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