I am a college student living in Utah (as most of my readers probably know, since you’re either a close friend or family member). I have found that the longer I live here in Utah Valley, the more things I encounter that absolutely befuddle me and drive me to loathe the very place I live in. I’ve whined and complained about the pressure applied to the young single-adult population to get married. I have bickered about the strict enforcement of ‘curfew’ and grooming. I’ve grumbled (about every six months) about the Provo “apartment shuffle.” I have even fussed about how predictable, ‘cloned’ and judgmental so many of the people who surround me seem to be. Over the past few weeks, however, I have gained insight and direction regarding, not only my outlook on life, but many important decisions regarding my future. The aforementioned ‘past few weeks’ have been a real eye opener for me. I came to the realization that no matter where you live, you will find EXACTLY what you are looking for.
For example, if you go through life with the attitude that your life sucks, and that you will be hosed at the turn of every corner, you will use every negative experience as an opportunity to validate the point that you have a crummy life. The best thing about this concept, though, is that it works the other way as well! If you go through life with a mindset that your life is amazing, you will find an opportunity every day to prove that your life really does rock your socks. The attitude and perspective I’m referring to is beautifully communicated in one of my favorite inspirational thoughts written by Kent Keith…
Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments
People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
Isn’t that an encouraging bit of literature? I thought so.
Now, many of you may be curious as to what has lead to this sudden change in attitude. My course was set in motion over two years ago when I received some advice from a great man, and a great friend of mine… Brad Wilcox. He recommended that, upon my return home from Chile, I attend Brigham Young University. I have never been a fan of “The Y” despite the fact that the majority of my closest friends claim it as their Alma Mater. Needless to say, I wrote off the advice as a trifle and have since gone to UVSC (aka: Diet BYU, BYU Jr., 13th Grade) where I have graduated with my Associates Degree, and up until a few weeks ago, had planned on finishing my schooling. Since graduating with my AA degree, I have had this unsettling feeling that I was meant for greater things that a Digital Imaging degree from an open enrollment college. I was discussing my schooling with my good friend, Blake, when upon hearing about Pres. Wilcox’s advice, he suggested I reevaluate my feelings towards BYU. I realized that half of the reason that I haven’t wanted to attend “The Y” was because my attitude towards the school was tainted due to my attitude. Amazing as it is, I have decided to put aside all pride and prejudice (I hate that movie) and apply for the school that has been the bane of my existence for so long. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Now, before I commit 100% to this whole ‘positive attitude’ thing, I must indulge myself in one last gripe. What is it with Utah drivers? I fear that Utah is the only place in the western hemisphere where the passing lane is on the right, roundabouts are commonplace, the entire freeway must slow down to make sure that the man changing his tire is okay, and a turn signal is meant as a confirmation that your lane change was successful rather than a heads up that you intend to move over. Honestly people… everyone complains, but nobody EVER changes.
Yesterday I witnessed what could have been the end of my life. The two SUV’s in front of me both decided to enter into the unoccupied lane between the two of them… at the same time. Neither was using their turn signal. One SUV performed the ‘post initiation lane change blind spot check’ and realize that she was about to side swipe the grandma in the SUV next to her. As she swerved back into her original lane, I witnessed the extensive vocabulary of the pleasant looking grandma who had performed the successful lane transfer. I was quite glad that I am not a great lip reader.
It was on this same journey that I realized that I can shave over 5 minutes off of my trip from Provo to Salt Lake by driving in the right hand lane. For some reason, there is some sort of blanket assumption among Utah drivers that the only people who drive in the right hand lane are those who are entering/exiting the freeway, or the dregs of society such as the crappy tippers, anyone who is anti-hygiene, or baby killers. As I very obviously fall (very gracefully) into two of these three categories, I took my place in the gutter of the freeway and surprisingly, found myself free of congestion. As I passed the soccer mom’s in their huge, gas guzzling SUV’s with the stickers of the stick-figure families on the rear window, and the spoiled high school students in their Audi’s and BMW’s stuck behind semis and old blue-haired grandmas, I was overcome with the thought that maybe being a baby killer has its perks.
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