I Love...

...that you can learn to love where you are, and not hate it until its over. I love Provo! Can you believe it? Or maybe I just love my life and therefore love the place in which my life resides at this time. Either way, its wonderful!

Disclaimer: This is a very long story. But, if you begin this story, you must read to the end or else, you will not leave happy.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in Portsmouth, Ohio where she attended college. This little girl's days were filled with magic and happiness and she loved what she was doing and learning. However, even though the little girl was happy in Portsmouth, she dreamed of the day when she would get to go where she had always desired, Provo, Utah. Then one day she found out she would go where she always desired, and do wonderful things at a wonderful graduate school called BYU.

However, when the little girl moved to the wonderous place, her days were no longer filled with happiness and magic. She became sad and questioned everything she had wanted. Why wasn't it like she pictured? Why wasn't it as splendid as she imagined? She strongly disliked where she was. She strongly disliked what she was doing. And she strongly disliked some of the things she was learning. Did she pick the wrong career choice, or was something else at work?

For weeks the little girl tried to find the answer and sought happiness in all the places she had found it before in her life. But alas, no luck.

Then, one day, the little girl decided that she did not want to spend her days in Provo buying her time until she could leave as had been done in Portsmouth. She wanted to enjoy every minute of the experience and be so happy along the way. She wanted her life in Provo to be everything she had imagined it to be. So she worked very hard with a very important, yet unseen person in her life to know what to do. And guess what the result was. Lots and lots of SMILES and LOVE and HAPPINESS!!!!

The little girl's days again were filled with magic and wonder, and this time is was more magic and wonder than she had ever before experienced. Day after day more and more things fell into place and the little girl's path was laid before her. Without the each step clearly visible, she joyfully skipped down this path with flowers and sunshine all around.

I have been so blessed that things have turned around for me. Nothing has really changed in my circumstances. I'm still in the same program. I moved, but not far, and nothing is profoundly different about that. I'm still a student. I'm still giving therapy. Pretty much everything is the same. But things are happy now.

Want to know the secret? What has made the profound difference is the quality of my relationship with my Heavenly Father and the quality of my relationship with myself. I do not announce this to the world by any means to say how great or spiritual I am. I say it so you can know the fastest way to happiness that I have found. And you're welcome to steal my happiness finding techniques. In fact, please do.

A friend of mine once gave me some advice to ask the Lord for the greatest blessing He desires to give me right now. At the time, I didn't do what my friend had said, but this past week I got the feeling that I should. Not knowing what this gift might be, I asked for it. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it would come. Today, I was prompted to ask what it was, I did, and I was given the answer. You'll never guess. It was HAPPINESS!!!! The greatest gift my Heavenly Father has to give me right now, is me being happy where I am and with what I am doing RIGHT NOW. Not just in what the future holds. What a great blessing :)

Happy Sabbath!!!

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can!

I'm running a 1/2 marathon!!! I wasn't planning on announcing that in case I don't make it past the finish line. But, I have a reason for bringing it up. Sarah June, a friend of mine from my program, and I are running for the Tourette Syndrome Association and we're hoping to raise money for research and education programs. If you would be willing to donate, go here, and be my hero.
The race is May 7th so we have until then to raise $1000. Just think, maybe some day I'll be tic free and I'll be able to thank you because you helped find a cure.

Say What?

I went to the grocery story a few days ago and ran into this guy: I still have no idea what it is. But I love it.

Fall, Fall, Fall

Fall was full of lots of firsts for me. Including:

My first semester at BYU

My first time seeing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir live

My first client

My first prank at BYU

My first Oakcrestie mission farewell (where I got to see these beautiful ladies)

My first BYU Creamery banana split (and my last)

My first getting asked to homecoming in an awesome way

There were a ton of names on the back, but when I washed it, this appeared:
My first acceptance of being asked to homecoming in an amazingly cool way
If you can't tell these are a ton of letters which when arranged spell out, "You're Mr. Wright for homecoming night" (his last name is Wright. Clever, wright? :))

It's been a fun semester. But, if you know me better than a distant acquaintance, you know I've really struggled this semester. Struggled with adjusting to Provo life, post-Oakcrest life, grad school life, and crazy Tourette's attack life(although this wasn't new, but in a new situation). I have had a really hard time being happy. It's probably been the most personally/emotionally/spiritually challenging 4 months I've had yet in my young life.

BUT! This semester I am determined to have an amazing, fulfilling, HAPPY time! My motivation came out of hiding and I feel lighter. I'm in a new house, and a new ward and I'm ready for the semester and my renewed strength. I feel great! It's going to be a wonderful semester. Get ready folks, cause the happiness is already oozing out of me once again. I'm back baby!

P.S. I L-O-V-E my new ward. They're just my type. Me=So happy :)

Dear 2010, You're Over

I'm a couple days late but I thought this year demands reviewing for the eventfulness it contained. In 2010 I:

-Interned for Scioto County Juvenile Court
-Interviewed for grad school at BYU
-Got into grad school at BYU
-Interviewed for OAKCREST
-Got into OAKCREST
-Got the Psychology Major of the Year Award (not to brag or anything)
-Graduated college
-Was given a new car by my awesome parents
-Moved to Provo
-Served my heart out for 10 weeks in the most wonderful place on Earth AKA Oakcrest
-Started grad school
-Moved within Provo
-Survived my first semester of grad school
-Started seeing clients (yea, I give therapy! Can you believe it?)
-Had the most heart wrenching moments and moments of despair I've ever had in my life
-Had the most joyful, uplifting, hopeful, happy, and sacred moments of my life

It's been an unbelievable year. A year ago I was planning and hoping to do almost all the things on this list, but I had no idea the journey these things would take me on. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, the love and the pain, the amazing friendships I've developed, the hearts I've touched, and more importantly the hearts that have touched mine. This sounds a little extreme but this year was extreme for me. I had no idea what it would be. But looking back, I love what 2010 has taught me and made me.

Here's to a great 2011!