TRUE LOVE

I'm sure we’ve all known people who seemed so much in love with each other only to end it at some point. So, was it love or not?

In my book, true love is the one that LASTS. I think the defining factor should be whether it sustained the test of time. Of course, you shouldn’t suffer through it all just to make it to the finish line. But if you’re committed to each other and don’t give yourself a way out, with the right type of work it will be a good relationship.

Some may swear they love their significant other and that it’s the truest of love, but then they still split up. Maybe even more important than having True Love is having a Strong Commitment. Maybe the strong feelings, attraction, connection, all of the good stuff isn’t enough to sustain a lasting relationship.

Commitment in general is underrated for my generation. People say a whole bunch and deliver much too little. When things get rough they tend to escape, it happens with friendships, with family relationships and they do so in marriage. There’s almost a sense of self righteousness and people brag about cutting off those they don’t agree with and are struggling to maintain a relationship.

To me my commitments mean more than what I want in the present. And following through is a must, not because others expect it, because I feel like no one even cares much anymore as they almost expect you to flake out. But I keep my commitments because that’s my own standard, and I like to feel good about myself. That goes for any minor or major commitments.

Perhaps instead of searching for true love when marrying someone, you should ensure they are a person of Strong Commitments. That will pay off more throughout your marriage and life than true love alone will.

To Botox or Not to Botox?

When I was 16 yrs old I was asked by a cute guy, older than me, if I could adjust my body in anyway, what would I choose? I quickly answered that I would make my lips puffier. He then said that there are ways I could actually do that (not sure why he’d ever encourage a young girl to do that).

Yesterday I got to visit with an old friend of mine, and when saying our good-byes she told me, out of nowhere, “And please don’t do any Botox…” and that surprised me because we hadn’t discussed anything about any procedures yesterday. Her and I have had previous many discussions on the topic, but yesterday it felt like it came out of nowhere.

Generally speaking I’m pleased with my aging process and I don’t feel a need to inject anything into my face. But, there is a few times a month maybe that I just wonder if maybe it would be worth it. Having people like my friend who encourage and remind me that we are supposed to age and that embracing that is more like me than not, it’s so helpful.

As a life principle I don’t believe in getting something for nothing in life (I know you pay for the procedures, but you know what I mean). I always felt that even if something seems like it is a magic formula and it is working, that long term there has to be a repercussion to it because nothing is free in life. And who knows what the real price for Botox is?

Part of me wonders though if Botox has become the new taking care of oneself. I’ve always wanted to be well-put together, that’s why I’m into make up and nice clothes, and believe that one should look as good as they can. So, with so many of my peers doing Botox and other fillers, is that the new norm nowadays?

A second principle of life I hold is that our bodies are a Temple and we should nourish and help them thrive. Again, is Botox conducive to maintaining our bodies as a temple of God? I’ve gotten waxed before, and that was painful, so are these procedures similar?

I can’t commit that I’ll never do anything with fillers and Botox, but what I can commit is that it won’t happen before I’m 60. Because I don't really need it before then, and it’ll be on my own terms and not due to giving into some kind of a
peer pressure. 

So if you’re in the club of no Botox and Fillers, holler at me, cause Lord knows I can use the validation and reminders. And perhaps so would you.

Why Religion?

I can see why the concept of religion has a bad rep. We’ve been told for many, many years that if we don’t worship and believe a certain way, we shall be doomed after this life. Especially in the Christian world people were taught to suffer and sacrifice in this life so that they will be saved and redeemed in the afterlife. 

But my take on religion is different. I actually believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to aide us while on the earth. When lived right, our religion is meant to make life easier and richer, not make us more miserable. 

So, what if there is no eternal punishment or suffering after this life? Would that mean that I should stop living God’s law on earth? Are we to obey and adopt His gospel only if we’ll be punished if we don’t? 

I recently identified another reason for me why following a path is needed. For a very long time I’ve been feeling that being happy is the equivalent of having Peace. However, I realized that it’s impossible to feel at peace if you’re not on a path. It almost doesn’t even matter what is that path (as long as it’s not self-destructive, or harmful to others), because if you feel like that’s the path you should be on chances are you’ll feel at peace. On the other hand, if you never adopt any path either out of fear of error or you don’t care enough to be on a spiritual journey, that will most likely not afford you the peace we all yearn for. 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we don’t even believe in a traditional hell and heaven. Out doctrine teaches that after this life every person that lived on the earth will go to a kingdom, which differs in brightness and glory according to their actions and choices, but event he lowest one is so much more than we can imagine. Therefore, no one will be suffering in an eternal hell. And that should never be our motivation for following the Savior. 

Interestingly enough I have seen even in our church that the older generation rhetoric would lead one to believe that the gospel should be lived at all cost, that if you don’t there will be gloom and doom. I know people who were raised in such environments and many resent the church and their parents. Maybe it was due to the style of those times, but I know for sure that today we are to embrace truth out of desire and love for our Creator and not out of fear.