22 Things I've Realized

This post is a follow-up to a post that I posted over a year ago.  It's kind of the post-mission version.  So, I've changed and added a few things.  Basically, it's the same thing, but with a different/better perspective.  That's why it's called "22 Things I've Realized" vs. "21 Things I've Learned."  There is one addition at the end.  :)

1. Life always goes how Heavenly Father plans it; therefore is goes perfectly.

2. Our time on this earth is precious and short, but just long enough to complete the divine mission that our Heavenly Father sent us here to complete.

3. Everyone is struggling in some way or another, even the people who seem to have it all together, including myself. Our job is to always be reaching out to each other, so that we keep each other on the path, meaning not just you, but me too.  Because nothing is guaranteed, including your exaltation and mine.

4. We don't owe it to our fathers to keep their false traditions. We owe it to them to remove them.  We have the responsibility to break the pride cycle and start the humble one, influencing future generations to follow Jesus Christ and not Satan.

5. Parents are there to parent their children, and sometimes children are there to parent their parents.  More importantly, parents are there to help their children receive exaltation.  But sometimes children are there to help their parents receive exaltation.

6. Commandments are meant to be obeyed.  Our obedience provides us with safety and freedom and happiness that we can get from no other source.

7. Often, we learn best from our own experiences, but only if we change because of them.  That doesn't mean we have to experience every hard thing imaginable.  But sometimes we have to experience it ourselves to really change and be better.

8. It's only important to know to know and teach the basic principles of the gospel, which is simply the path to once again live with our Heavenly Father.  It's what we do, and we don't need anything extra. 

9. You already know why you have to do that something: because God commanded it; and that doesn't require any further explanation.

10. Communication-speaking, teaching, listening-is one of the gifts I've been blessed with, and I realize that it is something that not everyone has.  This will be key in my success in whatever whether it's school, a job, a career, etc.

11. Happiness is a choice, which not everyone chooses or has the freedom/ability to choose.  (All are agents to themselves unless something has happened which would no longer enable them to be an agent for themselves.)

12. Depression is not merely a choice, but a real emotional illness/condition, which may never be understood by many.

13. It's impossible to maintain the relationships with everyone that I once had.  I keep the ones that keep me, and the others I let break my heart for two seconds and I let go and take off running.

14. Everything happens for a divine purpose, which Heavenly Father knows.  His planning and timing are perfect.  We just have to trust, understand, and accept that.

15. The only thing we really have, that is ours, is our will.  But really we want for our will to become His.  So that in the end we can inherit all He has for us and live happily ever after.

16. Serving others brings pure joy that nothing else can bring.

17. TV is the A root of all evil. (Well, in my house anyway.  In EVERY house.)

18. You aren't a complete product when you leave your parents at 18.  That's just the start of a never-ending process or molding, shaping, and growing into the person Heavenly Father intended you to be.

19. It takes more than a village to raise a child.  AKA... In my case, it's taken 10 wards (7 stakes), 6 schools, over 33 cities... basically thousands and thousands of people.  The count is endless.

20. I've learned more from my brother in the past 22 months than his last almost 21 years put together.

21. People come into your life, right when you need them to. They only stay as long as you need them to (not want them to), and then somebody else comes along. But sometimes they stay forever. I've only met a few who've stayed, and those are the people who really shape your life. Although, those who are in and out, can change you in those specific moments for the rest of your life.

New:

22. Everything we do is for one purpose... to return to live with Heavenly Father. If it doesn't enable us to do that, maybe we should reconsider doing that thing.

As a RM, you think you know everything, and then you realize you really still know nothing. ;)