Attitude of Gratitude

 21 September - 27 September 2020

Howdy y'all! Top of the mornin' to ya. It's actually evening. But I felt like typing that that :)

Okay, so the beginning of the week was pretty boring. Just school, work, and homework. No fun. So I will combine it into one section. But good news. My weekend was pretty chill. Literally ;).

Welp, I tested negative for covid. You're welcome. That was pretty anti-climatic. I spent the morning grading papers and then had a work meeting at noon. I am still feeling a bit sick, but it must be an actual cold since it's not covid. I got to attend my meditation and basic mediation classes in person again this week! I still despise having to wear a mask. I have also been practicing gratitude and have sent letters and texts and messages to lots of people. It truly does make you so much happier to focus on mindfully being grateful. One day this week, I planned on staying home for my 8am class, but then the Wi-Fi was HORRIBLE and I kept getting kicked off my Zoom class. After 15 minutes, I got so fed up and decided to trek to campus to get better Wi-Fi. On the walk there, I was angry and fuming--something I actually haven't felt in a while. I remembered that I am practicing gratitude this week and decided to think of one thing I could be grateful because my Wi-Fi was sucky. I started noticing how beautiful the trees were with the changing leaves and breathed in the fresh morning air. I became calm and grateful for the beautiful surroundings. I sat on a blanket next to a tree and become content and happy and grateful for the opportunity to experience the nature because I was forced out of my home due to crummy Wi-Fi.

Friday: I met with two students this morning from the class I TA for. The first student didn't join the Zoom link, and I was worried he had forgotten, so I turned into a stalk and looked up his info on the BYU website and texted him. He was actually really grateful that I reminded him because he had slept in and forgotten! I met with some girls from my Abnormal Psychology class and we worked on a study guide in preparation for our test next week. I spent the afternoon working and doing homework. That evening, I decided to go to the college night ice skating event, even though it was from 10pm to 12am. I just wanted to meet some other kids my age who like to ice skate! It was super fun (despite falling and bruising my elbow and getting a blister).

Saturday: I slept in pretty late since I got to bed later than normal. I went grocery shopping at Sam's Club and ran into an old mission companion and her husband! They're super cute, but I will admit it's a bit awkward because I don't really know what to talk about with her anymore. I spent the afternoon working on a PowerPoint for Tuesday. I get to teach the class I TA for! It's all about APA 7th edition formatting. Yup, super interesting, I know... So that's why I had to make it super interesting and fun! It's Star Wars themed. I also bought candy to throw out to student's who answer questions. I was super groggy all day. That evening, I went over to Whitney's apartment. We took a trip to buy ice cream at the store and then watched Ever After. Again, I got home super late... well, like midnight. That's two nights in a row! Yikes. But it was fun to hang with friends.

Sunday: I got a new calling this morning! Bishop video called me and asked me to be a Family History Consultant. While I didn't expect to receive that calling, it came as no surprise because it felt like Heavenly Father was giving me an opportunity to get better at consistently doing my own family history. I got sustained in church! I went to give one of my ministering sisters a treat (aka laughy taffies) and I talked with her and her roommates for a hot minute. We all talked about going ice skating together sometime! I travelled back to the church building to get set apart. There was a line of people, so I got to talk to a new guy in the ward and get to know him better. I had Come, Follow Me at Whitney's apartment complex, and I got to share two insights with them that I could tell really touched them. One thing that I learned today is that one Christlike attribute Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ practice perfectly is Gratitude. They are both so grateful for my time serving as a missionary for them. Because of their gratitude, they bless me. That thought touched me so much. They are grateful for the service I do. The other insight I had was about the beatitudes that Jesus taught. Each one involves hardship, sacrifice, or pain in order to gain the listed blessing. I have been wanting to change my perspective on pain and trials, to really appreciate and love them and view them as good because they help me grow. 

Much love,

Emily Burnham

The Rona

 14 September - 20 September 2020

Well hello there! Good thing you can't catch a virus via a blog post! Not that I have my results back... but anyways, I'm getting ahead of myself. Why don't I start at the beginning of the week?

Honestly, it was not an exciting week. Just school and homework and work for the first half of the week. I've been working on spending time each day to be grateful, not only because it is good to do in general, but I had to pick a well-ness strategy to do for 3 weeks straight for my Positive Psychology class, and that was the one I chose! 

So, Wednesday I had an appointment to go into the health center, but they wouldn't let me in because I admitted that I'd been having headaches and that as of today, my nose was kind of runny. They said they couldn't let me in until either I quarantined for 14 days or tested negative for corona. Fortunately, I was able to set up an appointment to meet with the doctor online for the next day, so everything still worked out. But guess what? Yeah, I decided I should get tested, because I actually have felt a bit sick and could have corona, but I have no idea who I would have gotten if from!

So, Friday morning I drove to get a q-tip stuck up both of my nostrils. I only had to wait for 45 minutes! The fun thing, though, was that Whitney also had to get tested because a girl at her work had it, and we coincidentally signed up to get our test around the same time. We chatted on the phone while waiting in line. Later that afternoon, I was watching my Abnormal Psychology class lectures, and this quote from the professor (which I will share with you out of context) made me laugh so hard! "And the dude straight licked the toilet."

Saturday, I went to the library because I needed to check out a textbook for class. When I got home, I felt nauseous and sickly, so by the time afternoon came, I just chilled and watched tv on my computer. I couldn't focus on homework or do much. Because I felt crappy this day, I also felt crappy about myself. But I prayed and wrote in my journal, and I felt the tangible love of my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for Him, and for my Savior. I love them.

Sunday... well, I stayed home from church because I am supposed to self-isolate. I watched the Restoration movie (always a favorite) and listened to some Sunday jams. I also posted the latest video on my YouTube channel. By afternoon, I was again exhausted, so I slept for a couple hours. I still don't have my results back, but they should definitely come tomorrow! In the evening, I got a text from Whitney that they were having Come, Follow Me over Zoom. I joined in, and after we played QuipLash and this other really fun game. That lasted for about an hour and a half! While I didn't take any pictures this week (for obvious reasons... aka I didn't do anything) I did take a screen shot of our CFM group, so enjoy!

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Water-coloring is Relaxing

7 September - 13 September 2020

Hello my friends! (Well, I guess I should say family, cuz I'm sure they're the only ones reading this... haha). What a week. Another week of school has passed by, and I am finally getting into the rhythm of my schedule. I cannot express how much I love my classes this semester! Especially Positive Psychology. My teacher is SO COOL. He does amazing photography and videos of nature and the night sky. He is so knowledgeable and inspirational. Plus, I'm learning so many amazing an applicable skills that are improving my life and mindset. 

Monday: Since it was Labor Day, there were no classes. I already don't have classes on Monday, but I still held my office hours and worked in the morning. That afternoon, I took a break to go over to Whitney's house and watercolor. Just because it sounded fun and relaxing. I just painted some simple flowers.

Tuesday: I enjoy attending my classes, and I am slowly relaxing because I don't think some of my classes will be as much work as I was thinking. I am definitely more tired and have had headaches frequently (I guess I'll just blame the fact that I not only do my homework on my computer, but I also now work AND attend my classes online. So my poor eyes have been strained lately). But meditation is always a good time to relax all the tension I've been feeling.

Wednesday: I went into the HCEB to work in the morning, went home for lunch, then got ready to do the TA review. In my afternoon class, I was put in a group to talk about the reading, and one of the students in my group is a student I TA for in Behavioral Neurobiology. He complimented me on the reviews that I hold and said they were very good and helpful! That made me feel good.

Thursday: Wow, talk about the longest day ever! I made myself lunch (lasagna) in the small break I had between classes, but didn't have time to eat it before I needed to leave to go to campus and attend Zoom classes. I then had my evening class. Then... I slept. ZZzzzzzzz

Friday: I spent the day doing homework, and then that evening went over to Whitney's to watch a movie. We ended up watching the animated version of Aladdin (a girl in our friend group had never seen it before) and then we just chatted afterwards about the gospel. Quinn played with my hair while she told us about her conversion story, and then she asked each of us to share ours. I love how even those who have grown up in the church have a conversion story.

Saturday: I caught up on some homework that I didn't do the day before (not that I'm behind, mind you. I'm actually very ahead, but I just want to keep it that way). I went down to the library for a couple of hours, and I found a comfortable spot in a building that was completely empty, so I didn't wear my mask! I went home and ate lunch. But I just did NOT feel like doing homework anymore. I was feeling antsy, actually, and just wanted to do something. I decided to put my creative juices to work and did some water-coloring. I really like the final result of my starry night painting! That night, I had a couple of friends over to play games, but mostly we just ended up talking. I made Whitney dinner! Also, it was super cool because I got to share my mission book with Quinn, and retelling stories from my mission and sharing about people I met and loved made me SO SO happy. Wow, missions are just the best. They become a piece of you forever.

Sunday: I enjoyed going to church with all of my roommates. Afterwards, I made an effort to go around and meet some people. I don't like how isolated I feel from the ward. Half the ward meets at 11, and the other half meets at 12. We all wear masks, so I can't even recognize people I know (made that mistake twice... lol). And we aren't supposed to congregate and talk. But hopefully this will change soon!! After church, I had a thought to serve, so I decided to cut out some cute hearts, and I went and heart-attacked the Bishop, my friends, and a lot of apartments in my ward. Afterwards, I took a fat nap (cuz Sunday is a day of rest, after all!) and then went over to Whitney's apartment for Come, Follow Me. We had a great discussion about how lasting happiness comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sin may grant instant gratification, but it doesn't last. If we remember that, it is slightly easier to resist temptations. After that, I went to an apartment of sisters in the ward to watch the Face to Face Devotional with the Rasbands. One of the girls there, Rachel, is also gluten and dairy free! She made us yummy corn bread (she was going to do cookies but didn't have the ingredients). We talked afterwards about how pain and living in the tension of not knowing the answers to gospel questions we have is an important part of life because it allows us to connect and bond. There is a purpose in all things.

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Yawning Behind Masks

31 August - 6 September 2020

I survived my first week of classes! More importantly, I enjoyed them! I am super pumped about most of my classes. I say most only because I am kind of afraid of one or two of them, but I know they will be super good for me to take. One of my favorite courses so far is Positive Psychology. We are already learning so many good and applicable things! I'm also taking a meditation class, and the best part is that we can take off our masks if we are seated far away enough from each other. Otherwise I think I'd hate the class because taking deep breathes through a mask is torture, the opposite of relaxing. I did feel a bit anxious this week with the start of classes, and amazingly, the feeling was almost foreign. I've felt so much more at peace and relaxed since seeking help, that I'd forgotten what feeling anxious all day feels like. But I'm learning so many skills to help manage it, and I'm grateful it hasn't gotten as bad as it has been in the past.

Monday: The Lord answered my prayer this morning. I had lost where I put the church key after packing everything up in my bedroom, and I'd prayed to find it and searched on Sunday, but to no avail. Monday morning, I read in the scriptures about God cursing things that are buried so they will never be found, if they are not buried up to Him. I prayed and pleaded to find it (as it was His church key, after all) and the idea came to look in two places I hadn't yet looked every morning this week. So I looked in one place, nothing. Looked in a second place, found it! God is good! I didn't have any live classes, but I headed up to campus early in the morning to clock in and work. I've been spending many hours preparing the Behavioral Neurobiology course and making sure all is good to go. 

Tuesday: I had my first Positive Psychology course that morning at 8am. I'd had the idea to go up to campus for it, but that just didn't happen. I needed those extra 15 minutes to make my breakfast, so I sat on the couch and attended the lecture that way. I guess that is one good thing about online classes! I had my first day of meditation class, and then I went to the class I TA for (Psych 307). I am doing that as a capstone, so instead of getting paid, I am getting course credit. Afterwards, I had my Teaching in Psych class (also for my capstone).

Wednesday: I went to the Harmen building to work for three hours this morning. I have a lot of trainings to do and courses to help design. It's pretty enjoyable, though! I helped hold the first review of the semester for my Neuro class that afternoon, and then attended my afternoon class, Applying to Graduate School. I figured some extra motivation to start the application progress couldn't hurt. The only down side about online classes is that wifi at home is sketchy sometimes. So I go up to campus, but then have to wear a mask. Oh well, at least your professor has a harder time telling when you're yawning underneath a mask!

Thursday: Such a long day! I had everything in my schedule from Tuesday, as mentioned above, PLUS a class from 5 to 7:30pm. I deserve a trophy. Hehe. That evening class is called Basic Mediation (not to be confused with Meditation) and it seems like a helpful class, but not one I am really looking forward to, unfortunately. For example, we have to watch at least 2 hours of court sessions and do a write up about it. Movie night, anyone? Yeah, no thanks.

Friday: I don't have classes today, which is a huge blessing. I meant to do a lot of my school work, but aside from cleaning in the morning, the rest of my day was filled with work things, well into the night. Then I stopped around 7:30 to eat dinner (I'd made my first meal in my new instapot. Sweet shredded pork). Then I went over to Whitney's place. They were going to have a movie night, but everyone arrived so late and then they argued over which movie to watch and finally decided on a movie I had just watched last week (Inside Out). I thought I'd stay for a little bit through the movie, but then these two new friends to the friend group had a pretty heated argument that made a lot of tension in the house and I left soon afterwards.

Saturday: So today I spent all day on homework. Not homework that was due soon, but on the papers and projects that are a ways off. I also made a stop by the BYU Bookstore to pick up a textbook that I would need. I forced myself to stop doing homework at 5pm, and then just had a relaxing evening eating food, reading, and watching a movie. Breaks are a healthy part of life! I loved this concept I learned in my Positive Psychology class: it's not that stress is bad for us and makes us sick; it's that we don't give ourselves rests and breaks to deal with it. When you work out your muscles, you usually split it up in groups by days. Monday Wednesday and Friday are "leg" days and the other days are "arm" days, for example. When you stress your muscle, that's what helps it grow. It's healthy for you. But, then you need that day break to recover. If you worked out your arms every other hour, that would tear muscles instead of strengthening them. With stress, that's what we are doing. Doing, doing, doing without a break in the day or week. When you take a day off, take a day off. Don't do anything with work or school. Let yourself recover and rejuvenate. 

Sunday: Fast Sunday. I volunteered to bear my testimony in church today (and good thing, too, because I was the only girl). My roommate Mira's parents are in town and also came with us. Bishop also spoke and talked about how he had a new granddaughter as of yesterday, born in the car on the way to the hospital. I turned to my roommate and whispered, "I hope they named her Car-ly." Yep, I'm pretty hilarious, I know. I want to again take this opportunity to bear my testimony that I know President Nelson speaks with the Lord, and then speaks the words of the Lord to us. God created us. He knows our bodies better than anyone. He knows what is best for our physical and mental health. Our circumstances have very little to do with our happiness level. So in this crazy time, and no matter how much more crazy the world gets, we can be happy. We can create our joy. I also testify that the pain and trials we suffer have purpose. They allow us to have better compassion and empathy for others. Just as Jesus Christ suffered more than He had to, we have the opportunity to do the same. If He was just going to save Himself, He could have. But he chose to suffer more so he could pay the price for our sins and so that he could know how to succor and help us. In this life, we go through trials that are SO hard, and we may believe we can be saved without them, but maybe someone else needs the help and support we can offer because of that pain we went through. God doesn't limit our suffering to the bear necessities. He allows suffering to occur because pain truly brings us close together. Think of two strangers meeting for the first time that have nothing in common. Now think of two strangers meeting that both lost a parent to cancer, or both lost a teenage child. They can bond and connect in a way that draws them socially and emotionally closer together than if they had not suffered in a similar way. Pain and suffering can foster connection and allow us to grow closer to each other and to God, if we allow it.

Can I get an Amen?

Much love,

Emily Burnham