Who Says

I just can't stay away from music.  I guess part of the reason is because it fills me.  It reaches a part of me that other forms of media cannot.  I love to listen to music, especially when I am alone.  Then I can rock out in my car or room and just...enjoy life.

I love this song by Selena Gomez because it was the first of its kind...at least in my generation to reach out to my peeps.  This song was such a boost for me during a time in my life when, well, I needed it.  Even now, when I hear it, I can't help but feel happy.

I love this song because it helps me remember that I am beautiful the way that I am.  I swear I hate this part of the semester.  It always happens that in at least one of my classes (or all of them) I always hit a point where we talk about eating disorders, then the influence of the media, then bullying, then the thin-ideal and on and on and onandonandonandon.  And well, lets face it.  I am fat.  Don't try to talk me out of it because it is true, okay?  And I don't get asked out on dates...I don't fit the "byu ideal" for what a girl should look like.

And so, I turn to music.  I turn to songs like this to remind me that I am good just the way that I am.  That my Heavenly Father made me the way that I am for a specific reason.  That it is fine to be me.  And that even if no one but me can see that, it is okay because He does.

And, well, so does Selena Gomez.

Don't You Worry Child

Once again, I am posting about a song.  In case you didn't figure it out by now, music is probably my number one form of Media.  It is my go-to when I am having a crappy day, or a most excellent adventure, or anything in-between.

But I digress.

For the longest time I had NO idea what the lyrics were to this song.  I just liked it because it was SUPER boss to dance to in the car.  No joke, it would come on the radio and I would turn the music up as loud as I could stand it and dance like no one was watching.

And then, one day, I heard the radio announcers...commentators...you know, the little people who secretly live inside the radio of my car and tell me all about the music I am listening to.  Those people.  Glad we are all on the same page.  Anyway, the radio munchkins were telling me about this song and how THEY had just figured out that the lyrics were "Don't you worry, don't you worry child, see Heaven's got a plan for you.  Don't you worry Don't you worry now."

AWESOME, right?

Isn't it so true, though?  We don't need to worry, because Heavenly Father has a plan for us.  We may not see it all right now, but He does have a plan.  It may take a lot of heartbreaks and bumps along the road, maybe some wrong turns on our part and figuring out the path, but as long as we trust in Him we can never go wrong.

Now you are going to love this song too, I just know it.

Just Give Me a Reason

Guys, I am in love with this song.  I am sure I say that about everything that I post about on this blog, but really, I am posting about Media that is influencing me, and well...I really don't let media that I don't like into my life, so sorry suckers, you have to read about the stuff that I do really like.

I heard this song on the radio the other day and fell in love.  The musicality is phenomenal and the emotion behind it is so powerful!

I don't generally listen to Pink.  Bless her little heart, she likes to use foul language a little too often for my taste. However, when this came on the radio, it really touched me.


I really feel like my whole life is about learning to love again.  Learning to let go of the pains that have been caused in the past (and the pains that I am sure that I have caused others to feel) and just learn to love. To let go and feel something for once, darn it all.  Most of the time, however, I hide.  I shelter my heart and don't let people in.  And then I wonder why I feel so alone and unloved all the time.  It is a vicious cycle that NEEDS to stop.


Anyway, on to the song.

This song is about two people who have a HUGE communication gap in their relationship and are not talking about the things that they are worried that the other person is thinking about them.  It causes a lot of unnecessary stress for these two people who obviously love one another quite a lot.  Neither one wants to let their relationship fall apart and this song is about how they are willing to fix what is wrong.  

I love how she says that "We're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again!"

While this is true for love between, well...people in love, I feel like it applies in a broader sense as well.

Guys, none of us are really broken.  We have a Savior who heals all wounds and helps to lift us up and make us whole once more.  But are we willing to let Him in, to fix the places that we feel may be a little bit bent and then open our hearts to love once more?

Little Things

Okay, okay, I'll admit it.

Iloveboybands.

This is a weakness that hearkens way back to the 90's...growing up on N'Sync really did a number on me.  Justin Timberlake is still sexy an excellent musician...

But I digress.

I have been so happy lately that boy bands are coming back!

And more than that, that they are making excellent music.

Guys, I don't know if you realize this, but it is so hard to find music that validates you for who you are.  That makes you feel loved and important and beautiful for being you.  But in the past year or so, there have been a couple of songs that have come out that have done just that

And Little Things by One Direction does just that.

It is more than just saying "hey girl, I think you're fine, be my girlfriend"  No, this song taps in to the insecurities that all women feel and helps us understand that it is okay.  That our insecurities are often the things about us that make us lovable.

Do we see ourselves as lovable?  Do we find the lovable qualities within ourselves, or do we constantly tear ourselves down because we don't think that anyone can love us?

I want to issue you a challenge.  Instead of looking in the mirror today and seeing the new gross zit on your face or those couple of extra pounds that midterm stress eating brought on, I would encourage you to find your endearing qualities.  Find the special dimple when you smile, or the way that you care for and love the people around you.  See the daughter of god who serves the women around her as she goes visiting teaching.  See the individual who is striving to become more like Christ each day.

See what others see in you.  Accept the compliments that they give you.  Because they see the good in you.  So why don't you?

I'm only posting the lyric video, because I strongly feel that seeing the lyrics brings more power to the lyrics.  However, you can also head on over to YouTube yourself and see the regular music video.

Rise of the Guardians

Oh. My. Gosh.

You guys, this movie may have just changed my life.  And by just, I mean on Monday.  And by changed my life I mean may have become my new favorite movie.  And that is hard to do, I tell you what.

Rise of the Guardians was probably my favorite part of President's Day weekend.  And I did quite a lot during my three day joyous celebration away from school.  But to be able to go and watch a movie that was all about learning who you are was so joyous!

I loved this movie for the following reasons...

1. It was fun!  I feel like good movies are fun movies.  They keep you engaged in one way or another.
2. I fell in love with the characters.  No, not literally in love, though when I found out that Chris Pine was the voice of Jack Frost I might have melted a little inside...thank the heavens for Chris Pine...Anyway, I fell in love with each individual character, their personality, their quirks and passions.  Jamie!  And Sandy!  Oh goodness, if you haven't seen this, you need to.
3. This movie made me want to find out what drives me.  I feel like sometimes I am Jack Frost.  I am going through life and school, not really knowing why I am doing so.  I need to find what makes me who I am just like Jack does in this movie.  That REALLY resonated with me.
4. I loved the ending.  LOVED the ending.  That's all I will say.  

Go see it.  It is in the dollar theatre, so even if you hate it, you only spent a dollar on it.  Really, it is worth your time!

A Pep Talk

So, there I was.  Studying cramming for my Abnormal Psych midterm when suddenly on the google doc there was a link to this video.  Some good soul had helped us have a study break.

Guys, I loved this!  Maybe it is because it is almost one in the morning, but I want to BE this kid!  I want to help others reach their potential!

Here are some of my thoughts:

Do I take the time to reach out to others?  To give them the pep talk that they need?  To give one to myself?

Am I stuck in boring?  or am I really "gooder than that"?

Which path are you taking in life?  Are you choosing the best path for you? Even when that path is lined with rocks, sticks and even glass?

Do we take the time to see what our potential for awesome is?  We have so much that we can bring to this world, but do we realize that?  Do we take time to dance?

I love the cinematography of this video, the lighting and the different camera angles that they use.  I feel like this really helps to bring in the message that is being shared.

For me, media is about more than the message.  It reaches beyond that and in to how you share that message.  Are we limiting our viewing experiences because we only "like" one type of media?  Are we taking the time to explore new genres, to see new places and spaces, to listen to new artists and to read what different authors have to say?

Sometimes we have to break out of what we are used to and find something fantastic.  That is what I found with this kid...Kid President to be exact.  Who would have thought that a little boy would have so much to teach us all.

Now go be awesome.

Small Enough

This is one of those songs that got me through so much on my mission.  I wish that I could say that my mission was the best time of my life.  Honestly, it wasn't.  Did I meet a lot of amazing people?  Yes.  Did it change my life?  Yes.  But it was also one of THE most difficult experiences that I have ever gone through,  My soul and body were pushed to their limits in the eleven months that I served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  And so, I did what I always do.  I turned to music.

As I was getting ready this morning, I heard this song again.  I firmly believe in the power of music, to not only take us back to the place that we were when we first heard a song, but to also help us heal and move forward.  All day today I have been thinking about my mission, about how it changed my life and how I have changed since my mission.  I am so grateful to this song for the power of change that it brought to me.

Over and over, Mindy Gledhill sings "Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now."

How often do we feel that way?  That our Father in Heaven is so great and powerful, but that we need him to just be small enough to hear and understand us in our hour of need.

We know that he was there for others, like Mindy points out, but do we have the faith that he will be there for us now?

I can promise you that I have seen him be there for me.  Let him be there for you.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Guys, I have a new media...addiction?  Obsession?  Love?

Maybe all of those fit this new youtube sensation that I stumbled upon earlier this week.

I had heard about The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, but I was skeptical.  I am a big fan of Pride and Prejudice itself as a novel (I even got a friend of mine who is a boy to read it when we were in the eighth grade.  Because I talked it up so much.) and I love the Kiera Knightly version of the movie, but the more modern retold versions are touch and go for me.

So, when I heard that there was a youtube vlog all about Lizzie Bennet, I was wary.  There was no way that it could be as good as the books, I thought to myself.

Then I watched it.

Guys, it is hilarious.  Mind you, there is cursing throughout the series so if that is something that is going to bother you, don't look in to it.

But honestly, I am in a love-hate relationship with this youtube channel.  I want to just skip ahead past the part where Lizzie whines about Darcy...but then you miss out on so much.

There is so much that makes this unique.  Instead of showing all of the characters on screen, Lizzie and her sisters (and Charlotte) act out everything that Lizzie is experiencing.  They are doing costume theatre and it is fantastic.  You see a different side of each character because you see them solely from Lizzie's point of view.  Sometimes you meet those characters later on, but some of them I have yet to meet.

If you are looking for a great break from studying, this would be it.  However, I would caution you...you miiiight get sucked in.  You have been forewarned.

And now, my friends, the Lizzie Bennet Diaries:

A Little Like Mia

This week I watched Disney's Princess Diaries

I have to admit, I often feel a little like Mia...no, this isn't secret confession time where I tell you I really AM a Princess ("a...a Princess? Shut Up!")  No, I feel more like the awkward, insecure part of Mia Thermopolis.

I have to admit, I have both read some (not all) of the books that the movie is loosely based off of and seen the movie dozens of times.  And in this case, I like the movie so much more.  I guess it is because I can relate to the character in the movie, who is much less sure of herself and of her relationships with the people around her, than I can with the angry angsty teenager in the novels.

For anyone who has met me, I don't seem like a Mia Thermopolis on the surface.  I am more loud and outgoing (kind of like Lily).  But I still feel a lot like Mia.  I struggle to know if a boy likes me, always wishing that the cutest ones would just walk right up and sweep me off my feet.  I am probably missing a lot of Michael moments, missing times where someone totally unexpected is looking at me the same way I am looking at the Josh Bryants of the world.

One day I hope to be more like Mia is in Princess Diaries 2...but I guess that is a post for another day.

P.S. This is one of my favorite scenes.  I am a firm believer in the knowledge that it sometimes takes someone else helping us see our beauty for us to see it ourselves.  Sometimes a little makeover can go a long way in helping our inner beauty shine through.

Wonder

Have you ever seen Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium?

I distinctly remember the first time that I saw this movie.  I cried.  Quite a lot in fact.

There is something inherently magical about having someone else help you find your innate worth.  It seems to me that unless we have someone in our lives who can be the instigator, the one who sees something greater in us that we see in ourselves.  That person then helps us to open up our hearts so that we too can see our great worth.

There are two things that this movie made me want to do with my life.  First, it made me want to find my own "sparkle".  It made me look inside myself and find out what made me unique and special.  I am pretty sure that this is one of the things that helped me start to gain a sense of uniqueness and self worth.    Second, it makes me want to be a Mr. Magorium.  It makes me want to see the goodness in others and help them find their own potential.

I love the sense of whimsy that exists in this movie.  If you haven't seen it, I would strongly encourage that you do.