Experience

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God

do you learn.” C.S. Lewis

Sometimes there are things in life that we don't understand, things that we have to go through in order to make it to the other side. They call these things experience, but most often what we experience hurts us. Society as a whole has troubles seeing the bright side of things, or the lessons within a horrible encounter. Although its hard to find the silver lining, I have learned that there is always something waiting for us to discover even under the darkest clouds. Its easy to dwell on the negative, to forget that we have to learn something from all of this. The hard part is finding what you need out of what has happened. I never thought that loosing myself would allow me to eventually find myself. It took time and patients but it all got better, and it is still getting better every day. When I wake up in the morning and know that I am alive and have so many blessing to be thankful for it takes away all of the stuff that once made me sad.
If anyone could say it right C.S. Lewis did, you learn so much each day by sheer experience. No matter what happens there is always a lesson to rely on and an upside to hope for. Because life is not about what goes wrong, although there will be many things that do, its about the happiness you find when what when wrong turned out to be exactly what you needed. So stop crying today, and appreciate life for what it really is: a string of experience that you can either get lost in, or learn from. Choose the later, because you life, your soul, and your future depend on a brighter perspective today.

Move Over Mrs Markham

Saturday Night was my final show for Move Over Mrs. Markham.
It was the show that occupied all of my time this summer, and I truly miss it already.
I had such a good cast and crew that we had a blast every day! They are some of the sweetest people I have ever met. This experience taught me a lot about theater and where I want to go with my life. I always get scared that I am making the wrong decision by going into theater as a profession, but then the lights go up and the show starts and I feel like my world falls into place. When I hear the audience laugh and that my actors are having a good time I know that I am doing the right things. But then why am I so scared. When I was growing up I never was scared about being a lawyer or a psychologist. Those decisions never intimidated me, I felt like I would preform well in both fields of work; in fact I still feel that way. But the stage calls to me, like a whisper from the dark, and all I can ever think about is my next opportunity to work there again, no matter what I do. I just want to work in theater.
I have loved every minute of working for Dixie State College. Its been so fun and exciting that I did not want this show to end. But all shows must end, and when the curtain falls and people applaud you know you have done your job.

I know in my heart that this is right for me. I love theater with all my heart and I dont know who I would be without that realization.

Tuacahn Canyon

Tuacahn Canyon is one of the most unique places on the planet. It sits on the outskirts of IVINS Utah and is the home of both Tuacahn High School for the Performing arts and Tuacahn Amphitheatre. It is a breathtaking site when you turn the corner of Tuacahn Drive to witness the beautiful fountain that greets you when you enter the "sacred" ground. But it has not always been a place to preform, although I believe it was always destined to be such.
Orval Hafen discovered this beautiful canyon at the beginning of the 20th century, although it had most likely been explored before, Orval was one of the first men to ever build upon it.
“There before me lay a scene of indescribable beauty: wild, primitive, unspoiled, largely unknown, waiting to be enjoyed, waiting to inspire folks.” Within these “towering red sandstone cliffs,” he desired that “others [might one day] share this beauty and drink of the inspiration that is here.”-Orval Hafen
As years past this magnificent canyon was almost forgotten until in 1993 Doug Stewart came upon the land one afternoon.
"I was brought to tears when I first stood there, and after taking it in for some time – envisioning an amphitheatre and a stage with an awesome backdrop of 1,500 foot red rock cliffs, and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls – I literally flew back to town and straight to the county recorder’s office to see who the land belonged to.”-Doug Stewart Two peoples dreams changed a community forever. Once people experienced the magic that happens in that canyon they urge for more. Its hard to forget the spirit one feels inside those red walls. Not only beautiful but peaceful.

I will never forget the first time I drove into Tuacahn, set in the middle of no where one would say that you may feel isolated, but that is exactly the point. Tuacahn takes you away from the world and lets your experience a whole new side of life, full of music and dancing and learning how to live. I walked outside of my car that day expecting to never come back, but little did I know that that very place would become my home for the next three years.

Attending Tuacahn High School changes peoples lives, not only is the school well rounded, but it creates a sense of unity and family that no other school could claim. With little to no cell service you forget the world outside for a few hours and focus on what is really important, your education and yourself. You learn to love yourself and others through activities and school curriculum. It all sounds so cheesy, but people come from all over to partake in the experience that the high school offers.
Even when the school year is over people return to the breathtaking walls of Tuacahn Canyon to remind themselves of who they are. Those walls could heal any broken spirit or any wounded soul. Its a place filled with love and equality.
Its a place so special it will stay with you forever.
So if you ever get a chance, I would advise a little dose of my home, Tuacahn Center for the Arts. It will heal your heart, even if it isn't broken.

FASHION

My style has changed a lot over the past couple of years, but i would like to believe that I have taken what I like from every category of style and applied it to my wardrobe. (which by the way nothing in my wardrobe cost over 30 bucks)
I am a smart shopper with some crazy pieces of in my collection.
I visit the DI (Deseret Industries) once a week, and sometimes I find things there that no one could ever imagine! Last week a found a pair of moccasin boots that go to my knees, these boots sell for 500 dollars online and I paid 3 for them! What a steal!
Also I hit up every possible clearance section, and a refrain from shopping in the normal parts of stores unless they are having a sale. I feel like my wardrobe has grown a lot this year and that I have a pretty good fashion sense.
I alter a lot of my own things, ripping T-shirts, hemming dresses adding fabric here and there, it all works out for me to have a unique look for the right price.
Every day I walk out of my house in something interesting and my friends always ask where I got that top, or how much did you pay for those pants. I wish they would learn to be a savvy shopper like me so that they don't waist there money on designer things that I get by just doing a little digging. Sure shopping is tedious and searching for good deals takes some time, but if your are always on the prowl deals will come to you and you can find cool things like COACH purses for under 30 bucks! its hard to believe that I have found some of the things I have, but my style woudn't be the same without them!
Now if I only had a place to put all these things..

Goodbye

Merriam-Websters defines the word "goodbye" as being a concluding remark or gesture at parting, but if you have ever had to use the word you know its easier said than done.

Goodbye doesn't just mean you are leaving, it can mean that you are moving forward or that you are releasing a part of yourself. Goodbye can mean letting go of old feelings, or even people. But at every sincere goodbye, there is a person crying.
Its hard to let things go, whether that thing is someone you love, or whether it is just a secret you have been holding on to for way to long. Whatever it is you meet a crossroad where you can either carry on with it forever or leave it far behind you so that you can move forward.
Every stage of our lives ends in a parting of sorts. When you are young you part with the fiction to succumb to reality. When you move on into your early teens you part with your innocence and try new things, no necessarily bad things, just new. When you leave high school you part with old friends, whom you may never see again, you part with a life of simplicity that you once thought was complicated. The list could go on and on of things we part with every day.
But do we ever stop to say goodbye. To look back and give ourselves closure in a chapter, that may or may not have been happy, is to find peace in moving forward.
You can never move on without saying goodbye first.
Your goodbye may not be a person, it may be an attitude, or a possession, but whatever it is that you need to say goodbye to, let it be a happy goodbye.
Let yourself relish in the feelings of the good times and simply let go of everything else. Because a simple goodbye is not forgetting it happened, but letting yourself love enough to embrace the future.
The future is always waiting for us, it just take that simple word to let yourself believe it is possible.

Goodbye isn't just a word anymore...but an action of compassion.

Katy Perry - Thinking Of You Official Acoustic Version {HQ} RARE!!!

I love this song so much.
It reminds me of all the times that we were together.
I have never gotten over you and every time I am with someone else I cant get you out of my head. I wish that I could let you go. But its been so hard to understand how I am not good enough for you. I really think I am worth it, but apparently I am not. To be honest I don't think you will every know about how I feel about you. I know you have moved on, you did a long time ago. But I'm still here waiting for you to realize what your missing.
Just listen for a minute... just listen to what it says. Please just here me....


Lyrics | Katy Perry lyrics - Thinking Of You lyrics

Bio Life Plasma Center

So today I was asked by yet another local vendor about my Biolife experience, so I decided to share my experience with everyone not just when people ask.
Biolife Plasma Center is a place where you donate plasma in exchange for money.
I know it sounds like you are selling your body but really it is much more important than that.

Here are a few common questions about donating plasma

1. What is plasma?

• A: Plasma is the pale yellow liquid portion of your blood that can be easily replaced by the body. It consists mainly of water and proteins which help your body control bleeding and infection. Your blood is 57% plasma, with 90 % of plasma being water and 10% being electrolytes(salt) and proteins.

2. How is plasma extracted?

• A: Plasma is extracted from your central veins in your arm (veins around your inner elbow) and filtered through a special machine that separates your plasma from your white and red blood cells. It then places the plasma in a bag and filters your blood back into your veins along with an anti coagulant. It sounds more complicated than it really is, the machine does all of the work, all that you do is sit there and pump your fist (to enhance the blood flow) with a needle in your arm that is connected to a tube (sorta like an IV).

• A: Plasma is being used all around the world to help save lives. Currently plasma is being used to treat disorders such as hemophilia and immune system deficiencies. Plasma is also being used to make products that help treat diseases such as hepatitis B, Tetanus, Rabies, and Measles. Hospitals and emergency rooms use plasma to treat traumatic injuries such as shock an severe burns.
  

4. Who is eligible to Donate plasma?

• You must be 18 years or older to donate plasma, weigh3. How is plasma used? at least 110 pounds and pass all other required donor eligibility criteria. You will undergo a series of important questions every time you enter the plasma center to be sure that you are a clean and safe donor, not only for the safety of those receiving your plasma, but for your safety as well.
  

5. Does it hurt to donate plasma? (the question asked most often)

• If you are severely afraid of needles, then yes it is going to hurt/bother you to donate plasma. But on a regular basis, donating plasma does not hurt as much as you would think. It is very simple have the needle placed in your arm and the professionals spend a lot of time perfecting their technique so that your "stick" will be as comfortable and painless as possible. After you are "stuck" it is virtual no pain at all!
  

6. Compensation?

• I get paid 20 bucks on my first visit of the week, and 35 on my second. It is a great way to earn an extra bit of cash and save a life in the process, it does take a good amount of time to donate plasma(around an hour and a half average), but it is worth it to you and to the person you are helping heal.

I donate plasma because I feel that I can help save a life, or benefit one in some way. Yes, I do get compensated for my efforts, but I know that what I am doing is for a good cause. No pain, no gain my mom always said. If you want this world to be a better place, it must start with you. So if you are eligible go donate today!Just google it to find a plasma center near you, they may not all be called bio life and may not have the same requirements as my center does, so know your stuff before you donate.