Why it's important to be nice

There are lots of reasons to be nice. Lots and lots. I was reminded of another last week. A while ago I ran into a classmate who I just think is so fun to have in class. I stopped to chat with her and tell her how much I appreciated what she brings. As I talked with her before class last week, she mentioned that when she was teaching a lesson that in her opinion just wasn't working, she remembered something very important: Well she likes me and what I do, even if no one else does. She was able to take that, remember what she did have to offer, and make it through the rest of the lesson.

So if you're having a rough day, and things just aren't working...remember...I like ya!

The shirt off your back...or the shoes out of your trunk

Tonight I was backstage waiting for a chamber recital to start. About 15 minutes to showtime, a performer walked up to me and asked, "Can I borrow your shoes?" She had forgotten to bring black shoes and only had white sneakers. I was wearing some heavy duty boots, but remembered seeing a pair of black flats in my trunk this morning and thinking, "How did those get in here?" So I ran to my car, grabbed the shoes, and a grateful double bass player shuffled in onstage.

You seem different

I've heard this phrase a lot lately. Thankfully it's usually a positive thing. I seem happier. I'm more concerned with actually learning something than just getting a good grade. And so I've been asked what it is that has made the difference.

There are a lot of things, hard things, that I fought to overcome to get where I am now. So I would have to say that's a big part of it.

But when I really thought about it, I remembered a moment I had last year...a decision I made. I wanted to shift my focus and my perspective. I've spent years trying to do the rights things. What brings me real happiness is being able to choose to do good things because I want to and out of love. And so my focus shifted. I turned my attention to my motivations. Some people think that only doing things that you want to do turns into not doing anything. It did the opposite for me. I am more concerned with where my heart is and who I am becoming than just doing the right things.

Now don't get me wrong. I still try to do all that is expected of me. But I am not going to do it because it is expected of me. I want to choose to do them out of a greater love for others and for the one who loves me most.

It's good to see you...

A few nights ago, I stopped by a friend's place during a little get together. As I walked through the door, someone saw me from upstairs and practically ran down the stairs to say hello. Now that will totally make your day.

If all men had been and were and ever would be...

Often I think of this in terms of, "If all men were like Moroni, we wouldn't be single anymore," but this weekend I saw this idea in a whole new light. If all teachers were like the ones I worked with in McAllen on Saturday, our children's education would be in very good hands. It was so inspiring to see teachers that recognized that even though teaching can be hard, it's so rewarding. And no matter how ling they had been teaching in the classroom, they still wanted to learn, to be better for their students, and to change the way their schools and their districts approached education for the better.

What was the last thing you said?

Recently, a colleague of mine suffered a horrible tragedy that's been plastered all over the news. She's one of the kindest women I know. When things like this happen, or when we lose someone, you start to think, "What was the last thing I said to her?" After a moment, I remembered. It was a few weeks ago, before any of this happened. I passed her near the stairs, said hello, and took a moment just to say, "For some, reason, it always brightens my day when I see you." And it's true. It totally does. And it's comforting to know that before this happened, for a small moment, she knew she was loved and appreciated. I made her day. And it didn't take a tragedy to bring that out.