Bring it On

Am I going to do it? I think so! A few posts ago I discussed my random idea of completing a long course Triathlon before I leave on my mission. I am looking into an Olympic Triathlon (.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run). The training will definitely test my self-discipline and inner strength… Bring it on.

The Reasons:

I don’t want to be fat: I have this fear of becoming fat. I have seen some of the strongest athletes I know get out of high school with 6 months before their mission and blow up like a balloon… not to mention any names… but I don’t want to be that guy. A triathlon would definitely help keep me in shape.

The Horizon to look to: I don’t like working out without a purpose. Swim has always been my drive, but in one week swim will be over forever. A triathlon with give me a goal to work towards.

Self discipline rite of passage: As a member of a team I have always had a coach there telling me what do to and being sure I do it. But when I swim on my own, I find myself cutting my sets in half because I’m bored. Training for a triathlon will help build my drive to do what I need to do.

No better time: A triathlon is one of those things everyone wants to do, but always has a reason not to. I am not in a career, my work schedule is very flexible, and I am in the best shape of my life. The self discipline I learn would no doubt help me with the rigorous schedules of missionaries!


There are still unknowns in this little equation. I don’t know what equipment I will need or how exactly to train. But I’ll figure it out! If anyone knows of any good bike shops or places I can get information, I’d love the help!

Sliding Into Home Base!

Eagle Scout… Done… Feel free to applaud at your computer. Man alive, I thought it would never end. Thanks to my Mom and the Sterling Scholar program, I finally got it done. The Sterling Scholar gave me the reason, and my mom dragged me across the valley of sandpaper till I finally got it done. I turned in my last papers today and I will get a call in about 2 weeks for my final board of review. Hope I pass. But even if I don’t, for all intensive purposes I think right now I can consider myself an eagle scout. Woot Woot!

Update

It seems to me as though the “most wonderful time of the year” is kind of the “most pitiful time of the year” when it comes to blogging. I know I haven’t blogged in a while but it seems as though no one else really has either! So I thought I’d just publish an update so I am not completely guilty as well.

Well… Tis’ the season to be a Swimmer. And all the wonderful things that come with it. Namely: 3 hours of practice a day, painful grunts as I tackle stairs, begging relatives for money for our fundraisers (thanks Jer and Barbs and Kerry!), and my personal favorite, hair slowly losing all color till it gradually resembles straw. You know you spend too much time in the pool when your hair is likely to burst into flame at any sign of fire. But alas, I somehow manage. The team got the opportunity to go down to St. George a few weeks ago and swim against our rivals, Snow Canyon. And I was surprise to be met by my own fan club! It was really great to have Barbs, Kerry, Grandma, and even Allie there! That still has been the best meet I’ve had all year. I have high hopes for the team this year. We look very competitive for state. So cross your fingers! It's also great to have family on the team! that's a picture of my cousin Ryan and I. Can't you see the resemblence?
I have this bad habit of taking mediocre-at-best ideas and capitalizing on their supidity. However, I got this idea a few days ago that I think would be awesome! As an athlete, I have always had this dream of competing in a Triathlon. However I don’t know much about it. If anybody has any information about how to train, or someone I could contact, it would be very much appreciated! Also, information on where I can purchase a decent road bike would be wonderful too! I really am going into this stone cold, but competing in an Olympic or Half-Ironman triathlon would be an awesome rite of passage to complete before my mission. And usually after stewing over these ideas for a few days I lose all interest, So who knows, I may be on to something with this! If anyone has any info that’d be great!

New Blog!

It seems I commonly misuse the word Blog. A blog is the page; a post is what is on the page. But just to set things straight, I have started a new Blog. It seems as though my spiritual posts (or blogs as I commonly misname them) were taking over my personal blog. So I have decided to let that corner of my head branch off and stop crowding my personal life. The new blog is called www.withexactness.blogspot.com. I’d love it if you became a follower of it! I am going to try to update it every Sunday as my Sunday activity. Thanks!

Dont Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford!

This skit speaks for itself.

Solid Models of Influence

A few weeks ago, my dad and I went out to Bonneville Seabase to get dry suit certified. On the hour and a half drive there, instead of listening to the usual talk radio that we do that either gets us discussing politics or puts me to sleep, (usually the latter) he put in a book on tape called Living the Seven Habits by Stephen R. Covey. This book is a sequel to his very popular book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. This book overturned some secret interest I have in sociology that rarely gets exposure. And as such, I am making it a point to continue the book. There is a chapter however that I found so interesting that it was very well blog-worthy.

Covey starts drawing a visual of a pyramid which he calls “The Pyramid of Influence” that looks something like this. (I apologize, my Microsoft paint skills are extremely limited.)

I find it prophetic that this is exactly how the church tells us to do missionary work, the first step being example. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not tell us Member Missionaries to go door to door asking our neighbors if we can give them the first discussion. We would grow a notorious reputation alarmingly fast if we did. Rather, they tell us to lead by example. No matter how hard someone’s heart is, they cannot help but be touched by someone’s example, whether they outwardly admit it or not. Leading by example is the base of which any other influence is conceived. This level of the pyramid builds our credibility and trustworthiness as a church. As people see how we act, it will spark an interest on why we do the things we do.

The second level is the relationship. In an earlier chapter Covey states “When the level of trust is high, communication become easy, effortless, and efficient”. A level of trust needs to be established if we are to ever persuade anyone to come unto Christ. They need to understand we truly care for their well –being and want them to be happy. Coming from a high school standpoint, you will constantly see people who just need a friend. That is all they want. I love the TV show Monk, and there is a particular episode in the 5th season where someone supposedly is genuine about being Monks friend. (Turns out it was all part of a big plot to kill him.) But Monk was so ecstatic to see someone so interested! All through high school he had been a loner and said (though it was comical at the time, it sent a strong message to me) “If only I had had one friend…that would’ve made all the difference”. That is such a tragic thing when people can look back over years of time and not remember a single genuine friend. But I can only imagine the influence that single friend could have if they had taken the opportunity to build a relationship with this individual.

The last level is, of course, teach. It is natural and logical for people to have the attitude “I don’t care how much you know, until I know how much you care.” That just makes sense. As a member of the church how will we ever expect people to let us teach them what we know, until we show them how much we truly care for their well being? I have found this to be the most defining characteristic between high school teachers and seminary teachers. High school teachers will have science or cultural acceptance on their side. They don’t care if you argue their points, because they know they are right. And no matter how much you fight it, you cannot change certain socially accepted norms. But the gospel is not like that. As it is based on faith, there needs to be an influence that has risen above logic or social acceptance. I believe that is why seminary teachers spend so much time and energy building the base of example, and strong relationships with each student individually. And it truly works!

Covey ends this chapter with an eye-opening statement. “You cannot talk yourself out of problems you’ve behaved yourself into”. We’ve always heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words”. But as a member of the church, our actions speak not solely for ourselves, but for the entire church! That is why it’s so important we all pave ways of solid examples for the world to see. That is why each membership in the church is so important. So I pray I will be able to be an example of righteousness to the world. There is way too much negative media about the Church. We can’t afford a single member to assume that people don’t notice. I pray I can always have the strength to be that solid example for the church, to help continue to build the churches growing influence in this increasingly dark world.

Weezer Rocks Face!

(Tee Hee, This picture makes me laugh)
This last Tuesday I had the wonderful awesome opportunity to go the Weezer concert! I had literally waited 10 years for that day. Weezer was the first band I ever listened to, as Eric was a huge fan. So I have literally grown up listening to them. Actually seeing them on stage seemed so surreal! Rivers, (the lead singer) was such a goof, in the coolest way possible! He would use words that if anyone else used they would be mocked mercilessly. I.e. hootenanny or humdinger. He never seemed to be at a loss of things to do with his hands. He would move and shake them around in a way that reminded me of the Claymation, Wallas and Gromit in the part where Wallas was exclaiming “Cheeeeeeese Gromit! Cheeeeese!”. It was all quite comical, but nonetheless brilliant.

I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to take any pictures, I was a little nervous about taking a camera as I was in the pit and it was quite likely it would be broken. However for your listening pleasure, I have arranged a KILLER Weezer mix that I hope you are enjoying while reading this blog. Enjoy!