Nae's Thoughts

 I have a few pieces of advice to share that maybe will help others to see my perspective as a happy, single mid twenties YSA living in this wonderful place we call Utah County. Let's just set some ground work here before I write out my thoughts and feelings. The first one is that I am very much single. Second is that I am in no way shape or form writing things as an excuse to complain to the world about being single. Last night my amazing roommate and I had this beautiful vulnerable discussion about being happy with being single. During it I said to her, "you know it's just really hard sometimes because I feel like I'm stuck in this weird place where I am so genuinely happy being single but I also have the desire to take those next steps of marriage in my life. And I don't know how to help other people see and understand that balance of how I feel." These feelings are rather hard to explain and I honestly think they are hard for anyone outside of this ...

Sometimes I wonder why I started to write a blog. To be honest I wrote the 1st post because it was nagging at me, like it was all just STUCK  in my brain and I needed to get it out. And then once I did get it out it was just sitting in front of me. I had an overwhelming urge to hit the share button.... and then I did. I've been shocked that my thoughts and feelings have meant anything to anyone else. Here I am again. With some thoughts just STUCK all up in my brain. So again I'm going to type them out. And share them with you. I recently finished reading the Book of Mormon earlier this week. I didn't actually read the book all the way through until I was 16 years old. After I finally finished it I started to keep track on the title page of the times that I was reading it. I would put my start date and then once I finished I would jot down the end date. I marked the time my senior year where I read it for my seminaries "march madness" (they encouraged us to...

I happen to belong to an organized religion. One that I strive to live every single day. I do so because of my own personal experiences, and beliefs. I do so because I feel that it helps me to become the most loving, giving, compassionate version of myself.  I also happen to know a lot of wonderful human beings who don't belong to an organized religion. Or maybe they belong to one that is different than mine. And for whatever their reasons are, they make choices every day to be whatever kind of person they want to be. They are kind, forgiving, and fun to be around.  I have different opinions than people I know. And yet, we somehow manage to still be friends, colleges, co-workers. We work together, we laugh, we see each other as what we are Human beings.  There is so much hate in this world. Petty arguments and snide remarks fuel bitter, and often incredibly useless, internet conflicts. (and real life conflicts too)  I'm not saying that if you are...

One time I was sitting in a seminary class and my teacher was letting us ask different questions that we have about the gospel. I don't remember what question I had asked, but I will never forget what a girl turned and said to me in response to my question, Maybe you just need to have a little more faith. Now I can tell you that in that moment I was NOT pleased with her answer. First of all having questions DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE NO FAITH. And I believe that just telling someone to have blind faith is a ridiculous answer. I'm 100% positive that what I said back to this girl in my head was NOT very Christ like. But I did manage to only say it in my head! So that's a win. Fast forward a few years to me sitting in the MTC gym watching general conference. Elder Holland (who just might possibly be my favorite apostle, ya know, if I happened to have a favorite.... ) was giving his talk. His talk hit me right in the feels. He said that what we DO know will always trump wha...

Do you ever just feel so incredibly alone? Like I know there are so many people in my life who love me and care for me, but still it just feels, alone. Do you ever just wonder about that word? Alone. I do. To me it's the worst feeling there is. For a long time I thought that the reason I was feeling so alone was because I wasn't married. But you know, I don't think that's the only reason. I think that everyone feels alone sometimes. Even people who are married and have children. It's those moments when you just want someone to look at you and let you know that it's all going to be okay. It's not always a supreme sadness, sometimes it's anger. Maybe even a bit of a numbness. But always a feeling deep in the soul. Alone. Then I look at my life and I see my amazing parents who would do anything for me. I see siblings who care so much. I hear the cries of Aunt nae! and feel little arms wrapped around me. I go to work and see my amazin...

Let's be real, being a girl can totally suck sometimes. Do your hair, wear cute clothes, don't look like a clown when you try to wear make-up. Ate too many donuts and now your kinda chubby. The list could go on and on and on, each of us adding something different based on our own personal life and struggles.  My list would include,  stop being so loud learn how to flirt ya loser exercise, not extra fries stop looking like a hobo in public you don't ALWAYS have to win   Can we take a second and talk about insecurities? Because we ALL have them. The above mentioned list is an example of a few of mine. Growing up I often let my insecurities define me. When I was about 15 I made a choice in my life. I decided that I was so sick and tired of trying to fit in all the time. I had spent all of Jr. High trying to be someone that I thought people wanted me to be, and never felt like I was good enough. Around this same time my parents gave me a choice. They...

I have grown up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I believe in it with all of my heart and soul. But sometimes I struggle.  I don't have a problem with necessarily people, I have an issue with culture. The culture that exists in Utah. Now don't get me wrong, I am an active member of my church. I attend my meetings and all the activities. I know and love many amazing people who live right here in this great state of Utah. But sometimes I think that we confuse doctrine with culture. And that breaks my heart. Let me give you an example. Young woman and higher education. From the time we are young we are taught that the most important calling we can have in life is to be a wife and a mother. Now don't get me wrong, I do believe that. I believe in the doctrine of the family.  But God helped me see that things are different than maybe I believed. Now going to college has never been something that I doubted. I always knew that I would go. But ...