Remember: We are all human

"Sarah I used to think you were a good girl. And then I saw who you hung out with."

Used to be? Just becuase of who I hung out with.

This comment was from a young man. Very spiritual. Very . . . Mormany. Not even a word but he was deep into the church. You stand next to him and you feel that spirit.

But at the moment that spirit I usually felt when I talked with him was gone. Zip out the door. I just felt this twisting in my stomach.

I pride myself in being friends with everyone. Those who swear. Those who do drugs. Those who drink. Those who smoke. Those who walk down the hallways and people clear paths for them because of their very scary-looking appearaces.

And yes I am Mormon.

Shocking . . . not really.

Some would call it lowering your standards. But I am proud to say I've never sworn, purposely, nor have I ever, EVER done drugs, smoked, or drank.

Those friends of mine that many would never go near they know that if they invited me somewhere I would turn them down. I'm not stupid I know what goes on. But they know that they've got a friend in me. They can come to me with their problems. Those friends that swear up a storm in the hallways. Those are rumors to me. They probably do but around me their mouths are as clean as a freshly cleaned bathroom.

I have friends of other faiths. They talk to me about it and in turn I talk to them about my faith.

This young man scoffed at me for even letting them explain their faith to me. To him if I truly believed in the church then I would never listen to other religions.

I say to him: Bullcrap.

My good friend who is Catholic asked me this: "Why can't other Mormons like us? I Belive in Jesus, they belive in Jesus. Same concept, different religion."

I say ditto.

I have a friend who is gay. He goes to the temple still. He passes sacrament. People find that so wrong. But what did he do? He is worthy to hold the priestood and go to the temple. His ACTIONS prove it. He never sinned. Being gay isn't a sin. It's the ACTIONS that make it a sin.

This young man, who called me out on being a bad-kitty falls prey to what people call "Utah Mormons". These creatures are very judgemental and put themselves on the pedestal just becuase they know they belong to the one true church.

I used to be victim to that.

"Oh those Utah Mormons." Just casually throw it out there. I cam from Seattle so in my eyes I "could" see the difference between the "different" Mormons.

I am a Utah Mormon. I mean I've lived here for almost 8 years now.

This subject is touchy. But I have something to say to both sides of this topic.

First those who judge "Utah Mormons" and second those who judge other people.

In the words of President Utchdorf: STOP IT!

Seriously.

Utah Mormons don't have it easier just because we live in a state of 90% Mormons. We face the same stuff other Mormons in other states face. Utah Mormons aren't the only judgemental ones who put themselves on a pedestal because of the true church they belong in.

Every person faces temptation. Every person faces trial. Being in the church we go go because we believe. Or if we aren't at that stage yet we feel this strange fluttering called hope that's telling us that we aren't as alone as we think. We all go to church because we want better ourselves. Every person is at different points of their lives. Every person has their OWN battle to face.

So what if a person hasn't gotten trough the entire Book of Mormon. I see those worn pages and know that she cherishs those words and reads it as much as she can. So what if a person didn't take the sacrament. I commend them on their bravery to face their consequences and seek true forgiveness from our Savior. So what if their are baptized into the church with a tattoo.

The point is: We all believe. We all believe and we go to church with people who believe.

As humans we hope to fill the void of want of love, attention, and nuturing.

At church we find it.

It's up to us as individuals to help these people come to the church.

It's also up to us if we are going to take offense that they are judging us because we aren't the cookie-cutter Mormon they are looking for.

We go to church for ourselves. We don't go for other people.

Worry about your own salvation and not others. You can help them but in the end it's their decisions.

So "Utah Mormon" or "Other Mormon" or not. We need to stop judging each other. Stop saying some have it harder then others.

We all believe the same things. And we all feel the same things that make us strive for that Celestial goal.

Sorry!

I've realized I haven't updated in a long time . . . and I completely failed the challenge even though I kept through with it until . . . yeah. So sorry. But it's not like you've missed me right? Yeah that's what I though. But it's summer now. School isn't the center of life and I can write. But I have something to confess. I don't think it was the business of my schedule that prevented me from writing it was the lack of inspiration. I've hit major, major writers block. But I'm just going to ramble and write and see where it leads . . . Here it goes.

Day 13: My goals

-Speak Chinese fluently
-Get my EMT license
-Become an RN
-Smile everyday :)


There are so many more but I feel they are quite personal to me. These are a few though that I will share. There are others but I can't think of them right now.

Oh yeah!

-Visit South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Yeah I went crazy with the photos but I see these and I want to visit oh so badly! So beautiful!

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

My desire to smile and to spread it. 

Day 11: A quote I love

Ugh. Favorite quote ever. Never. Here are a few I absolutely love:

“Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. 
But you are the eternity and you are the mirror.”
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”  -Kahlil Gibran


“It's easy to believe in something when you win all the time...The losses are what define a man's faith. Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days...What is belief - what is faith - if you don't continue in it after failure?...Anyone can believe in someone, or something that always succeeds...But failure...ah, now, that is hard to believe in, certainly and truly. Difficult enough to have value. Sometimes we just have to wait long enough...then we find out why exactly it was that we kept believing...There's always another secret.” 
-Brandon Sanderson


“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” 
“If you in the morning Throw minutes away, you can't pick them up in the course of a day. You may hurry and scurry, and flurry and worry, you've lost them forever, forever and aye.” 
-The Help


"The world isn't perfect. But it's there for us, doing the best it can. And that's what makes it so damn beautiful."
- Roy Mustang


“Being hurt inevitably breeds feelings of hatred towards your attacker. But when we hurt others, we have to deal with their hatred for us, and our own feelings of guilt. Knowing what it feels like to be hurt is exactly why we try to be kind to others. That’s what makes us humans.” 
"Those who break the rules, yes, are considered scum and garbage. However, those who abandon their friends and family are worse then that!"
-Masashi Kishimoto

Day 10: Something you are afraid of

There is so many things I'm afraid of. Spiders. Snakes. Being bitten by a dog. The dark. People.

But what I truly fear  is people yelling at me or being angry at me.

I can take criticism. I want to improve but when you start yelling at me I break down and cry. I keep my composure until I'm alone. For another thing I fear is crying in front of other people. Not that I would seem weak it's simply I don't want to worry others or I just feel my wall breaking and it scares me. To have my wall break down in front of others. They shouldn't have to see that and I don't want them to.

I'm not a fake or anything. I truly am who I am. It's just that . . . there's a part of me, a vulnerable side that I keep contained around others. I'm strong with no fear of being weak. Just a fear of disappointing others.

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Day 8: A place you've traveled to and where else you want to travel

I have been in many places. I lived in Taiwan for a while and have visited Thailand. Then I've lived in Seattle. All beautiful places and very green :)

See these monkeys? Yes they are pure evil. I remember hiking every weekend with my parents at a place we dubbed Monkey Mountain. I'll let you do the thinking about the namesake. Anyway they have pushed my little 7-year old body down and stolen my moms grapes from her hands. Tsk Tsk. Nasty little red-butt-face boogers.

In Thailand I got to ride an elephant. Quite exciting  and scary to. The local Thai's would sit on their heads and lead them with just a touch of their hand. Talk about communication.

I've been to New York and Rhode Island. I'm going to live there someday. (Rhode Island not New York)

I've been to Hawaii. Those are ducks you see. With scales around their beaks. Vicious little creatures.

Seattle. Love that place. I'm going to live there again as well one day. 

The Troll bridge :)

Love this bridge. I always feel like I'm floating on the ocean. It's quite a dream for a girl who can't swim :)

I would love to visit China. Especially the rice paddy fields. It's gorgeous and so green. Notice a trend here? I love green places. 

I would also would like to visit the mountains there. 

I would also love to visit Ireland. I love the gray days. But when the sun comes out at that place it's truly magical.

Day 7: What makes you happy

Here is my other blog called Life's Sunshine. Read it and find out but here are a few:

Rainy days

Korean dramas :P

Hugs

Reading

Writing

People also make me happy :) However the photo's I would put up would end up causing me bodily harm . . . so you can just read my blog to find out what it is I'm talking about :)

Day 6: Pet Peeves

My pet peeves:

Pretending to be someone you are not.

Simple enough. 

Day 5: What song inspires you

I have many songs that inspire me. Some with words others without. However here are a few of my favorites. Warning: I listen to a wide variety of music from soft, classical to loud . . . not so screamo but hard metal. 

You're Making It Come Alive - My Favorite Highway

I can listen to this one over and over again. I just love it. 

Sound the bugle  - Bryan Adams

The lyrics speak for itself. 

Jane Zhang - Wo Yong Suo You Bao Da Ai

Favorite Chinese song. Ever. Love it. It is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Literally. 

Here is the rough translation of the lyrics: 

The breathless whisper of a single verse
And loneliness blossoms within my heart
The shimmer of a single dream
And my world is undone
The memory of a single tenderness
And the sting of love reignites my wounds
In the moment when a single tear falls
All hatred becomes a distant blur
I can love you with all that I am
But even this cannot return you to me
From now on I will live as a shadow
Forever in the past...

Day 4: Your Parents

Like all parents, mine are dorks. My mom is just more sophisticated about it :)

They are completely different yet the same on so many different levels. While my dad is happy with whoever I marry, as long as he is worthy, my mom said she would prefer a white guy. My dad says toilet paper my mom says paper toilet. My dad is totally fine with me dating my mother is not. She literally picks my outfits, does my hair, and gives my date the asian eye when he picks me up. She is extremely protective of me. 

My parents have shown signs of affection. The occasional peck occasional peck here and there. But as I grew older and Angel started middle school . . . they've become more daring in front of us. Gross. That's all I have to say. 

I love my parents. Me and my mom are twins but our thinking process is different . . . which makes for a very dangerous house if we fight. My dad was the one who got me hooked on reading and writing. My mom is a hair guruist (if that is even a word) and her make-up skills are perfection itself. I learned everything from her. She taught me to dress right as well. My wardrobe is because of her. I would never have picked it if it weren't for her. I have her to thank when I get compliments. My dad . . . we have great conversations together. Whenever I have boy trouble I go to him. Weird. It should be my mother but I already know what she'll say: "Boys have cooties. Just stay away. You can't date until you are 30 anyways. Just wait for college. Why do you even have to bother with them at school?" It's the same everytime :)

I honestly don't know what I would do without them. 

Day 3: My first love

Me, with my day-dreamy, naive personality, has always believed in "Once upon a times" and "Happily Ever Afters". My first thought that came to mind about "My first love" was a person. . . But it can be any thing. "Happily Ever After" is happiness in its truest form. Despite everything you went through it's the one thing that you can go back to. Your comfort food, your stress-relieving hobby. For me it was the rain. I can always remember looking out at the rain and wishing I could just run out into it. Even in the humid land of Taiwan rain was my favorite weather. Seattle is my favorite place ever because of it's rainy nature.

There is something so magical about the rain. I feel so peaceful even through it's angry moments. I can play piano, read a book, or cook (or in my case attempt to cook) peacefully without a care in the world. After the storm or the light shower, I love how the sun breaks through. Making the dew on the leaves sparkle like tiny snowflakes. The pavement shine, blinding your eyes. Beauty in it's truest form, it makes it hard to not believe in a God.