Pale Blue Dot

The last picture taken by Voyager 1 as it passed Neptune.

"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity – in all this vastness – there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known, so far, to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

-Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space

Get Off Your High Horse

I was pretty frustrated tonight. Why? Because the outside water had been left on, causing my garden hose to rupture and gush water all afternoon. Normally this wouldn't have phased me, but I was tired of spending money on useless things and annoyed that I had to water my garden using a watering can.

As I was filling the watering can with a (much shorter) hose, my downstairs neighbor came outside. Now let me describe this man before I go any farther: he's an older guy, probably in his 50s; he has his hair pulled back in a ponytail; he lives alone with his cats; and I'm pretty sure he isn't LDS (at least, he isn't active). He's a little bit different than your typical 50 year old man in Springville, but I'll be damned if he doesn't exhibit the true definition of Christlike love. This man came outside in his slippers to tell me that he had noticed the gaping hole in the hose and was planning on fixing it for me tomorrow. I tried to wave him off and tell him that I'd just buy a new hose, but he was very persistent.

In addition to fixing my garden hose, my neighbor pays for the TV and internet without any thought of compensation from the rest of us. He saves his used coffee grounds for me to put in my garden. He's been taking pictures of the Provo temple and plans to give a copy to me and my other neighbors (because he knows how important of a building it is). He bought new water faucets so I could water my garden. The list goes on and on and on...without any expectation of being repaid.

As I was watering my garden, I was thinking about this man and what it means to love those around us. I thought of the self-proclaimed righteous who have crossed my path and how little they truly know of love. I thought of people talking about "the Homosexuals" with disgust and contempt; I thought of people complaining about how much they "hate Utah" and how weird the culture is; I thought of people mocking the religiously-active; I thought of all the judgmental looks I've received for not serving a mission or going through the temple. I thought of all those who have made me feel guilty for my blessings and for living in a country where I have three meals a day and clean water from the tap. All these things were done or said by people I thought I respected; instead I pity them because they have missed the point of every major religion on the face of the planet, be it Mormonism or Islam or Judaism or Catholicism: love.

Stop hating. Seriously, stop. Why do you care how someone else lives their life? The vast majority of people aren't out there looking to tear you down, so why are you doing the exact opposite? Stop forcing your lifestyle on other people, stop casting judgmental looks, and stop thinking you're better than everyone else, because guess what? We're all sons and daughters of God and He loves us all equally. And as important as it is to go to church and pay your tithing, I think we'll be judged more on how we treat our neighbors. So stop hating the gays, stop hating the Mormons, stop hating white people, stop hating Hispanics, stop hating Obama (this is a big one), and start loving instead! You can disagree with someone and still be respectful and loving of their views. I know I'm not perfect, and I'm sure I have a long ways to go. But I am so fed up with all the hatred I see on a daily basis and couldn't hold it in any longer. So thank you for reading my rant.

P.S. I love you.

Who am I?

I am a concert pianist.
I am a nutritional scientist.
I have an optimistic personality.
I have blond hair and blue eyes.
I sunburn easily and wish I could tan.
I never seem to be satisfied with my body image.
Many people come to me with problems and secrets.
My biggest goal in life is to help everyone I come in contact with feel loved.
My favorite sound is the coo of a mourning dove.
I forgive and forget way to easily.
My heart has been broken multiple times; I still haven't got over one of them.
My biggest fear is that no one will fall in love with me and I will be alone for the rest of my life.
I have an incredible family who loves me no matter what.
I am a son of God.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and always will be.
I love it when things smell good and can't stand it when things stink.
My favorite flower is a red velvet rose, because it symbolizes love and romance.
I am passionate.
I am emotional.
I hate the mainstream.
I love people more than myself.
I enjoy my alone time.
I am very punctual.
Sometimes I like watching sad and somewhat dark movies.
I never quit. I have a hard time sympathizing with people that do.
My love is easy to earn but my respect is hard to get.
I think Tolkien was brilliant.
I love learning, but I hate how my intelligence is quantified by a GPA.
I have a green thumb.
I catch insects that are in the house and release them outside rather than killing them.
My favorite part about me is my smile and my laugh.
I find offensive jokes disgusting.
The sound of running water is soothing to me.
I can usually read people better than the average individual.
I am not afraid to stick up for myself and those I love.
I hate hypocrisy more than any other sin.
I wish I could change many things about society.
I hate being competitive.
I want to be the owner of a home, complete with a garden in the backyard.
I refuse to watch gory or evil movies.
I dream big and I'm not afraid to go after those dreams.
Sometimes I borrow my roommate's shampoo.
I'm frustrated by timid and dense people.
I'm open to changing a viewpoint if someone provides creditable evidence.
I hate that I sometimes stutter or forget words.
I'm surprised when people find me attractive.
I push myself in many things, sometimes too hard.
Sometimes I enjoy taking a bubble bath by candlelight.
I think most people underestimate me, and I can usually tell when they do.
I try to get to know someone on the inside before judging them on the outside.
I believe people should keep certain things to themselves unless specifically asked about them.
I hate touching paper after I have just washed my hands.
I am an affectionate and touch-feely person.
I love real-life romances.
I wish that some people could see themselves the way that I see them.
I love laying in bed with the sun shining on my face.
I am a master blanket-fort builder.
I tend to look to the glory of the past.
I hate change.

I am many things. Everyone sees me differently.

I am Skyler J. Crouch.

Too busy?

Over the past couple of months I've had some very close friends cancel, postpone, or completely forget about commitments they had with me. They're excuse: "Sorry, I am/was too busy." I was okay with this at first; I totally understand that sometimes things come up that are beyond our control. But now it's getting to the point where it's becoming completely ridiculous.

One of my very best friends told me that he believes his busyness is coming from God, that it's a trial that is preparing him for some future task. That may be, but I don't think a loving Heavenly Father would jeopardize the eternal relationships of friends and family, let alone take away from the spiritual growth that comes from pondering gospel principles in a quiet setting (not while rushing to school or work). Last November (2012), President Uchtdorf of the LDS First Presidency said (and I'm sorry this is long, I didn't know where to end it),

“I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

"I can’t see it.

“Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.

“In our day it is easy to merely pretend to spend time with others. With the click of a mouse, we can ‘connect’ with thousands of ‘friends’ without ever having to face a single one of them. Technology can be a wonderful thing, and it is very useful when we cannot be near our loved ones...However, I believe that we are not headed in the right direction, individually and as a society, when we connect with family or friends mostly by reposting humorous pictures, forwarding trivial things, or linking our loved ones to sites on the Internet. If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it."

I don't mean to brag when I say this, but I am just as busy as anyone: I try to work 20 hours a week; I am finishing up the last year of my undergraduate degree with some very difficult and time-consuming classes; I participate in an internship and I am about to add another; I'm studying to take the GRE in March; I have two ward callings and a stake appointment, as well as hometeaching responsibilities; I have at least three people a month ask me to accompany them on the piano; I volunteer for the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and Bountiful Baskets; I cook the majority of my meals from scratch; and I practice the piano as often as I can and I am planning to have a recital sometime in the summer, just to name a few of the things I'm involved in. However, none of these things will EVER take precedence over a loved one or a person in need. I am always willing to stop my life to give blessings, lend a listening ear, or bake cookies for someone that I think needs them.
Additionally, none of those activities will ever take precedence over my spiritual growth. I make sure that I get enough sleep at night, I set aside time to read my scriptures free from distractions, I have quiet moments where I can ponder about life and gospel topics (usually while I take care of my plants), and I read my patriarchal blessing every morning before I start my day.
Please don't think that I'm bragging about myself or calling myself perfect, because I'm not. I'm far from it and I make mistakes just like everyone else. But I know what is important to me and I know that I don't regret it.
So stop and think about where your priorities are. If your schedule is so rigid that you can't stop by to visit a friend who had a bad day, pause to give a priesthood blessing or lend a listening ear, make dinner with your family, or you're so tired that you sleep through a commitment you made with a friend in need, then I think you seriously need to reconsider what is important to you. Because as President Uchtdorf said, "If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it." And that, my friends, will be a very lonely day.

The Real Skyler

Ever wondered what goes on in this crazy head of mine? Here's some facts about me that you probably didn't know...

My favorite folk song is "Danny Boy." The melody is haunting and the lyrics are bittersweet. It reminds me  of my favorite novel, "'Til the Boys Come Home."

Unless it's a mosquito or a spider that was crawling on me, I hate killing insects. If it's in the house, I will catch it and release it outside.

I am an independent person, but I am not afraid to ask for help (most of the time).

I love pushing myself and learning new things. So far this summer I have made a quilt, planted a garden, started learning the harmonica, hemmed all of my pants to the proper length, started building a cabinet, and fixed up my bike. That's just the beginning. I'm pretty proud of my handyman skills.

I hate most video games. I think it's a waste of time.

I am deeply offended when people make fun of any religion, especially Judaism.

I am proud of my ancestors. When people ask me if I'm cold, tired, hungry, etc. I usually respond, "No, I'm Scandinavian."

My sense of smell is my greatest sense. I love it when things smell good, more so than most people. I  love the smell of fresh laundry, which is why it is my favorite household chore. I especially love it when people smell good, and I usually compliment them when they do.

My least favorite sport is basketball and I almost always refuse to play when asked to join in a game.  I'm not sure why, but I probably had a bad experience when I was younger.

When I was a teenager, I used to lay in bed at night and plan ways to rescue my younger siblings if there was a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, or an intruder.

I have a super active imagination, which is why most horror films will scare me.

I tend to "fight" rather than "flight." If we're camping, please don't grab my arm and say, "What's that?!" unless you want to get smacked. I once almost stabbed an intruder to death when I was home alone (thank goodness it was just my imagination and not a real person).

I don't like chocolate flavored (insert food here)  and I hate French toast. Other than that I will try everything at least once.

My evenings are my "Skyler time." This is the time I use to ponder, relax, and plan for tomorrow. I won't answer most phone calls past 9:00 on weeknights and 10:00 on weekends. I also don't answer my phone if I'm busy or talking to someone in person. Sorry.

I love schedules. I might not keep a day planner, but I have most of my day planned out in my head and I hate making last minute changes. It really frustrates me when people are late or don't keep appointments. My closest friends rely on me to be time keeper.

I hate touching paper when my hands have been wet and then recently dried. I also hate the sound of crunchy snow.

I am afraid of heights. I'm okay if I'm strapped to something, but I can't stand on the edge of high places without feeling panicked. I've tried to overcome it, but no luck so far.

I tend to laugh really loud. Sorry if I make you jump. I also tend to yell at characters in movies and TV shows.

My favorite movie as a kid was The Jungle Book. I used to watch it four times a day. My favorite song was the Bare Necessities... I used to dance along every time.

I want to live in a well-kept house that has a nice yard. It doesn't have to be a big house, but it has to be mine (if that makes any sense).

One of my biggest faults is that I forgive and forget too easily. The longest I can stay angry at someone is about two hours (and I have to be pretty darn angry to last that long).

I hate it when people use "LOL" and "LMAO" and abbreviations such as "plz" and "thnx."

I also hate talking on the phone. Take it as a huge compliment if I call you up to chat.

Peer pressure usually has the opposite effect on me. I like to make my own decisions and if people try to sway me one way, I usually go the other.

I love it when people have good manners.

I love baseball. There's nothing better than the sound of bats cracking in the air and the smell of freshly cut grass.

I've always been a super light sleeper.

I love all music, but my favorite genre is classical. My favorite era is the Romantic. I especially love it if the music is loud, deep, and involves a full chorus.

My favorite singer is Sissel Kyrkjebo. I once had a dream that I converted her to the gospel and we got married.

I love jellybeans!




And that's all I feel like writing for now. Hopefully this helps!

Love,

Skyler

Three Good Things

I had a friend ask me the other day why I also seem so happy and positive. First of all, that isn't true. I have my low moments just like anybody else. But I feel that overall I am a happy person. It reminded me of the Positive Living class I took last semester. It was such an incredible class (I've posted about it a few times already). The assignments for that class were life changing and I've attempted to implement some of them into my daily life. Here's one of the assignments (all credit goes to Dallas Jensen of the Psychology Department at BYU).

Do the following three steps every night:

Step 1: Find three things that went well for you during the day. It can be anything, from speaking to a friend, doing well at something, having a nice meal, or anything that you would consider to have gone well for you.

Step 2: Write them down. Record the 3 Good Things somewhere so that you can keep an ongoing list. This can be in your journal, scrap piece of paper, or on the computer.

Step 3: Reflect on your role. In this step, think about what part you played in the 3 Good Things. It might have been an active role or a passive role; that's unimportant. Just reflect on what your role was. Perhaps your role was simply choosing to have a conversation with a friend, or noticing that you enjoyed your meal.

Sounds kind of cheesy, but these steps are easy enough, right? By doing these steps each night, you begin to notice more of the positive things around you and realize that things really are going your way. It's amazing how it can affect your attitude. And who doesn't like a positive person? It tends to rub off on other people. Try it!

Things that Make Life Awesome: Vacuuming

Have you ever been vacuuming in your living room and come across a small piece of something (maybe a piece of paper) that the vacuum just wasn't picking up? So what do you do? You stand the vacuum upright, bend over, and pick up the annoying piece of paper. But rather than throw it away in a nearby garbage can, you throw it back on the floor and viciously move the vacuum back and forth over the stupid piece of paper. Usually this process is repeated until the little devil is finally sucked up. Just the image of this makes me laugh my head off. We all do it. Myself especially. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!

What makes life awesome? Vacuuming.