I Love My Life!

Recently I was talking with my parents about my life. We somehow stumbled on to the fact that I have had some pretty cool experiences. Well, at least we think they are cool. My mom told me that I should write them down so I don’t forget. I thought it was a great idea but didn’t do it. Last night however, I was in a good mood so I picked up one of my writing books and started making a list of some of the things I have done or experiences that I have had.


Most of the time I feel like an insignificant person but when I look back, I am really grateful for the opportunities given me and for the life I have been able to fully experience. I don’t ever want to look back and feel like there was a void in my life, where I was just existing, instead of fully experiencing. That said, I thought I would share some of my favorite things about my life and what I have been doing with it for the past 30 years. Actually, most of this has been within the last 10 but the first 20 were great too! As a quick disclaimer, some of these things may not be significant to you but that’s why it’s my life and not yours…haha! Some are relevant to my church, others to the musician in me, some to the adventurer, while others are just random acts of spontaneity and fun!

*I had the opportunity (when I didn’t fully appreciate it unfortunately) to see Henry Mancini with the L.A Phil Harmonic at the Hollywood bowl. I am a big fan of his…great musician!

*After serving a mission, I was invited to a small meeting of about 20 return missionaries to talk with Elder Henry B. Eyring of the quorum of the 12 apostles. I met him, shook his hand, and spoke with him. It was amazing!

*One summer I worked at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. It’s one of the best arts camps/schools in the country. There I had the chance to go to a meet and greet with Josh Groban and enjoy a concert by him as well. I also saw several other amazing concerts while there!!

*Last summer I was dining out for lunch at the Little America downtown where I happened to see our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, dining with his family just 2 tables away. I thought it was pretty cool!

*I sang in a combined mission choir of about 20 missionaries, for a conference with Elder M. Russell Ballard of the quorum of the 12 apostles.

*Last year I also had the amazing experience of singing in the general conference choir at the conference center.

*I played my violin with the UNLV symphony at the grand opening of the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

*I played a violin solo on Canadian national television for the funeral of Corporal Ainsworth Dyer.

*I went extreme parasailing in Hawaii.

(While this isn't me...my parasail looked exactly like this one)

*I’ve been rappelling.

*I’ve traveled across the country several times and have been to a total of 25 states so far. By the end of summer that number will hopefully be up to 31.

While I could probably go on and on, these are just a few of my favorites. I’ve been on some really amazing hikes, read some good books, made the best of friends, gotten a master’s degree, taught school, served a mission, and hopefully just made the most out of the life that has been given me. If I were to die today, I don’t think that I would feel as if I had wasted years. While I have probably wasted several days, I am trying to be more aware of living in the moment and being grateful for it. Life is good!