A Humble Win, or a Beautiful Loss

I have thought a lot about the pain I put upon my wrestling opponents when I defeat them.
What makes me any greater than them that I should be the one to win? They sweat and slave and work just like I do. Who am I to take all those hopes and dreams and kill them?
Another thought that has occurred to me is that maybe God wants my opponent to win to teach them something. Maybe teach them that hard work pays off. Maybe He's trying to teach me that I need to work harder.
Who am I to be greater?
These, and many similar thoughts, I have fought with for years.
Today I found the answer.
Thinking back on the last two state tournaments I realize that even though being a two time runner up is difficult, it is absolutely one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I have grown and developed so much, and in ways I probably wouldn't have had I won.
In our backwards, confused, glory seeking world people think you've gained the great prize when you win. The thing people miss oftentimes is the the beauty in taking a loss and running with it. With that in mind, there is a wrong way to lose. The wrong way to lose is to give up. The beauty in a loss comes with the perspective, motivation, and wisdom a person can gain from it if they choose to accept what they cannot change and move on.
So, all that said.
Who am I to deprive another person of the chance to improve and develop their character?
Who am I to give someone something they don't deserve?
Who am I to not put my full and entire being into the matches I wrestle?
The person God made me to be is not for those things.
He made me to be great. Incredible. He made me to beautifully lose and humbly win, and to give my entire being to the journey.
He made me to become as He is, and He is perfect.
I am not perfect. I am not free of sin. I make mistakes on the mat and off the mat. That's okay. I am improving.
I want to win state this year more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.
As I work for this title, may God guide me to a humble win or a beautiful loss, and may my opponents be guided as well.
Peace be unto them.

Ready. Set. Go.

I feel like I'm going to explode.
There are so many directions my life is going - so many ways I am being pulled.
Dallin, you need to wrestle harder.
Dallin, you need to be a state champion.
Dallin, you need to get straight A's.
Dallin, you need to be righteous.
Dallin, you need to have a social life.
Dallin, you need to be an active member of your family.
Dallin, you need to fulfill all of your church callings.
Dallin, you have $10,000 to raise in the next year and a half for a mission.
Dallin, you need to get your Eagle Scout.
Dallin, you need to get your Duty to God award.
Dallin, you need to score high on the ACT.
Dallin, you need to do your chores.
Dallin, you are the oldest son; you must be the example.
Dallin, you need to find a job.
Dallin, you need to stay focused.
Dallin, you need to work harder.
Dallin, you need to build a business.
Dallin, your Dad is really sick.
Dallin, the nice man down the street whose lawn you mowed this summer just died.
Dallin, you're not good enough yet.
Dallin, you need to have more fun.
Dallin, you need to eat more healthily.
Dallin, you need to stop having fun and get to work.
Dallin, your house is making you sick.
Dallin, your friends live 1,000 miles away. Deal with it.
Dallin, you need to hunt because our family needs food.
Dallin, you're better than this. Man up.
Dallin, you need to take care of your little siblings.
Dallin, you need to keep your weight down for wrestling.
Dallin, you need to stay happy.
Dallin, you need to keep peace in your heart.
Dallin, you need to smile.
Dallin, you need to go on more dates.
Dallin, your posture is bad. Fix it.
Dallin, you're failing physics.
Dallin, you need to breathe.
Dallin, you need to sleep more.
Dallin, you need to go teach with the missionaries.
Dallin, you need to look nice.
Dallin, the government is taxing you now, just so you know.
Dallin... Dallin... Dallin.
Oh boy, Dallin. You've got a lot to do.
My friends, I'm not tired. I can do this. The Lord is my Shepherd.
But I do feel... Overwhelmed.
Guys, I'm 16. I'm still trying to figure out who I am and how the world works.
Hold up just a minute so that I can gather my bearings.
I can do all of this. I can handle it. Don't worry. I am strong enough. But geez. This stuff would be so much easier to deal with if it weren't all coming at me at once. I don't even care about the easiness of it all, my problem lies more in the fact that time is a limited commodity.
THERE ARE ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY, AND ONLY ABOUT 18 IN WHICH I AM AWAKE. I DON'T SLEEP ENOUGH AS IT IS ALREADY.
LEAVE ME ALONE.
It would be very beneficial for me if I would make more friends here in Malad. Other than wrestling, I don't ever hang out with people here, which basically means that the entirety of my social life is online or at wrestling. That gets lonely. Really lonely. Loneliness is painful.
I love my friends, but video chatting, phone calls, and facebook chat are not sufficient social life for a teenager. I need to get out and experience the world.
....And somehow figure out how to deal with all the things on that list up there.
Breathe, Dallin.
Have faith.
Put in everything you have, and the Lord will cover the rest.
Ready.
Set.
Go.

People are astounding. They really are. I just love people a lot.
Also, the human voice is incredible. The voice holds such great power.
God made the world awesome. :D

Some Thoughts About Ballet

Dancing is a beautiful thing. Today I'd like to discuss ballet.

Ballet is amazing. It requires so much balance, focus, and strength. Watch this. 

And look at these pictures.

Notice the grace, poise, and beauty of the poses.

I'm not a huge fan of ballet, and I don't know much about it, but I do think it's very interesting.

I was thinking today about ballet. It has a lot to do with fluid motion. Sometimes gravity helps that motion. Sometimes gravity inhibits it. What if someone could figure out how to do ballet in a place where there is no gravity? What would that look like? Or what would it look like if ballet was done in a place with very little gravity such as the moon? 

I don't know. But I think the idea is very interesting. I haven't found it anywhere on the internet, so I don't think anyone has done it. A project like that would be made into a documentary or something, so it's bound to be within easy reach of a google search if it was there. 

I think zero gravity ballet should be a thing, because it'd be super cool. :D

So anyway. That's my thought of the day. Go forth and dream often, my friends. :)

-Dallin

P.S.

Ballet with lights is super cool. Just so you know. :D

Frustration

You don't have time to be frustrated.

Stop it. Right now.

Take a deep breath.

Life is hard and difficult things happen all the time. That's okay. If you get all worked up about it you're not helping anything, only making it more difficult.

Put your head down, go to work, and get it done. Open your eyes to the greater purpose. You can do this. You've proven it time and time again that you're capable. Do not try to rationalize giving up. It's not worth it. When you rationalize you limit yourself every time. Do not limit yourself. God doesn't limit you. What makes you think you are wiser than He is? You aren't. Don't put limits on yourself. It's stupid. Don't be stupid.

Instead look up and praise the Lord for his mercy. Thank Him for the abundance of blessings He has given you. Ask Him for help. He will help you. He will not do it for you, so don't ask for that. But ask instead for the attributes you need to accomplish your task, and praise His name regardless of what comes or doesn't. His wisdom is infinite.

Oh Lord, give me the courage to begin, the strength to continue, and the vision to finish. Help me to keep peace in my heart, I pray. May blessings fall upon all Thy people, and Thy will be done always.

Everything You Do Changes The World

Once you realize that absolutely everything you do changes the world, your actions will change.
Your choice to go to bed too late last night, or lie to a friend, or anything else that changes your mood for today absolutely changes the entire world. That's right. Your mood today changes the entire world. Today, because you are grumpy, you didn't smile at the distraught young lady you passed walking down the hall, or the sidewalk. You didn't sit down and comfort her. You walked right by... Just like everyone else. Because she feels so lonely, so isolated, and so unloved, she has now fallen into sin. You had the power to pick her up, and send her in a better direction. But you didn't, because you were in a bad mood and just didn't feel like she was important enough of a soul to be worth your energy. Now her children are forever affected as a result. And her children's children. And their children. Of course this isn't all your fault. I am not saying that. What I am saying is that there is a flip side to this.
Let's say that you didn't lie to your friend, or you didn't stay out too late, but instead you went to bed on time and got up early to go on a run. Let's say that you walked out of the house after an invigorating run and a good breakfast, and you saw this young lady in the same moment you would have before, and everything is the same, except that you stop to comfort her this time. You sit for just 15 minutes and listen to her problems and comfort her and give her a little bit of hope to hold on to. Sure, you're late for your class. Big deal. Do you know what you did do? You gave that young lady that little bit of hope that she had been looking so desperately for. Praying, and pleading with the Lord to send her just someone who will listen. As a result, she followed Christ. She raised a family with a loving husband, and had children who were happy and cheerful children. Children who went out into the world and did a lot of good. In fact, not only did you change the life of this young lady and her descendants, but you also changed the lives of almost everybody else on your way. See, you were smiling as you walked out the door this morning, and even happy enough to be singing. You were singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical "Oklahoma!" The person you never saw just around the corner from where you were walking heard your singing, and was inspired. They had a better day because of you. Not only that, but a better week, month, and life. There was the lonely old man you walked past. His wife died the month prior, and he was distraught. You smiled at him as you walked past, and greeted him briefly. Nobody had done that in a long time. He was just the old man that nobody noticed, and nobody cared for. But you did. He remembered that.

My friends, you don't have to do anything I'm saying here. It's entirely up to you.
But look at the good you have the potential to do every day.
If you have something that weighs on your soul, fix it.
If you have self-destructive habits, fix them.
If you are doing anything that makes you any less than the best you can be, stop it.

The Lord said,

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

Your actions are the small and simple means, and the Lord is counting on you.
One day you will look back on this life and you will see how all the pieces of life fit together.
One day you will see the wonderful things you did, and how you changed the world.
One day you will see the wonderful things you didn't do, and how you didn't change the world. That will weigh on your soul.
When you leave this life, leave it knowing that you smiled at everybody you saw, you sang down every street, you held love in your heart all the time, and you did all you can do.
Can you live knowing you've done anything less?

10,000 Pageviews, And An Excellent Bonus

Hey guys, this blog just hit 10,000 pageviews thanks to you.
Thank you. :)
This talk is amazing. You should go watch it. It will make your day happier if you let it. :)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-home-the-school-of-life?lang=eng#watch=video
Remember:

1. The temple is the place.
2. To contend, you need two people, and I will never be one of them.
3. A child who sings is a happy child.
4. I need you to hug me.
5. I love the Book of Mormon and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
6. It is not enough to know the scriptures; we have to live them.

Now go forth and sing. :D

When I Raise My Children

When I raise my children, I want them to fear not failure or opposition, but instead embrace it with full and open hearts. I want to dance in the rain with them. I want to jump out of trees into great big leaf piles with them. I want to build giant snow castles and sleep in home made igloos. I want to go exploring in the woods and play hide and seek in the house. I want to read great stories of daring adventures with them. I want to have a book open in every room so that when they are ready to learn, the option is there, and I want the walls of my home to be lined with books. I want them to bake cookies to surprise me and accidentally put salt in place of sugar. I want them to sing and to laugh and to be joyful - and I want to be that way with them.

When I raise my children, I want them to never see my wife and I fight, but instead sit them down with a box of legos and a fantastic vision while my wife and I settle our dispute elsewhere. I want to treat my wife like the daughter of God that she is, that my children will see this, and know how to treat their mother. I want to be peaceful in my heart and conscious in my actions, that I may make place for the spirit of God to dwell in me.

When I raise my children, I want to bring the spirit of the Lord into my home. I hope to be worthy of that honor. I hope to be worthy of the honor and the responsibility God gave me by guiding me to the lady I shall marry, and giving me the children we shall raise together. I want to fill their heads with knowledge, their hearts with love, their bodies with strength, and their spirits with peace. 

When my children leave home, I hope to send them on their way with great dreams and aspirations, and a work ethic to match. Mostly, I hope to send them with the spirit. May it be so.

God's will be done always.

I Will Try to Be Your Hero

The other day I received a letter from a friend of mine. It was so beautiful. Touching enough, in fact, that I took 4 days to think about it before I thought to respond. With permission from the author, I choose share it with you in this post. The letter goes like this:

Hey, Dallin.It's been a really, really long time since I've seen you in class, and I miss you. You're really cool.Anyway, I have this notebook that I keep a bunch of stuff in. Mostly it's aspirations, ideas, memories, and stuff that makes me happy. I have a section all about my heroes, and you're in it. There are so many admirable things about you, and I was able to recognize that from the first time I ever talked to you.I actually wrote about you in my notebook like two weeks after first realizing that you even exist. Reading what I wrote, I realize that I didn't know very much about you, and I still don't. But I was able to see that you have a depth that most people very seldom show, that you have beautiful ideals, and that you can change the world. That's all true. And also, I think you have a unique capacity to love. Not just like feelings, but true, deep love. That is so, so beautiful.Anyway, that's all I wanted to tell you.Have a good day. :)

This blog post is my response to that letter, because I don't know how else to respond.
My Dear Friend,
I do not know if I live up to everything you state in your letter. I feel like there are a million other people who would suit your list of heroes far better than do I. Somehow though... I am there. What a sobering feeling. I didn't know that I could be seen like that. To me I'm just... Me. I'm just another guy that lives and laughs and loves. I am Dallin Ward and I am going to change the world, but I didn't know that I could change yours. I didn't know that I could be your hero. In fact, I feel wholly inadequate to be called such. I'm there though. Thank you for that.
All this being said, here is what I come to.
I will try to be your hero. I will do my best to be a man worthy of such an honor. I will remember this letter in times of trial and temptation and I will press forward. I will glorify God, and I will stay worthy to be your hero.
I will not forget you.
All the love in my heart,
Dallin Ward

I Am Lonely Today

I am lonely today.
Not that I'm complaining about it. I'm just lonely.
Loneliness is fascinating. So incredibly interesting to observe. It's difficult to feel, but rather enlightening as well. I wonder what I can learn.

Why Wealth?

Most people dream of wealth... Success... Fame.
So I had a question.
Why?
Why would a person want to be wealthy, isn't that just more money to deal with and more stress?
Then I thought about it for a while. People want wealth because they want experience. The world is so much easier to experience as a wealthy person. A wealthy person can give more, can travel more, can experience more, and make a greater impact on the world...
One day I'm going to be a wealthy person, and with that wealth I'm going to change the world.
I'm going to do so much good for so many people.
Come, join me. We'll go together, and we'll experience the world. We'll uplift everybody we see.
We'll do God's work, and spread His light to the nations.
We will change the world.