[ri-mem-ber] v. to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again; to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of.
I never realized before what an important word this is. I mean, think about it, really. What if you don't remember where your class is for school? You can't go. What if you don't remember what day it is? What if you couldn't remember who loves you? What if you didn't remember who your family is? What if you don't remember who you are? Do you even know who you are?
For a long time, I've struggled with this. Remembering. I've always been told I have such a crazy awesome memory, but honestly, that's not entirely true. Sure, I could tell you the day, up to the hour even, of when I had my first kiss. And all right, it's a rare thing for me to forget when it's someone's birthday. But a lot of the time, I forget the important things. The things that really matter. Trivial matters such as song lyrics, birthdays and random facts, sure; I'm full of them. But the things that honestly matter, I always seem to forget.
Take, for example, all my dreams and aspirations. I want to be a writer. I want to be a photographer. I want to graduate from college with a degree in Psychology and go on to get a Master's. I want to teach seminary. I want to be a mother of at least 5 amazing kids. I want to be the best I can be. I want to get to the temple and marry the man of my dreams. I want to be with Doug forever. I want to live with God again.
But somehow, these things get pushed back all the time. I don't remember any of these goals, and instead of working on them, I sit on facebook, playing Bejeweled Blitz, stalking other people's pages and being a creep. I spend hours reading pointless fanfiction that is basically babble and not even worth anyone's time. And frankly, there's plenty more I do that I am way too embarrassed to admit. But occasionally I do something productive and write something of my own, or read a General Conference talk. Most of the time though I do nothing to achieve any of them. Why? Because I just... don't keep it in mind. I don't make the effort to think of it again.
Another point I never seem to remember; who I am. Now I know, that seems like it shouldn't be a hard one to remember, right? But I'm not talking about the fact that I'm half Norwegian since my mom was born there, or that Mike is my brother, and my dad grew up in Denver. I mean it's kinda hard to forget some of those things unless I get a concussion. But I'm referring to inside, who I am. Not where my physical appearances came from, but my spirit. Being the teenage girl that I am, I have a tendency to forget that I am pretty darn awesome. Honestly. Ask God, He'll tell you. Granted, I have a hard time believing in that, but it's true nonetheless. Why? Because I am a daughter of God. Literally. And really, I think that's pretty darn awesome indeed. But I never seem to keep that in mind. I don't remember it. I push it back, just like my dreams, and don't work any magic with that knowledge.
That's why "remember" is such an important word. Think about it; how awesome could you be if you always remembered that simple thing-I am a child of God. God is my father. Literally. I can look up at the stars in the heavens and say, "My Daddy made that. I'm gonna be like Him one day." How different would we act, how many things would we do, if we remembered that simple thing alone?
So remember. Remember the things that matter most. Remember who you are. Remember what you can become. Remember the feelings you've felt, the good times you've had. Remember the good times and learn from the bad.
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become your actions."
Keep in mind the things that are most important to you, and you'll achieve all you want and much, much more.
I never realized before what an important word this is. I mean, think about it, really. What if you don't remember where your class is for school? You can't go. What if you don't remember what day it is? What if you couldn't remember who loves you? What if you didn't remember who your family is? What if you don't remember who you are? Do you even know who you are?
For a long time, I've struggled with this. Remembering. I've always been told I have such a crazy awesome memory, but honestly, that's not entirely true. Sure, I could tell you the day, up to the hour even, of when I had my first kiss. And all right, it's a rare thing for me to forget when it's someone's birthday. But a lot of the time, I forget the important things. The things that really matter. Trivial matters such as song lyrics, birthdays and random facts, sure; I'm full of them. But the things that honestly matter, I always seem to forget.
Take, for example, all my dreams and aspirations. I want to be a writer. I want to be a photographer. I want to graduate from college with a degree in Psychology and go on to get a Master's. I want to teach seminary. I want to be a mother of at least 5 amazing kids. I want to be the best I can be. I want to get to the temple and marry the man of my dreams. I want to be with Doug forever. I want to live with God again.
But somehow, these things get pushed back all the time. I don't remember any of these goals, and instead of working on them, I sit on facebook, playing Bejeweled Blitz, stalking other people's pages and being a creep. I spend hours reading pointless fanfiction that is basically babble and not even worth anyone's time. And frankly, there's plenty more I do that I am way too embarrassed to admit. But occasionally I do something productive and write something of my own, or read a General Conference talk. Most of the time though I do nothing to achieve any of them. Why? Because I just... don't keep it in mind. I don't make the effort to think of it again.
Another point I never seem to remember; who I am. Now I know, that seems like it shouldn't be a hard one to remember, right? But I'm not talking about the fact that I'm half Norwegian since my mom was born there, or that Mike is my brother, and my dad grew up in Denver. I mean it's kinda hard to forget some of those things unless I get a concussion. But I'm referring to inside, who I am. Not where my physical appearances came from, but my spirit. Being the teenage girl that I am, I have a tendency to forget that I am pretty darn awesome. Honestly. Ask God, He'll tell you. Granted, I have a hard time believing in that, but it's true nonetheless. Why? Because I am a daughter of God. Literally. And really, I think that's pretty darn awesome indeed. But I never seem to keep that in mind. I don't remember it. I push it back, just like my dreams, and don't work any magic with that knowledge.
That's why "remember" is such an important word. Think about it; how awesome could you be if you always remembered that simple thing-I am a child of God. God is my father. Literally. I can look up at the stars in the heavens and say, "My Daddy made that. I'm gonna be like Him one day." How different would we act, how many things would we do, if we remembered that simple thing alone?
So remember. Remember the things that matter most. Remember who you are. Remember what you can become. Remember the feelings you've felt, the good times you've had. Remember the good times and learn from the bad.
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become your actions."
Keep in mind the things that are most important to you, and you'll achieve all you want and much, much more.
