Just Do It

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must DO.”-Leonardo da Vinci

Jay-Z says "if you can make it here you can make it anywhere," and sometimes I absolutely believe that's true. New Yorkers are an ambitious lot, you'd think the tennis courts would be empty at 7 AM on a Saturday morning when people are sleeping off long weeks and bar contents from the night before, but no. It was over an hour wait! Ah well. I did get in an amazing night of tennis earlier this week. The stars were out, the air was cool, and skyscrapers lit up behind us as we ran ourselves all over the court.

What determines our actions in life? Is it desires? Fears? Guilt? Religion? If I were to make a list of my biggest fears, number one is I am terrified that I won't live up to my potential. The crux of my decisions revolve around this, am I capable of more? Am I doing everything I should? I guess you could say this was my theme this week, I thought about it a lot. I usually don't listen to rock music but an old song came on my ipod, and I found myself listening to the lyrics:

"My best friend gave me the best advice, he said each day's a gift and not a given right. Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by. That first step you take is the longest stride. If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last, leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you had? And would you call those friends you never see, reminisce old memories, would you forgive your enemies? And would you find that one you're dreaming of, swear up and down to God above, that you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day? If today was your last day, would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars, regardless of who you are. So do whatever it takes, cause you can't rewind a moment in this life. Let nothing stand in your way, cause the hands of time are never on your side."

An answer to my biggest fear came Friday night. Elder Jay E. Jensen of the seventy came to speak at a fireside, and he shared a moment in his life when he wondered the same things I've been wondering. As he put it, "What am I doing or not doing that isn't producing?" I could have hugged him right then. He found his answer when he pulled open his scriptures and found himself reading D&C 3:5, which says among other things, "remember also the promises which were made to you." Elder Jensen tied it to President Uchtdorf's talk, Forget Me Not. Uniting the two, Elder Jensen said "remember the promises which were made to you, that they will forget you not." He talked about the promises, specific and individual that have been made to each of us, that are the answers to living up to our potential. Sometimes the best answers are the ones that have been in front of you the entire time, so simple and just what I needed to hear. Notes from his talk will be uploaded shortly on my other blog.

I count myself lucky to be from a family of total overachievers, they are constantly inspiring me with ways that I can better my life and live up to my potential. This week, Chloe graduated from high school, a year early, and I couldn't be more proud of her or excited to see the amazing things she will be accomplishing! I sent her this photo from Christmas, offering my congratulations and love.

WAY TO GO CHLO! We are taking over the nation's capital this week, and it's going to be epic.

We're halfway through 2012, and for me the question is still there, every day. How Will You Make It Count? By working hard each hour, each day, each month and each year, to make my potential a reality.