Jesus, and I want to spend every day with him because of it.

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  5. For the first 6 months we knew each other, we'd hang out every couple weeks. We were just art friends. Now it's much deeper than that. But since New Year's Eve, we've been inseparable. He's helped me through the hurt of the lies of others, through the hurt of a break up, he's been there to celebrate successes, and to help me pick myself up after failures and has helped me to laugh and love no matter what. He's been a source of comfort and inspiration to me and I've been the same to him. I love our friendship. A lot. Heavenly Father gave him to me and he's the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. Sometimes he's the only reason I wake up in the morning. With him, it's a vibrant life to live. I feel valued, appreciated, and loved around him. I can be 120% of my weirdness potential around him. We can make cuss-ugly faces together and laugh SO much. We'll act like raptors wand eat leaves off of trees, or we'll tromp down the frozen entree aisle on all-fours--We can act like COMPLETE children, but we can act like adults. We'll talk about the gospel, work, big life decisions. It's the best friendship I have ever had. He's made me live and love FOR REAL. And I never want him out of my life. I MUST marry someone like him.
    Have you met a man like this or have you woken up? What's your awakening story?

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    1. Your comment brought me so much joy that I had to share it with my mom. We really were uplifted by your story Karly. Isn't it beautiful when your eyes are opened to the sweet things in life. Isn't it beautiful when we see people with the love of Christ in our eyes? My dear friend Leah taught me how to love people as Heavenly Father does. I hope that everything continues to be wonderful with your friend. I am not sure if I have had my awakening story just yet, but recent events have helped the process along.

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    2. WOW, thank you for sharing it with your mom! :) It is a beautiful thing, waking up. It's weird how you never know how many levels down you are until you reach the top. Or maybe you've been awake your whole life? :) You seem pretty awake to me.

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  6. So I tried to comment on your post from yesterday about IHOP and stuff, but it wasn't working, SO I'M POSTING ON THIS ONE :)

    Oh. My. Gosh! What a good idea! Pick your favorite word and then do things that starts with each letter in the word? GENIUS. So where you will eat, what you will do, what you will talk about, and where to get dessert? What were the other ones supposed to be? :) haha!

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    1. Sorry that it wasn't working! I hate it when that happens. I know seriously I was so impressed that a guy could think up something like that. It worked too. I had such a great time. He didn't tell me! I actually think I was supposed to choose a shorter word...or maybe you only did those things. I don't really know. Haha!

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    2. Haha, this is fine! But wow, THIS GUY IS AWESOME. Is this guy an...Interest ;) for you? :)

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    3. Yes he is pretty awesome. If I do say so myself. Maybe he's an interest. ;)

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  7. Dani I love you so much! Thank you for being a wonderful friend. I love how much good has come out of that quote! 20 seconds!! :)

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