Do-Gooders on a Mission

“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other.”

– George Eliot

What if life could be like this?

Call me a hopeless dreamer, but I think it could.

Like Amélie, we can spread our simple pleasures and all of life's beauties around, even to those who seem like they wouldn't be able to view beauty the way the rest of us do.

I happen to think things are lovely when they're glowing with virtue. What's more virtuous than a generous action?


What if they made it so you could play a certain game like this with a cheat code?

If you don't like excessive YouTube clips, I'm sorry, but isn't it funny that a commercial, for of all things, Coca-Cola, could illustrate a point so well?

"You're gonna be remembered for the things that you say and do."

It's true, you know. By our fruits, or, what we produce, you and I will be remembered.

Life's simple pleasures are a two-way street. We can do simple things, give people simple joys that will make life better. Better for us, and better for others.

How `bout it? Let's be do-gooders on a mission. It takes some creativity, that is, creative self-insertion: "Hmm. What would I want if I were (insert name here)? What if I were sad or scared or apathetic or ______? What if I were emoting what this person is emoting? What would be just the ticket to making my life, or even just my mood more lovely?"


Let's let our virtuous, happy joy in helping people shine through everything we do; let it shine through every sentence we write, every good work we can think up.

They're called good works because it takes work. But like with most work, it pays off and leaves a sense of tired satisfaction.

Spending your days in the company of many different people teaches you something: Some people are hard to reach

They're full of prickles. It's hard to want to help them.

You know what? We should try anyway. Let's be sure to catalog it too, so we don't forget.

(If you'd like, you can report back to me via my comments/email how it goes. This would be splendorous.)

The Caboodle of Women

Oh, feminism

Not really my cup of tea. Unless you're talking about this kind:

Women who want their voices heard? Women who want the individual rights everyone should have inherently? If that's the feminism you're talking about, then... I get it.

I'm still not a feminist. I campaign for individual rights for all... no playing favorites.

If it's the sexual revolution 60's kind of feminism you want me to get on board with

Then no. I can't sympathize much.

Now, this isn't a political debate blog. I do that pretty much everywhere else (my family really must love me, because they only voice their annoyance or roll their eyes once in a while after I drop something political into everyday conversation. [I love you too fam! I'm sorry I do these things!]) This is a place for happy thoughts

Thus, I won't go into any politically-charged details.

Margaret D. Nadauld once said, "The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

I'm thinking I'll start a Virtuous Women Series, where I'll be interviewing/discussing women I admire most: Women from stories, movies, public figures, and most importantly, those I know and love.

Not that I don't admire men too (Captain Moroni, Neal A. Maxwell, Dwight Howard, George Washington, Malcolm Reynalds, Tony Stark, Thomas S. Monson, Deron Williams, My Dad, etc.)

I think women to look up to are more rare. That makes them precious.

I like to seek after virtue, remember? Proverbs 31:10 illustrates my point:

"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies"

(This print hangs on my wall. It's caption reads, "Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge.")

I think it's good to admire certain things about people: Their traits, qualities, talents, and virtues.

Here are few of my favorite spunky, lovable female heroines (Don't go thinking they're perfect, just remember they're human like the rest of us. They have stuff about them I admire and that makes them uniquely great):

Jo from Little Women

This is my favorite Jo, played by June Allyson in the 1949 version.

She exclaims things like, "Christopher Columbus!!" and "Let's be elegant.... or die!"

Plus, she's a writer who adores her family, and uses them as her inspiration. No joke, she's got three sisters like me.

I'm supposed to be Meg, if you go by age order.

(I know what you're thinking, old movie fans. Yes, this is her:)

Meg's okay... I guess. I can't deny though that I was always jealous of my sister when my mom said she was Jo.

(Manda looks more like this Jo.)

Julie B. Beck

She's a leader. She's extremely inspiring and encouraging to women. I feel like I want to be a better person every time I hear her speak.

Peggy from The Best Years of Our Lives

She's sassy. She's smart. She's nurturing and motherly.

She's good to her family

These are very underrated qualities, if you ask me. (Note: This is an oldie but a goodie. Check it out, I dare you.)

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

This lady was wonderful. She was genuine and funny. She was kind-hearted and loving. Even though she and her husband have now passed away, they've left a remarkable legacy.

I'm almost finished reading this:

I've gotten to know her better. It's changed my life, I'd say.

Elizabeth Bennett/Lalita from Pride and Prejudice/Bride and Prejudice

Both are witty and have lots of gumption. One sings catchy Bollywood tunes though, and that is a plus.

Joan of Arc

She was living proof that women can conquer armies. They can win over hearts and minds as well. They can be inspired and used as beacons of light to entire nations. (All of this can be said of Joan of Arc.) She's legendary, but she's also virtuous.

Lucy/Lucille Ball

She's always scheming to make it big. She has big dreams, and she's often an entrepreneur. Lucille Ball and Lucy from the show are hilarious. In my humble opinion, Lucille Ball is the greatest female comedian of all time.

Éowyn

She fights for what she cares about: her people and her country. Not to mention... she kicks butt. No, really. You know what's awesome? When she wields a sword. It's a pretty spectacular scene in the third Lord of the Rings, I'd say. (I won't give it away if you haven't seen it, but if you have, you know the one I'm talking about.)

Elphaba

She's misunderstood: completely demonized by popular opinion. That doesn't stop her. She fights for what she believes in. This gives her heroine-worthy status.

Anne of Green Gables

Ok, you can laugh; I know, it's dorky. She rocks though. She's poetic, she's feisty, she's not apologetic about her brains, and she's friendly and gets to know and love people. She calls the people she loves "kindred spirits." I haven't yet found a better way of saying it.

Ruth

In the Bible, it tells of how she is nurturing and shows great humility. I am of the belief that women and people in general should take care of one another. Ruth is a marvelous example of this.

Audrey Hepburn

In my mind, this woman is definitive of elegance and class. Her flair for French fashion and style just sings. She was a wonderfully generous person in real life too, did you know?

She said, “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Oprah and Sheri Dew

Never seen these two grouped together? Me neither. But it's for basically the same reason. They know how to be great business women.

We smith girls, we admire business women

Oprah and Sheri are so very clever. Also, who wouldn't want to have the power Oprah has? I mean, she says something is her favorite, and millions flock to support it. That's like my dream.

I can't wait to do the interviews with all the heroic women I actually know. (Guess what, fam: I've been granted an interview with Aunt Lavina!)

"Maybe I'm just a little girl, a little girl with great big plans" -Mindy Gledhill (I LOVE THIS SONG!)

When I grow up, I'll be like them.

Look no further than my favorite blogs for some more virtuous and lovely women (Scroll to the bottom to see the buttons!)

****Update: I had this blog completed, when I got some sad news about one of the most virtuous, lovely women I've ever met. She exemplifies what it means to be a virtuous, elect lady. Here is what happened, written in a blog by her mission companion and one by her sister.

www.foggyshore.blogspot.com

www.amberjoygiles.blogspot.com

I echo her mission companion when I say she's like an angel on earth. She, her children, and her husband need your positive thoughts and prayers right now.

Smith Family, Cancer Warriors, Memories, and Old Photos

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

- Jane Howard

We've had a bit of a shock the last couple days in the Smith family. If you read the Cancer Warriors blog which is linked to the side, you'll know what I mean.

My family has come together via technology during this time. We do this since we're spread out in different locations. Being far away from each other doesn't stop us.

Not only have Ross and Janie been bravely and beautifully cataloging Ross's cancer and giving us updates, the rest of the Smith/Werner families have been doing other things to communicate. If you could only read the many comments in text message, the Smith Family email, and even on good old Facebook. I wish everyone were lucky, nay, blessed enough to have a family like mine.

The Smith family has had to face hard times before. Grandma and Grandpa Smith are no longer with us, neither is our Uncle Roger. We've lost our Uncle Don too.

I have a single memory of my Grandpa Smith's funeral that I'd like to share with you:

I am singing with my cousins, standing up on a stage (one that can be found in most LDS cultural halls.) My Aunt Wanda is leading me in singing "Families Can Be Together Forever." I am singing it out, as loudly as my four-year-old lungs will go. I'm getting this happy, warm feeling. I'm having a moment of enlightenment: Families really can be together forever.

I've been thinking a lot about my family lately. Me and Shelby have put together some old photos that have needed to be scanned for a while now. I thought I'd share some of them with you, along with some memories, or if I wasn't born yet, speculations I have of them.

Here are the Smith siblings during the 70's. There's no need to question whether this is the 70's, look at the hair and bell-bottoms!

My Dad is wearing plaid ones. Also, a giant bow-tie.

This picture is one of those that's too good not to share. Aunt Barbara, Aunt Becky, and my dad are shown here:

Why? I don't know. All I know is it makes me laugh really hard.

I first remember meeting the Werner cousins in Kanab, Utah at our family reunion. I can remember jumping on a trampoline in my Jasmine nightgown. (Thankfully, you shall be spared a picture of this. It's funny the weird things we remember though, eh?) I remember all the Werners were there, including Ross and Wayne. I can remember running and playing tag with them. This was probably my first time ever playing night games.

Here is an old picture from that Kanab reunion. This is when the band of girl cousins first got together. (Why is Becca not here? I don't know. Maybe we can photoshop her in somehow.)

Me, Cali, Christy, and Holly

Me and Christy and Becca wrote letters to each other after the reunion. Those two sent me pictures of themselves and their siblings. Here's Timmy:

Here's Christy:

Oh how I wish I could find the other siblings' pictures. Also, I'm sorry for the bend in Timmy's picture. I'm sure there's a way to digitally fix it, so at least it's been scanned!

Christy and Becca lived in Arkansas. They were far away, but the other girl cousins still had some good times together. At cousin Barbara Jean's wedding, there were three rosy-cheeked flower girls who were just happy to be together

Little Manda was there too, looking at a ladybug

Here is Mom holding chubby Baby Shayna. Uncle Don is next to her, borrowing her hair. Holly is here too, being held by Jeff, her daddy

Later on, the girl cousins, including Christy and Becca, got together again for Grandma Smith's funeral. You cannot begin to understand the fun we had. It might sound strange that a funeral could have made us so happy, but just the fact that it brought the girl cousins together again made us joyful. We all camped out on Aunt Wanda's floor late into the night and laughed so hard, we cried. Cali laughed so long and so hard, she could not be stopped. I think she may have broken some kind of record with her laugh. It lasted a good hour.

At a family reunion, the girl cousins made a club. We put the first letters of our names together to form a club name. I do not know what the club name was, only that it existed.

The Smith family has lots of fun at reunions. We hold dances

The girl cousins had a blast at the dances

We learned new dances from our older, wiser girl cousin (or sister in Holly's case.)

Shay and Cali

Holly and Kait

Shelby and Becca (I know it's sideways, but it looks cooler this way.)

Our dances even had DJs

The older boy cousins were always mine and my sisters' heroes.

Nick, David, Paul, Cali holding Shelby, Shayna, Manda, and Kait

Paul, Uncle Blair, David, Nick, and Alan

I can't figure out why we got together on this Sunday, but we did:

David, Ross, Manda, DJ, and Shay

We had no older brothers, so getting teased by older boys cousins was the best!

Ross, Dad holding Shelby, Aunt Wanda, Manda, Shayna, and Kait

You can tell a lot from pictures. They help you to remember things too.

There are many precious ways to remember our families. Besides journals and scrapbooks, there can also be quote books. We're lucky enough to have a quote book from one of our family members who isn't with us anymore.

Uncle Don typed up many of his favorite quotes and compiled them in a binder. My mom, the journalist and resident philosopher, keeps them in her night stand. I'll leave you with one of Uncle Don's quotes, well, actually a poem he chose to record. Oh, and a link to one of my favorite Irish songs to go with it.

Love is the river of life in this world. Think not that ye know it who stand at the little tinklyrill, the first small fountain.

Not until you have gone through the rocky gorges, and not lost the stream; not until you have gone through the meadow, and the stream has widened and deepened until fleets could ride on its bosom; not until beyond the meadow you have come to the unfathomable ocean, and poured your treasures into its depths-- not until then can you know what love is.

- Henry Ward Beecher

Send Me a River