Be YOU!

I don't know about y'all, but this is one of the BIGGEST challenges out there right now! We want to look a certain way, earn a certain amount of education, have a certain amount of money, have the right cars, right house, right clothes etc just so people will like us. That's our ultimate goal. IT'S NOT! For some of us, our ultimate goal is to achieve something eternal, for others, it's just to live this life the BEST way we can. I went to a summer camp for 5 years called "Be The Best You". We did service projects, had devotionals, and just had fun being girls and making friends with one another and the world around us.
Just like a few posts ago, I mentioned some of my accomplishments. I challenge you to do the same! You're more remarkable than you think. So what if you don't have what Susie or Johnny has? You're not them! Be who you are and the right people will come your direction (even romantically ;)). Attract the sort of people you'd want to hang out with. For me, it's happy, warm, affectionate, genuine people. So, I need to be that way! What or who do you attract? At the end of the day, looks don't matter. It's inside! It's the heart! That's what I want to address in this blog. Trust me, the past few weeks have been SO TOUGH! But, the key is to smile through it all. The following lyrics are from one of my FAVORITE songs. I challenge you to listen to it when the last thing you feel like doing is smiling.

"Smile, though your heart is aching, smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by. If you smile through your fear and sorrow. Smile, and maybe tomorrow, you'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile."

HAVE A GREAT DAY, FRIENDS!

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day! It Takes Time!

I am sorry, you guys! 4 days without a post. Trust me, I am this bad with my journal writing :D Here are 7 Quick Happiness Tips, but I want to emphasize on the "Quick". Being happy and coming to a good place in your life takes a lot of time, especially the last one. So, I want to highlight these 7 steps at a time.
1. Don't listen to gossip-Boy oh boy, we are a SOCIETY OF GOSSIP! It's addicting! However, there's external and internal gossip. Not only should you not gossip about others, don't you dare gossip about yourself. Don't make yourself believe all the filth you're told on social media on a daily basis or what people around you say. But, your brain is so sneaky sometimes. Thoughts will seep into your head IF YOU LET IT. If you have a scripture, poem, Mantra, or something that you've memorized, start reciting it every day, even at that moment that thought gets into your brain. Chase it out!
2. Ignore what people say about you-Same thing. WHATEVER people say, replace it with something good. Make up "I Am" statements. "I Am Beautiful." "I Am Smart". "I Am One Of  A Kind". Recite the line from "The Help" if you need to! "You Is Kind, You Is Smart, You Is Important". Whatever people say, it's not the truth! It's their opinion!! Recite that to yourself too!
3. Design Your Own Life-Oh man, this is my #1 struggle right now. We get to a crisis that's not even a mid-life crisis! We get to a place where we need to choose a path of some sort. But, whatever it is, IT HAS TO BE YOURS!! You will NEVER be happy choosing someone else's path for you. Will people not be happy? Maybe! Are you willing to take that risk? Don't let that stop you! Create the life YOU deserve!
4. Look For The Good In Every Situation-"My car broke down. Thank heavens for those who are trained enough to fix cars!" "I broke my leg. Wow, my body is so amazing that it can heal!" are just a few examples of this. Don't be a Debby Downer! Again, it will come with practice!
5. Develop An Attitude of Gratitude- Awhile ago, I wrote down 100 Things I'm Grateful For. Even if it's just the little things, write them down! We have a song in the LDS faith that says "You will be surprised with the Lord has done." Trust me, you will be!
6. Laugh More-Oh my gosh, this is SO important! Watch a funny movie, YouTube clip, whatever you have to do to laugh more! Just do it!
7. Once it's past, let it go-Your past DOES NOT define you! It's done! Nobody is perfect. You've made mistakes, you'll make more. Cest la vie, right? (That's life). Do not dwell on your mistakes. They will DESTROY you if you let them! Focus on NOW! Don't even focus on the future. What are you doing NOW?

Happy Monday, friends! I love you all!

Be Real!

Hey guys! I'm sorry, this week hasn't been the best week for me emotionally, so I've neglected this blog, but I'm back! Trying to climb higher and higher! I found this quote interesting. I texted a good friend of me, complaining about how I wasn't beautiful, I'm fat, I'm disabled, etc. She said, "It sounds to me like you base your worth on what the world deems as beautiful. Maybe it's time to stop comparing yourself to the women you see on Instagram and movies and Facebook. Stop comparing at all! You have the choice. The most beautiful women I know aren't the ones who are beautiful by the world's standards. They know who they really are and they've accepted who they are and love themselves for it. That's what real beauty is. What attracts me the most to people is positivity, love, kindness, confidence, and faith."

SO TRUE!! Beauty isn't the only important characteristic. If you get angry sometimes, it's ok! If you're a klutz or forgetful, it's ok! These characteristics are way more important than beauty. In fact, they make you more beautiful than outer beauty! My challenge for us today? BE BEAUTIFUL!

Let It Go! Let It Go!

Happy Monday, Friends! I'm gonna try to post more on the weekends, but I just thought I'd start posting regularly during the week! This was an interesting quote I found. I think #1 is the most important to do during the week is to let go. Let go of the past. Even though it quickly becomes obnoxious, the song from "Frozen" is a key song to remember. "Let It Go". Or, "Let It Be" from The Beatles. We can't change the past. We can't change what has happened to us. It's done. I love sharing personal stories or examples, so I hope you don't mind.

My dad left my family when I was 11. I wasn't even a teenager yet. Our relationship is FAR from perfect, but I always try to see the good he's done. He's not an alcoholic or drug addict, he never sexually or physically abused us or my mom, he didn't take all of our money, he doesn't speak badly about my mom at all; he's a very non-confrontational person. I love that about him. Did he hurt our family? Of course! Could it have been worse? Yes! Am I condoning what he did? NO! I'm simply looking at the good and trying, day by day, to forgive. So, Let Go Of The Past.

#2, be grateful for what remains. Be present. If you like to meditate, this helps a TON to train your mind to just pay attention to your breathing, and helps you to stay in tune to what's happening NOW. This is the hardest place to be, since all you want to do is dwell on the past or worry about the future. But, trust me. It does you NO good. Stay here. Stay where you are right now.

#3, look forward to what's coming up next. Oh my gosh, I am struggling with this SO MUCH right now! I'm facing a plateau. I'm 29 years old, not married yet, I don't have a career settled yet, I'm still living with my mom. You can't imagine how many decisions I'm trying to make right now. But, look at it this way. I have so many options! I was allowed to get an education. Women other places aren't even allowed to go to school, marry who they want, wear what they want, eat what they want to. Women have come a LONG way!! Look at it like that! We have so many options available!

My challenge to you today is to let go of the past, stay in the present, and look forward to the future. Will you stumble along the way? Well, yeah! It's called being human!! Don't beat yourself down. Be here. In the now.

Don't Compare!!!

I'm 29. I graduated from college 5 years ago. I work as a Receptionist. I live with Mom. I've never been married. I've never had a boyfriend. I have a disability. I've never been a size 2. I've suffered from an addiction for at least 9 years.

I got my Bachelors Degree from never stopping school for 6 years. I'm still standing after a disability all my life. I wrote my first song at age 12. I performed in front of 2,800 people at age 12. I've gotten job after job by myself after realizing that each job was not for me and that I deserved better. I've survived a broken femur, at least 7 surgeries from birth, a rectal prolapse surgery, I've danced in 5 musicals, I've danced while attending a summer musical camp at BYU.

Which list is longer? The things I DON'T have or the things I DO have or things I HAVE done? Sure, I can go ahead and compare my life to other people's. It's SOOOO easy! It's so easy, it's scary. But, let me tell you a secret that I've learned in the past 29 years. No matter how much you want to be another person, YOU WILL NEVER BE THAT PERSON! A good friend of mine who, yes, I've compared myself to her, sang a song on her album called "Never Be Another You". One part of the lyrics goes as follows:
"When you're lookin at the mirror and see your reflection, is it everyone you see?
Wouldn't that make life a little uninteresting, with no true originality
It's up to you to find the reason, the purpose for your being and when you uncover what it is
If you follow it through and find God's will for you, it will be powerful and inspiring"

I challenge all of us to find what's unique about us. There will never be another Erika Bestor. There will be another YOU!

It Starts With Your Mind!!

We are ALL guilty of this! It's incredible, as I've studied the mind and the different parts, how many thoughts can just slither in and how much we let it effect us. I'm not saying it's going to happen right away, but it sure does take some mental discipline to get thoughts out of our heads. Whether your pray or meditate, I challenge you to do some type of mental exercise every day, like you would lift weights or do cardio. Tell your bad thoughts to go where the sun don't shine! They have no right to control your life. Just like the old phrase, "We are what we eat" (whether you believe that or not), what we think about ourselves is what we start to believe. Just like the desire to lose weight, fall in love, get rich, etc., our minds can be our biggest ally or biggest enemy. First comes desire, then comes the will to do it.
Think of something you desire and write it down. It's also amazing how effective our words become once we write them down and manifest them somewhere. Make your mind become your biggest cheerleader and advocate. You only have one brain, it's yours and yours alone, so make the most of it!

Annoy People With Happiness!!!

So, for those who don't know, I am a quote FOOL! People say I'm eloquent with words, but I fall short sometimes, so I depend on other people's words. :) And who doesn't love Snoopy! My challenge for myself and you today is to annoy people with your positive attitude. I know when I'm not in the best mood, I often roll my eyes or get annoyed with people who just want to ignore my complaints and turn it around to something good. I challenge us to do the same. Look for the good in any part of your day, even if all you want to do is go home and hide from the world. You're still alive. You can still breathe. You can still move. You have all of your 5 senses. The world is not all coming to an end!
You ready to be "annoyed"? ;) Be annoying if you have to! A memorable quote from one of my favorite childhood shows "Full House": "Smiles are free, so give them away." Ready? Set? GO! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) have you had enough? :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) HAVE AN AWESOME, SMILEY DAY!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

The Birth of My Best Friend

36 years ago, my parents had no clue that their precious baby girl would be born with a disability. Story has it that, even there are tests that are done to determine if your baby has a disability, my Mom didn't know anything was up until Kristin came out into the world. Even though it was a shock, my parents were determined to raise her the best way they knew how. Through countless surgeries, rehab, and unconditional love, she is now a beautiful mother of 3 children. Little did SHE know that, 7 years later, there would be a baby born just like her. How grateful and blessed I am to have someone who understands my pain, my concerns, my every desire, the needs of my heart, and can share in my happiness. Be kind to your siblings every day. Yes, we have fought, but I wouldn't trade my sister for anyone else. She is my best friend, my confidant, my cheerleader, and my supporter. Happy Birthday to the greatest sister out there! I know, I'm biased. :)

No Place Quite Like Utah!

As much as I like to complain about the culture of Utah sometimes, I can't help but stop and gaze in awe of its beauty. Rocky mountains, beautiful rivers, greatest snow on Earth, it has it all. Even though I have to be careful of physical activities like hiking, I am grateful to be living in such a beautiful, picturesque place where I can stop and be thankful for the beautiful creations our God has made. "For the beauty of the Earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. Lord of all, to Thee we raise; sing our hymn of grateful praise!"

Tim McGraw - Humble And Kind (Official Video)

This is one of my favorite songs that are popular right now. As this world gets tougher and tougher, these are great lessons to remember.

"Hold the door, say please and thank you, don't steal, don't cheat and don't lie. I know you've got a mountain to climb, but always stay humble and kind." One of the most applicable lines from this song, especially to me, goes like this: "Don't expect a free ride from no one, Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why. Bitterness keeps you from flying, always be humble and kind". 
Bitterness is hard work, believe it or not. Being jealous and bitter towards someone takes a lot of work to keep up. Yes, it's hard to be happy when you don't feel like it, but holding a grudge ruins relationships, keeps you from moving forward in your life, and just ruins your overall outlook on life and the people around you. What a great song! And the fact that yummy Tim McGraw sings it is a plus, right? ;)

What Is This All About?

Hey Everyone!

As you can see from the music video, being happy is what this blog is all about. I hope to share my own experiences plus quotes I love about happiness, I'll be posting occasional music videos, funny videos or memes I run across just to give you that extra smile, and hopefully, I'll be recruiting friends or family members that have experiences on being happy. Life is way too short, as I've been realizing, and we all need to be happier!! Not only does it improve your mood, but it helps you be healthier physically. And, who doesn't want that?! Feel free to comment or ask any questions. But, I discourage anyone from posting anything negative. This is all about smiling. Hope you all enjoy this blog and hopefully, I can improve your life in some way. I love you all!

Introduction