“The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself - the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us - that’s where it’s at.” — JESSE OWENS

I really enjoy quotes from runners because they always seem to be like the jester in a Shakespeare play: The truths they’re talking about have so many levels and layers of meaning. Running is such an accurate metaphor for the journey of life. I know I have learned much from running - just in the course of 2 years - that I don’t think I could have learned any other way and have it so deeply written on my heart. Patience. Trial. Perseverence. Gratitude. The depths and different applications of those emotions are astounding.

The best movies and books, in my opinion, come from the stories of man vs. himself. I know many teenagers enjoy man vs. man (or alien vs. alien) and things along those lines but for me the best stories include subtle action within the heart and mind. There is another literary category of man vs. nature — and this, too, is valid, enlightening and entertaining — but I truly believe that even with man vs. man or man vs. nature, the true enlightenment comes from within those experiences. Those situations all eventually point back to, and reflect, the struggle within yourself. It may begin as a struggle with another person, situation, or nature but it comes back to what is within you. I think those situations help shape who we are mentally and spiritually but I don’t think you can truly discover who you are if you forget the physical element. All of them work together to create who we are.

Some philosophers believe that the body is to be cast off to achieve enlightenment. Don’t tell that to a runner. Runners KNOW that BODY + SPIRIT = SOUL. I’m convinced that the greatest wars are waged within a single human being and it is reflected in the world around us. It’s not a control issue - it’s more of a self-control issue. Balance is the key - nurture, demand, selfless, selfish, experience, knowledge, truth, joy, humor - there is so much to experience. I think that there’s no adventure so profound as the one wherever you are sitting right now.

I haven’t ordered from Deseret Book in forever. I’m years behind on my EFY cd collection. So what made me place an order this morning? This t-shirt. Adorable. Cute for boys, girls, men, women (yes, they have all those styles). It comes in heather gray and pastel ribbing, too, if you’re so inclined…and it’s half off. About $7 per tee. Now that’s a bargain! If you can’t read the picture, the t-shirt says, “give” — the Little Stream. One of my favorite Primary songs - hooray!

We came across this really neat monument on our weekend camping trip a couple of weeks ago - it is fun to find history you didn’t even know was there! I spent many years in the Jesse Knight Humanities Building (aka JKHB) at BYU and 15 years later here I find out he is Newel Knight’s son and they both have very interesting stories to tell - give ‘em a search at www.lds.org and you will be inspired. That Jesse sure was a character!

Link to this great packet here and download it for free! Happy Conference (my favorite weekends).

I’ve been asked to be a representative for Deseret Book for the Papillion area to get the word out about Time Out for Women coming to Omaha on Friday, Oct. 24th & Saturday, Oct. 25th at the Qwest Center. If you have not been to a TOFW, it will quite possibly be the best weekend you’ll have in a very long while. I attended once in Kansas City with some girlfriends and we had a blast.

Let me know via email or comment if you are considering signing up and I’ll get you the details. You can register online but if you sign up through me I think there’s some sort of advantage…I’ll have to get you the details once I’ve got my house up for sale! But I’ll make sure you get taken care of for sure. I know that I’m supposed to be looking for people who want to help spread the word or form “groups” of friends who are going. Some can even take a training call from Deseret Book and be a “team member” to help with some event “chores” and get further discounts. Email me (or comment) and let me know what you’d like to do — individually register, form a group, or be a team “member” — and I’ll set you up!

I’ll see you all in October if I’m not in Texas by then!!! (…and in that case I need someone to take over my duties as the rep so let me know if you’re up for that, too — should I move before October — which involves a FREE TICKET and coordinating even more help at the event). I actually hope we don’t move before then, at least a little, because I looked at the speakers list here and it sound just wonderful. I heart Merrilee Boyack. She’s my Mormon Idol.

Disclaimer: This is a wonderful event sponsored by Deseret Book and not the Papillion Stake or LDS church. I have to say that.

I have been intrigued lately with trees and, more specifically, artwork symbolically reminiscent of the Tree of Life. I found this at www.tenthousandvillages.com and have thoroughly enjoyed looking at their website. They seem to have reasonable prices, too. Reminds me of a good friend who purchased her living room furniture because the pillow fabric had a subtle tree of life pattern in the weave. What a nice reminder of scripture stories and imagery to have around your home.