Live Boldly. Just Live...

One of my goals this summer is to read at least 10 books.  I've always loved reading ever since I was little, but sometimes life just gets in the way.  Since I'm working and not taking classes (meaning NO homework!!), I have a lot more time on my hands than I ever have before.  It's perfect time to read books and get caught up in another world from time to time.

One of the books that I've already read this summer is Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.  Now, I know there's a lot of controversy surrounding this book and the movie that came out this weekend, but I don't want to get caught up in the why of that (those of you who have read the book know what I'm talking about).  When I read the book and saw the movie, the thing that stuck out to me the most was something that Will keeps telling Lou over and over again, "Live boldly.  Just live." The more I thought about it, the more beautiful I thought that was.  We've all been given bodies and lives and our Heavenly Father expects us to live here on earth in the best way we can.  Of course, there's going to be trials and hardships along the way, but that's a natural part of the earthly experience.  If we don't take chances and live boldly, we'll never know what our full potential here on earth can consist of.

Think about how many opportunities you miss if you don't share your beliefs with others, travel the world, try something new, ask the cute girl out, cry with a friend, or put yourself out there.  Like I mentioned earlier, I set goals at the beginning of the summer to help me live a fuller life.  Some of them are:
-go to the temple weekly
-read 10 books
-practice flute 3x/week
-clean apartment weekly
-go hiking
-go camping
-daily scripture study
-get a passport
-hang with friends (that aren't my roomies (even though I love them to death))
-practice Spanish daily
-fall in love
-learn to play guitar
-take pictures
-make enough money for school
-exercise 4-5 days/week
-have fun!

Now it's not like my goals are skydiving or bull fighting or travelling to exotic places, but I know they'll help me be happier in my own way.  "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25).  This is our time to live boldly....and just live.