Beautiful

After a long conversation about this with Erica, I've been thinking a lot about what makes something beautiful.  And so I decided to write my own definition of beauty.
I find a lot of things beautiful that the world would scorn or brush off.  And a lot of things that I hear praised for their beauty aren't really beautiful to me.

To me, beauty is more than a combination of colors or arrangement of atoms or a progression of chords.

For something to be beautiful, it has to be true.  When I feel a certainty in my heart that something is real and true, it becomes beautiful to me.  Anything fake or hidden just isn't as beautiful to me as something that is honest and not afraid to be itself.  Beauty flees the darkness and embraces, thrives in the light. 
Beautiful things make me happy.  And not just the quick-laugh-and-grin happy--the kind of happy that settles in my heart and warms my toes with lasting peace and comfort and just a good feeling.  One beautiful thing can change my day from mediocre to wonderful in mere seconds.  Sad things can be beautiful too, because sometimes feeling sad makes me even more grateful for what I have and what I can learn from the sadness.  And learning things always makes me happy.

I don't necessarily recognize beautiful things on sight.  Anything beautiful needs to be recognized by the heart and mind, and that might take a little concentration and time.  Nothing is truly beautiful that doesn't make you think, and even change you a bit.

Something beautiful will always touch my divine nature.  I will hear words spoken that remind me of scriptures, hear music that fills my soul with the Spirit, and see images that make me grateful for all I have been given.  The gospel is the most beautiful thing I know, and whenever something reminds me of the gospel, it is beautiful to me as well.


So when the world has decided that beauty is a skin color, a style, a place, a person, I know what is beautiful to me.  And as long as I surround myself with what I find beautiful, I think I'm set to face the world with a smile on my face.

I think this song is one of the most beautiful I have ever heard.  When I listen to it, I feel like I am listening to exactly what peace sounds like.  Just because it is from a TV show does not mean you shouldn't listen to it or should think that it isn't good quality.  I listen to it whenever I'm feeling worried or unloved or stressed and it reminds me of all the beauty in the world and that my Heavenly Father loves me.

Valentine's Day

I had the most fantastic day today.  No, I did not find my Mr. Darcy (or any other boy, for that matter,) but I did get a flower from my best friend, and heard the most amazing devotional in the whole world, and wrote a beautiful love story, and had dinner with all my BYU sisters.  I found out that I did really well on my physics test, and I talked with my dear friends Nina and Olivia.  Nina even drew me a lovely picture and sent me valentines.  I took treats to some of my friends, and sent valentines to the ones who live far away.

Today I was reminded (in a way that left me sobbing in front of about 700 people) that Heavenly Father loves me so much.  Whenever I have a specific problem or question on my mind, He takes care to find just the right person to tell me just what I need to hear.  I spent almost the entire day grinning with happiness just because I knew it so strongly.  His love for me was constantly on my mind and in my heart, and I could feel myself radiating it. 

I hope that anyone who doubts Heavenly Father's love for them can have experiences like mine today and on many occasions in the past.  I know that He loves all of us with a perfect, immeasurable love. 

To everyone who has shown me love or support or patience in my life, THANK YOU!  I love you all and I am eternally grateful to you for helping point me in the right direction.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Why do I love the Equalists?

How I feel right now.

KORRA

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF NOT FOR THIS I MIGHT BE DEAD RIGHT NOW.
2012!!!!! MY HEART. CAN'T. HANDLE.
Now for an actual date...

I May Very Well Never See the Light of Day Again

I have been to all my second-semester classes at least once. 

And...It will be a miracle if I get any sleep at all this semester.

It's not that I am dreading my classes, per se.  Just that they will be extremely time-consuming.  I have been informed that I can look forward to spending 9-12 hours a week outside of class studying for Organic Chemistry, and 6-9 hours a week studying for Physics.  Not to mention Linear Algebra, for which there is a lot of homework, or Comparative Literature, for which I have to read ten a lot of books and write eight also a lot of essays. 

I've already been inundated with readings and quizzes and homework problems and a lot more readings.

I spent twenty minutes making up my study schedule for the semester and...I will rarely see any of my roommates or my bed. 

I also made a study playlist on Grooveshark which at this point consists solely of the beautiful and inspiring music of Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn.  Unlike most music, which distracts me, this helps me relax and focus.  As grateful as I am for their musical brilliance, I will probably be listening to this nonstop...because I will be studying nonstop.

Sigh.  Deeper sigh.  It will be worth it to get good grades and put the effort into learning the material thoroughly.  I know that.  Just...sigh.

Actually, the only way I know for sure that I'll survive is the fact that the first thing on my study schedule for every day is to read a talk from General Conference and the last thing on my day is to read my scriptures--both the Book of Mormon and the New Testament.  Starting and ending my day by studying the gospel and getting in tune with the Spirit will make me more focused, more centered, and more at peace.  If not for the gospel, I would be incomprehensibly lost. 

I am eternally grateful for my Heavenly Father's love for me and all the ways He has supported me thus far in my life.

To anyone feeling overwhelmed or lost or discouraged, I strongly recommend your reading this.  It really helped me to put everything in perspective and remind me that with His help, I can overcome anything that seems incomparably daunting.

So now I take a deep breath and say a prayer and work to keep my life aligned with my Heavenly Father's will.

Because without His help...I'm really not sure I can do this.

Blogging in an Airport

Because my flight doesn't leave for another hour and a half and I am BORED.

I had many a marvelous marathon of DW and Merlin and A:TLA with my lovely friends in Tennessee.  Season finales and season premieres and Christmas specials galore!

I endured/fostered lots of sibling craziness and abuse. 

I went on a wonderful trip downtown during which my best friend guilted me into buying two beautiful things that I am now very glad I own. 

I got to see my cousins and grandparents and show off my intense skills in Space Pop on the Kinnect. 

I learned that my brother (who is still not taller than me, by the way) can do an absolutely terrifying vampire face and can make a sound exactly like a stream.  Where has he been hiding these talents, I ask you? 

I learned that Nina and I should NEVER, under ANY circumstances, open a bakery. 

I successfully introduced the term "House of Anubis" into my family's vernacular.

I got a beautiful T-shirt quilt that I have drug everywhere with my since Christmas.  I feel like a little kid with her blanket.  I just love it so much...

And it may have been my last trip back to Franklin.  Because semester ends in April, which is four months away, and who knows where my family could be by then? 

I love you, Franklin friends, and I'm sure I will see you again, even if we do move to Alaska or someplace very distant.

Happy 2012, everyone!

Or, should I say, HAPPY KORRA YEAR!

TENNESSEE

Since I'm super awesome and fail horribly at updating my blog--
(Sorry for that, by the way)

I have survived my first semester of college.  More than survived, actually.  In spite of the fact that I rarely sleep, and sometimes spend hours wondering if anyone knows I'm alive, I love my life.

My roommates are fantastic. 



My FHE group is delightful.



Football games are insanely fun.



My roommate Sara and I are best best friends.



I have learned a lot about how to not sleep and continue to act like I have slept, how to make myself do all my schoolwork before anything else, how to be a fangirl in all aspects of my life, how to make sure I know what's important and set my priorities properly, how to keep the gospel always at the top of my priorities list, how to study for 5 hours straight, how to laugh at myself, how to make other people laugh at me, and how to be truly beautiful, regardless of anyone else's opinions or tastes, and how Heavenly Father never ever leaves me alone. 

And now, hasta la vista, Provo.  Tomorrow I embark on a grand return adventure to the land of Franklin, Tennessee.

To all my dear friends in Tennessee, I am VERY excited to see you again.  As marvelous as my collegiate life is, I miss you guys.  I make it a goal to see as many of you as I can for as long as I can upon my return. 

So assuming I don't die on the plane or in the airport, I will see you all soon.  It will be marvelous to step back in to my old life for a few weeks. 



Tennessee, I will see you in approximately 24 hours.