This I Believe

I read a book called "This I Believe". The book is exactly what the title indicates. It has people's essays on what they believe. Lots of the essays include very prominent people and the beliefs that guide their lives. As I read this book I always told myself that I wanted to write one. So I thought I would attempt to write my own essay on what I believe.

Being born and raised in the LDS church my beliefs were always very clear. I went on a mission to even proclaim what I believed. After getting home from my mission and being home for a fews years I was eventually able to comes to terms with my sexuality. And in doing so my whole belief system ended up changing. For a few years I really struggled to know what to believe. Where do I go from here? What is the purpose of life? Did I still believe in God? Is there an afterlife?

I decided I wasn't going to get caught up in trying to figure everything out. No one has all the answers. We all live based on faith, hope or on the limited information that we are all given. So what do I believe in now?  I believe that life is hard. That life can be a struggle for myself and so many others around me. As such, I believe that I should do my very best to make the lives of others a littler easier. I believe that little acts of kindness can brighten someone's day. Being helpful, opening a door for someone, lending a helping hand or just being willing to listen to someone when they are having a bad day. I believe that even though some of these things might seem small and insignificant that we have no idea how it might help someone who is struggling. I believe that by helping others that you forget about your own troubles and it also helps keep life in perspective.

I also believe that life is supposed to be an adventure. People mention all the time to live life to the fullest. Well, what does that really mean? What is living life to fullest entail? I believe that living life to the fullest will be different for everyone. Living life to the fullest is finding what brings you joy and pursuing that. I have a passion for traveling and seeing new places and cultures and by traveling and pursuing this joy that I'm living life to the fullest. When I think of living life to the fullest I think of this quote by Hunter S. Thompson: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!'"

Lastly, I believe in trying to live life focusing on things that I can control and letting go of everything else. There is no point in getting worked up over things that we have no control over. I think the Serenity Prayer says it best: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." For me this is a daily attempt. I feel like with awareness and practice that I will be able to get better and better at this. This I believe...