08 January 2013

Birthdays, Spirituality and Physical Health

Okay. So in all fairness, I realize that I have been making a lot of lists lately for people to read. Alas, my birthday being in just 22 days, I have just one more list to make and then I will try to steer clear of lists for a couple months, agreed?

It interests me that in just the last two weeks, I have really been thinking quite randomly at times about things that I wish I had... which is slightly unusual if you know me around my birthday. Because Christmas was just a few weeks ago, I usually have just about all I really need or wanted and thus hoping for even more love-filled gifts seems a bit... selfish, I suppose would be the correct word. 
I guess it is not entirely my fault however seeing as when you are born, you are born, and there is not much you can do. It would probably take an act of Congress, anyway, to switch your birthday. (But if I could change my birthday, would definitely be sometime in April or perhaps the middle of May... there tends to be decent weather during those months at least...)
Moving on, I suppose as a precursor (is that the right word?) to my birthday list, I would like to give a brief over view of my last two weeks and also of my last couple of posts.

My desire to follow the counsel of the prophets and my bishop seems to have been blessed with more vigor at the beginning of this new year. As such, I have read my scriptures every day, written in my journal daily (or made up for it the day after by writing two entries), started reading Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage and have also picked up the small manual titled Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple. The last two were suggested by my bishop and I figure with the whole stewardship idea that we are taught in the church in relation to our callings, he probably had a good and reasonable reason (haha) for me to read the two simultaneously. (Although it was rather disconcerting to talk to a friend of mine and find that he took two whole years to read Jesus the Christ. I do not plan to have it stretched out over such a long time... but then again, I think it is one of those books that is highly recommended to missionaries if they desire to read something other than the Book of Mormon and other standard works over their 1 1/2 to 2 years of dedicated service to the Lord.)
On another tangent note, I have actually enjoyed the reading of Jesus the Christ thus far. It gives me much to think about and I love the pure truth of what is written therein and how it connects my previous thoughts with spiritual synapses. Fantastic.
Along with these things, I have also turned my attention to my health in regards to exercise and trying to become more physically fit (for it does not matter how "skinny" you are perceived to be if you feel there is more you can do). I often in my free time browse pinterest for different exercises and keep encountering a brick wall... quite a few exercises suggest having one or two dumbbells. (Nothing too heavy, but rather 5 lbs each.)

With this in mind... there are three items that I would really like to receive for my birthday.
1. My own copy of Jesus the Christ so that I can write my own notes and impressions in the margins.
2. Two dumbbells of five pounds each.
3. A new set of scriptures. The set I currently have are the very same I received when I turned 8, given to me the day before my baptism, if I remember correctly.

The last one I am a little iffy on merely because eventually I would hope to be married and would love my new name engraved thereon. But I am completely willing to forgo my name being on it. But as I said, they were given to me on my 8th birthday and I can hardly believe that is a full 14 years ago come my birthday this year. Plus, now that I have a handle on my handwriting and have learned the "proper way" with which to mark those scriptures that strike me most vividly, I would love to start anew.
Also, I would not say no to more talks on CD, especially those by John Bytheway and other such good speakers.
Though I suppose that is enough for now. Thanks for taking the time to read another batch of thoughts from the mind of Cassidy. 

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