Hello!
         It's been awhile, but I felt like I wanted to express some thoughts about life.

   Life is so funny some times.  You see all these things that could make life "better," but do they? No one thing can make life better.  You decide how good it is.  You make the best of what you have.

   I have a lot going on in my life right now.  I had a conversation with someone very dear to me and we talked about how I wanted to do something that I felt like I accomplished all by myself.  Then I would just feel better about myself.  Here we are again, talking about feeling better. However, will doing one thing make myself feel good?  What happens when that accomplishment wears off and you want to move on to bigger, better things.  Is not the grass always greener on the other side? (No)
   We all have a lot of things that we want to do in our life times.  Maybe we just need to take a leap of faith and try them.  Do them just because you might only have that one chance to do that. Why focus on, "well I'm sure if I don't do it now, I'll have another opportunity."  Do it now!
  For instance, I have never tried sushi, never wanted to, but then someone finally convinced me to try it.  I loved it!!!! If you've never eaten it, try it.  You might love it, or you might never want to taste that again. Point is at least tried it.  What do you have to lose?
 
   Recently, I have moved out on my own, paid all my own bills, worked a full time job, and juggled a lot of other activities.  There are times I feel really bogged down.  I feel like I'm the only one feeling so overwhelmed with life, but I know that's not true. Everyone has their own worries, fears, and stresses.  I just see mine.  That's not a good thing. Life is good, even when it's stressful.

"Nature is God's way of reminding us
how magnificent we really are" 

   Trying out adult life has been tricky.  Really struggled when I first moved out.  Gained some weight, cried a lot, and I lost touch with my Heavenly Father a little bit.  I have so much to be thankful to Him about.  He has given me everything in my life, yet I didn't remember to thank Him every day or read my scriptures daily.
  Now let me tell you, I'm still not perfect about reading my scriptures every day.  Or praying as often as I should, but I find myself just saying a quick prayer when things get tough during the day.  I find peace in driving to work every day and praying on the way there or on the way home. If I'm not praying on my drive, then I'm talking to my Mom or Dad, because yes, calling my parents every day is something I take comfort in and it helps me.  They are some very wise people.

   I still have a lot of life to live.  I have a lot to learn, we all do. I just cherish the thought that I know I can do anything.  Right now, I'm going to focus on learning to balance work, my relationships with family and loved ones, paying bills, learning new things, adventuring the world, and so much more. This is the chapter in my story right now.  Let me focus on that.  When it's time to be in another chapter, I'll focus on that.  One day I'll be a wife and a mother, that'll be it's own adventure!
  Right now I'm doing a lot of learning and experiencing.

Life is good. Cherish the chapter of life you're in right now.

Quote of the day: "We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with Heavenly help." ~David A. Bednar

Good Afternoon!
     Have you ever thought twice when you say 'good morning or good afternoon'? Do you actually mean it? When it is a 'good' morning or afternoon, mean it! It is a good day. The sun may not be shining, but I've decided to make it a good day.

   Music has such a powerful meaning. I've noticed that if I listen to something dark and negative, I often have that attitude. It's not good. We want to be happy, so why not listen to something to make you happy?
   As many of you know, I am very involved in music. I've played the piano since I was about 4 years old. I played clarinet for 4 years, and I took violin/fiddle lessons for about 2 years. Then back in 2012 when I was 14, I had the opportunity to start teaching piano. That by far has been one of my favorite things about my teenage years. I started with 2 students. Now I've taught 10 students! I currently have 7 students. My passion of piano and music has been shared with many and I've seen some of my students really grow and have the passion that I've gained over the years.
    Music speaks to all of us. Whatever kind of music you like, it can speak to you. It sets the mood. It helps your brain. Did you know that listening to classical music every day, just a little bit, will help develop your brain? Music helps develop a part of your brain that can only be developed through music. Listening to it and playing it.
   I also love that there's so many kinds of music out there. When people ask me what kind of music I listen to, I can't decide. There's so many choices. I listen to a little bit of everything. One of my favorite songs right now is "Live it Up" by Colbie Caillat. Her song describes how you may be scared of what others think of you. Don't be. You're the only one stopping you from being all that you want to be. She says "I'm unstoppable. I drop kick impossible. I live it up." Today be unstoppable. Choose to be amazing because each of you are!
   So make today a good day. Do what you love, listen to what you love, and be who you want to be. Let the power of music strengthen you and help you grow.

     Quote of the day: "Music gives a Soul to the Universe, Wings to the Mind, Flight to the Imagination, and Life to Everything."

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

Good Afternoon!
 
           Sometimes I worry about how people view themselves. People need to love themselves. That's not a bad thing. You don't want to be prideful, but you need to love yourself for who you are. You don't have to be the perfect girl or guy, you just have to be you. If anyone knows me well, I'm the most clumsy person in the world! Grace is not my forte. When I was about 14, I really worried about how I wasn't like every person around me and how I didn't look like all the pretty girls around me. As I've gotten older I've realized that I don't need to be like everyone else. If I was like everyone else, I would be boring. I wanted to be me. There's only one of each of us.
   Last time I checked, no one gets to tell you how you should act, what you should do or how you should look. Be you!
   I've embraced my clumsiness. It's part of my personality. I may not come off as a very graceful girl or very smooth, but I'm not worried. That's what make me Carly. I get to shape myself. You can do the same for yourself. Don't let those around you and in the world tell you how to look or act. If we stayed quiet, reserved and like everyone else, this world would never change. We would all just be living boring lives.
   Today stand up and be you. You can dress however you like and be whoever you want to be. Don't ever let someone tell you otherwise.
  Dream big! As you be who you want to be, do something different. Different is not bad. Eleanor Roosevelt once stated, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".
  As many of you know I am very involved in Venturing Scouts. I love doing Venturing. Normally LDS aka Mormon, young women are not involved in Scouts. When my family moved to a small town in West Virginia almost 5 years ago, I got involved in a Venturing Crew because I saw a special vision that Venturing offered me. I love it! I would never trade it for anything. But if I had never taken that leap of faith and just tried it, I would never been able to be who I am today or experienced some of the things I've done. I did something different. Be you and love yourself. You can't ever love someone else until you love yourself.


Quote of the day: "The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique"   ~Walt Disney
 

Here we go!

   First off let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Carly. I'm 17 years old and a senior in high school. I am homeschooled, so that's a little different. Some fun facts about me are that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), I am a traveling piano teacher and I am in Venturing, which is a co-ed group of kids aged 14-20 who learn about leadership and do high adventured things. It's through the Boy Scouts of America.  

    I also live in the mountains of West Virginia on a small hobby farm. I have loving parents who so graciously brought me into this world but along with birthing me they had 3 boys. Lucky me, I get to put up with 3 brothers. One older, two younger. It's okay I love them all!

   This blog is somewhere I can write my thoughts about whatever is going on with me, the world and whatever else I feel like writing about. 

  

    I want to write about the positive things in life and how to look for the good in the world. The world is scary in some ways. We want to be happy thought right? Then do one thing everyday that will make someone smile. You can help change the world. 

   Winter is here and now. Does that mean we have to have the winter blues? No! Get up and move. Play your favorite music to dance to in the morning. It'll help you move faster and we all want that when the floors are cold and the wind is chill. 

  Today at our family farm it was about 10 degrees. It even snowed a little. I wasn't feeling super great today. Something I was looking forward to happening today didn't happen. At first I thought I could be sorry for myself. I dragged a little this morning. I dragged in my school and where did that get me? No where. I didn't even want to teach piano today. So I made a choice, I got up and kicked butt. Well I tried. It was a little slow. But I went and taught piano to 4 of my 8 students. Just getting out of the house and getting out of my sweats made me more happy. I came home with energy. I quickly got my school done and this evening I decided to start a blog. What a crazy idea!! 

  

   So here I am finishing my first entry. Bare with me as I figure this thing out. I hope you enjoy reading this post and many to come! 

Quote of the day: "Life is Beautiful. One day, one hour, and one minute will not come again in your entire life."