A time for Pride and a time for Prejudice

Thursday Book Group

Well, it's about time I start a book group...with myself. 

Members include, alphabetically, as follows:

me. 

CNN has produced a list through Amazon of 

100 books to read in a lifetime. 

I have a l i f e t i m e...

so I figured I should read these books whilst here.

And lucky you, you get to read about my opinions, judgments, and musings of these 100 books! 

A book a week.

Let's start, shall we?

The first I chose to read was 

Pride & Prejudice. 

There are books, multiple movies, and even a mini-series dedicated to the greatness that is Pride and Prejudice. (um, there's even a Mormon version?)

Looks like "love met its match" in this version. Good job, love.

I never thought I'd enjoy this book, but it is actually a very witty, charming little book. 

Jane Austen is a marvelous writer. 

Who knew?

I guess every love-sick girl in the world.

She gives each character depth and meaning without saying too much. 

The Bennett family is the main subject of this book. 

5 girls. 

Expect drama.

Let's give a breakdown of the family: (my view of them, of course)

Mr. Bennett: sarcastic and stern

Mrs. Bennett: ignorant and a complainer

Jane: naive and pretty

Elizabeth: forthright and opinionated

Mary: introvert and bookworm

Kitty: follower and giggly

Lydia: haughty and materialistic

Mary, the quietest and most random character, 

a l w a y s  g i v e s  t h e  b e s t  i n s i g h t. 

Here is the best quote of the book:

"Pride is very common failing, I believe. 

By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us."

She has many of these "one-liner" paragraphs. 

I think she is exactly right. 

Everyone has a little bit of pride. 

We need a little or we would all be very self-deprecating. 

This also describes the theme of the book. 

Pride & Prejudice.

The main love story involves Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. (swoon)

Elizabeth detests him at first upon thinking he is proud and judges him thus. She is prejudice against him and his behavior. 

She hears things of him that she believes readily.

He is prejudice against her family (mostly her out-spoken mother) and a little proud of his 10,000 pounds a year.

As the story progresses, they are both humbled. 

Elizabeth's pretenses are proved false, 

and Mr. Darcy falls easily in love. 

I won't go into all the deets. 

It is a marvelous story of overcoming the 

prides and prejudices 

we all face.

(and they end up happy and married from being a little bit humble)

To show that Mr. Darcy is worth a swoon...

This is what he says to Elizabeth,

"Such I was, from eight to eight-and-twenty; and such I still might have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased."

He then says,

"[My object] was to show you, by every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill=opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes introduced themselves, I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you." 

I realize this book was written by a woman, but these are still lovely words to hope for some day.

I always had a prejudice towards this book because I assumed it was too lovey-dovey (and maybe it was not "Harry Potter" enough?)

But I have to say, my pride has subsided after reading the pages and coming to know the characters.

Here's to you,

{prevailing over}

Pride & Prejudice.

**My book blogs will progressively get better**

Next week: 

The Stranger, by Albert Camus

Swept Away Saturday

Top 10 Things I've learned Since Argentina:

1. I get homesick really easily

2. Love is real

3. Love can be lost

4. God loves us no matter what

5. Being with friends is just as good as before.

6. Prayer works in good and bad times.

7. My brother can grow really long hair.

8. Blessings work

9. Planning is very essential to life.

10. Being busy is distracting and time is very slow.

Argentina changed my life, but being home has proved to me that there is always something new to learn. 

I'm grateful for these things I have learned 

whether they are easy or hard things. 

Hard things basically suck, but I suppose that's how we show we can't do things on our own. We need outside help. 

Humility at its finest.

.Happy Saturday.

White Friday, Comedians, and Sports

White Friday.

Today my family and I decided to change it up and have a lovely White Friday at the temple.

It was marvelous,

relaxing,

spiritual,

and white.

I love the temple and am very grateful to have it.

Having ancestors is cool too.

Comedians.

Watching Jim Gaffigan and Brian Regan with my family is also the best.

*deaad pockkeetsss*

Sports. 

Ending with football and basketball. (Duke vs. Arizona)

Good end to a very marvelous day.

(by ending, I mean it's pretty early in the night still and we are in pjs watching sports...what an Erickson tradition!)

Why does work exist? 

These three things would help me survive if I didn't have to buy food and stuff. 

Oh, I think my dog was waiting for us the whole day...

.Happy White Friday.

Thankful

I know, that's a surprising title given today and such.

Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for it.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to remember all of my blessings.

There are too many to name.

And I can't say that I deserve them all.

I'll just discuss one for today.

My family.

I am so grateful for them.

I know that we are put with the people in our families for a reason.

I have learned something from each of them.

Dad-Perserverance and Humor

Mom-Kindness and Patience

Leah-Humility and Loyalty

Amanda-Faith and Strength

Rylan-Love and Honesty

(and much, much more!)

I am thankful for my immediate and extended family and all that they have done for me. 

When you're family, there is just an immediate bond.

Nothing can beat it.

And I'm grateful for it.

Even Jackson (the dog) shows me protection. 

(sometimes like a mad schizophrenic, but nonetheless protection)

We even all look alike, so that gives us something a little extra.

Love you, family.

.Happy Thursday.

.Day of Thanks.

It's a Wonderful Wednesday

I have been known to like a lot of TV. (thaaaat is because I do)

I've given up a bit in the last 7 months.(for the better!) 

But I've finally started Downton Abbey. (glad rylan and krysten are addicted with me!...okay, maybe ry like 1/2 way)

Here is something I learned today:

"If we don't allow life to change us, why is it worth living?"

I'd say it's not. 

If we do not change, how can we ever better ourselves or know how we need to improve? 

Change need not be bad. 

Just like changing the channel from Gossip Girl to Monk (always a step up!)

Here is something I learned on my mission:

When I did not love myself, I did not love others or see them as good people. I thought everyone around me was thinking bad things about me and thought I was annoying.

In the end, it was me who thought badly of myself. 

Once I started to c h a n g e my perspective on myself, I found no one actually thought those things. (hello, why would they?... :))

I figured out no one was actually out to get me. (surprise!)

I've learned we are all imperfect people trying to do our best.

I'm glad I learned that then and today.

Change is what we need to grow. 

As we keep improving, we will see how happy life 

and living it can be. 

I'm thankful for change. 

Here are just a few quotes that have helped me want to change:

“We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. 

It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.” 

-Katherine Hepburn

"C h a n g e the way you look at things 

and the things you look at c h a n g e."

 -Wayne W. Dyer

(that basically sums up how I had to change and keep changing)

Just one last one from Steve Jobs:

“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” 

.What great insight.

I think I'll even put that on my mirror.

First thing to change: 

Eating less Red Mango.

(maybe something easier to start?)

Smiling at a stranger every day.

(yes, this is easier)

Here's a story:

I once had an awful day. 

I was getting on the train and saw an old man about to get on as well with a backpack and a roller bag. 

I thought "oh he might get upset if I ask if he needs help or maybe he actually doesn't need help"

but something told me to ask him anyway.

He kindly thanked me and said he had bad knees.

He asked me to take the big bag and I did with a big smile.

I would not have felt good if I hadn't stopped and helped him. 

But I'll never forget the way he looked at me when he said 

thank you. 

This helped me not think about myself and 

change to help someone in need.

Guess how much better my day was?

x One Million

Friends quote:

"Joey to Phoebe "I bet you can't find one selfless good deed"

Later:

Phoebe: I have found a selfless good deed. I went to the park and let a bee sting me.

Joey: How is that a selfless good deed?

Phoebe: It makes the bee look tough in front of his bee friends. The bee's happy and I am definitely not.

Joey: Uh, Phoebs, you know the bee probably died after it stung you?"

still the best show.

I think I'll change the channel a little more often.

.Happy Wednesday.

Just a little something about Hunger

One Thing I learned from The Hunger Games:

HOPE

see? They even have a phone cover for it.

I think there is a phone cover for everything. 

But really, hope is what I learned. 

Quote from the movie: 

"Hope is the only thing stronger than fear"

I think that's true. If we hold onto hope of anything...how could fear get in the way? 

I think I need to use this in my every day life.

For instance, if I have hope that I can swallow a pill, I shouldn't have fear that I will choke on it. (biiiit of a struggle)

And it works for really hard things too.

Hope is good, fear is not.

Also, I should have gone to this theater for the movie:

...Real Life Experience...

My review: a really good movie.

.Happy Tuesday.

MUSIC MONDAY

Music is probably one of my favorite things. It can uplift, inspire,  make you want to shake your tail feather (thanks Nelly),

and even give you a headache. 

(sorry heavy metal) 

Let's talk about lyrics for a second. 

Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not. (profound)

 I like a song without lyrics as much as the next guy, but for today's purposes...

Nickel Creek is my favorite band and their lyrics, wow.

However, today is all about C L O U D S. 

This song was written by Zach Sobiech. 

He was a 17 year old that was diagnosed with cancer but looked for the good and was happy. He passed away a few months ago. 

He wrote this song with a lot of hope and strength. 

I obviously cannot relate to what he was feeling at that time, 

nor would I try. 

I like the lyrics because they can give each of us 

h o p e  i n  o u r  o w n  s i t u a t i o n s. 

He was a very inspired soul.

.Watch this. 

Here are my favorite lyrics from the song:

"And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end"

I'd just like to add that t h i s  i s n ' t  a  m a y b e. 

In THE BOOK THIEF, death says, 

"It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on...” 

Humans are amazing. 

Looking for the good in all things (and music)helps us be more so.

I hope I can take Zach's attitude and live every day to the fullest.

All in all, I think it's safe to say that music is good.

I think I'll keep listening. 

.Happy Monday.