Mutual Improvement

I have been recently reading the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. I just read a portion where he described how he and some of his friends would gather together once a week to read, and discuss what they had read. At one of these meetings, it was suggested that each of them take the week to endeavor to write some poetry, and then each bring back and present the next week to have the criticism, comments, and compliments of the other further improve their writing.

I think we need more of this. I daresay that more often than not, when friends get together, we usually amount to doing nothing during the period, though the pleasure of each other's company is enjoyable for sure. I enjoy hanging out and enjoying some entertainment with my friends, but perhaps we are missing opportunities to further grow because we are not acquainted with such practices in our modern culture. We are so used to our culture of entertainment that we don't take occasion for more in depth discussion on matters to which we may mutually desire to become more skilled or knowledgeable. Or perhaps we work so hard in other areas of life that when we find ourselves at leisure among friends, the furthest things from our thoughts are constructive activities and engagements of learning and growth.

So what do you say, friends? Can we do more than chill in each other's presence? Can we be engaging in a meaningful way without being boring or taxing? Can we be entertained and pleased in each other's company when we aren't saturated with electronic media, or is the full employment of our intellect reserved only for the classroom or the office?

I think we can be better. My own improvements stare me blatantly in the face. But having friends with you there makes it all the easier to do and grow.

Writing a symphony takes a long time

I've started working on writing my symphony. I've had it on my to do list for a long time, and I've finally gotten started. I took some time a while ago to plan out the movements and theme developments, but now I actually have music going down.

I have a whole new respect for composers and film music writers, creating symphonies and scoring music in weeks. It takes FOREVER to actually write this stuff. Especially if you don't have an orchestra ready or some other means to hear how everything sounds together. I can hear how the whole piece sounds together, but I have a hard time isolating the separate parts to actually write them out. I have a piano, but I can only play so many parts at a time. And the real instruments provide a whole different blend of sounds apart from the notes, the texture of which I can only guess at discerning. I have a small amount of experience participating in band/orchestra setting, but not enough to be able to hear and pick apart the music to write it faster.

It's nice to actually see the notes written out (after only thinking about doing it for a while), but it's going to be a while before I get anything substantial. So let the music play .... dah dah dee dum doo dah....

Writing

I feel like I should write something, but I don't know what. I have so much to say and write, but I just can't think of anything. There are times when words flow from my pen, when prose is naturally ushered into being from my soul, but not now. Not lately, it seems. I can write and I can communicate a subject, but the passion and persuasion of which language is capable yet eludes me.

I desire to have a mastery over words, a command of language such that I can express my thoughts and convey my feelings. Oh if I could speak, if I could write what I mean, what I intend. Rather, it is poorly chosen and ill fitting words that spew forth, if any come at all. Too often I leave things unsaid. Too often I leave ideas unwritten.



The sonnet of my soul has yet to be penned, the will of my mind enrobed in ink.
With what lacking modes must my heart employ, my mind to speak.
Truth begs to be shared, and so easily slips, elusive as the evening sun
But I will not falter by the way til I've said my part, until I'm done.

Trudging on through mirey pages of what once was and what may be,
Echoes of the shadowed past illuminate a part of me.
Though now I see, yet now it's gone, this whispered thought to stare
Blankly now I search for what might take me past its familiar air.

An edge, a piece of my own words show in a stranger's written ode
A portion that I wish I wrote, through this man already told
Another, and yet more, come to view, their voices rushing fast
Saying things that should be said, the wisdom of the past.

Yet harmony is incomplete while all but one raise the strain
This music is meant for all to hear, for all to drop as rain.
Though incomplete my sonnet be, though muddled are my words
I write, I speak, I sing, I shout- for my voice will be heard.

-Bryan Hardy

Mission

As of today, I have been off my mission for the same amount of time that I was on it. I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 2 years and 2 days, and it has been exactly that amount of time that I have now been home.

On my mission, I gained a lot of experience and grew as a person. My commitment to my faith in Jesus Christ increased as I came to understand better exactly what his Gospel meant for me and what it could mean for others. I grew to love humanity and understand, in some small degree, what it means to be selfless, to give of myself. I don’t believe that I have the words to really describe my experience there and do it justice. It is incredibly meaningful to me personally, and I know that I was able to do good to others and bring to many those things that I know to be true, truths which I treasure.

Now that I have been off my mission for the same period of time, I wonder the effect that this period of time has had one me. Has it been as significant for me? Have I grown as much, continued to improve myself? This period is a very different one in my life than my mission was, with different goals, objectives, and activities. I am learning much, and having very different and important formulative experiences. But I am growing enough? Or am I maintaining sufficiently the growth and character that I developed on my mission?

There are many who feel like they just can't be as good or grow as much as they did on their mission. I believe that your post mission life can be as good and fulfilling as your mission, if not more. It is only different. We have different experiences and grow in different ways. Perhaps this feeling comes because we are no longer serving God 24/7.

Or are we? I believe that we serve God in more ways then just preaching the Gospel. Preparing to contribute to the world by pursuing education, working an honest job, raising a family, developing our talents, befriending others, and serving in Church and other capacities. Maybe it's just harder to focus and put things into perspective.

I don't think I'm wise enough to enumerate how I've changed and grown since my mission, but I do believe that I have. I hope to continue to improve and grow in various ways. Improvement may be hard, but it is worth it.

Day Dreaming

So today in our work meeting, we had a consultant from employee health come in and talk to us about reducing our stress. She gave us a muscle relaxing technique first, which was nice. It basically involved tensing up muscles in one area and then relaxing them, deeply breathing during the process.

But the best part of the meeting today was the visualization technique for reducing stress.

We learned how to properly day dream in the workplace.

You thought that you could day dream just fine yourself, but there are proper techniques to day dreaming. This is no simple task for ameteurs, no sir! You need proper training before you begin to day dream!

The consultant had us think of some place that we found peaceful. Then, think about all the different things to do with it, such as the sounds, the colors, the smells, etc. It was nice, and did help with stress reduction and relaxation. We were instructed to 'practice' it, spending perhaps 5-10 minutes doing it when we feel stress.

I enjoy a good day dream, but I never thought I would recieve proper training for it at work. Remember kids, if you're going to day dream in the workplace, be sure to get all the proper training and protocols beforehand.