Why I like rap music.

As an LDS member, for years now, I've had other mormons ask me how I can "stand" rap music. It's easy, really.... the same way I "stand" every other genre of music I listen to. It's called ENJOYING IT.

I've heard them say things like: "How can you listen to that crap?", "How can you not think it's horrible?", or "Ugh, I despise rap, why do you even listen to it? The lyrics are so awful!".

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but not all rap music is full of cuss words, booty, and alcohol references. I mean I still listen to some songs that do have that kind of stuff in the lyrics, but there is certainly plenty that doesn't include it whatsoever. Dismissing an entire genre of music because you think it's all "dirty" is ignorant and juvenile. Now, hang on, I'm not saying you aren't allowed to dislike it!

You are perfectly within your rights to dislike music because it's too fast, too loud, too screechy, you don't like the beat, etc. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why people are allowed to dislike one genre or another. However, lyrics should not be the main reason, because song lyrics are as diverse as the people who write them.

And I bet you're still wondering, why do I like rap so much?

Because they can talk so blastedly fast.

Seriously. That's the entire reason I started listening to anything in the genre. They talk fast, and it really impressed me.

Why? Because, despite the fact that I can silently read rather quickly, with a 90-100% comprehension rate... I actually have a really terrible stutter when I try to read aloud or speak too quickly.

I know, shocking! Some people who have known me for years still don't know this about me. You know why? Because I make a concerted effort to never have to read aloud in front of anyone. Ever. Never ever ever. It embarrasses the crap out of me and I'm ashamed of it.

School was a nightmare for me, because I never knew when I'd be called on to read out loud in front of the whole class. I sometimes spent hours alone in my room, reading my books out loud in an effort to improve my stutter. It has helped somewhat, but I still have a problem with it.

Honestly, I'm kind of horrified by the idea of having to read books to the kids I hope to have... every... single... night. :(

My children would hopefully not laugh at me, but I'm still mortified by the thought of it.



So listening to rap music, for me, is really awesome... because they do something that I could never in a million years hope to be capable of doing. I admire their talent and their effort. Some people don't see it as anything impressive, but to me it's one of the coolest talents in the world to have.

Are you feeling SAD for the holidays?

Winter comes, and so do the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. All of them involve eating or consumption of alcohol in some manner. They can leave people feeling stressed, depressed and fat. But is it all their fault? Could it be that those symptoms aren't due to holiday madness, but to an actual chemical imbalance going on in the brain?
Do you find yourself growing more withdrawn, depressed or apathetic as winter waxes onward? Is your energy level lower than it was during the summer? Have you gained weight steadily over the winter, and not just immediately after holiday meals? Then you may be suffering from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

What is SAD?

SAD is a seasonal form of clinical depression. It has the same symptoms as clinical depression, but it usually lasts only for the winter season. Unfortunately, it can sometimes develop into full-blown depression.

How can you tell if you are experiencing depression?

You will feel hopeless, apathetic and tired. Loss of concentration and interest in normal activities is also a good indicator. If you find yourself withdrawing from social situations or making excuses to stay home alone, you may be experiencing SAD. Another good indicator is an increase in eating and weight gain not directly linked to a holiday you celebrate. 
People often make excuses for themselves, saying that they have spent a lot of time out of their homes already today, and deserve to stay home and relax. Sometimes they decide that eating one more cookie won't hurt, because they worked so hard to prepare that meal. Or it's snowy outside, and why should they leave their nice comfy houses? This is okay, usually. If it becomes a pattern, and you find yourself leaving home less and less often, it may be developing into seasonal depression.

How can it be treated?

Like most depression, drugs and therapy can help, but unlike normal depression you are more often capable of treating this yourself by following these simple steps:

Sleep seven to ten hours every night. Sleep just enough to feel well-rested, but not excessively. Excessive sleeping is feeding into the depression, not helping you cure yourself of it.

Eat a steady, balanced diet. This can be difficult over the holidays, but just making sure you're getting enough fruits and vegetables can make a huge difference. Foods high in Vitamin D are extremely helpful, as SAD is partially caused by a lack of the sunlight that helps you produce it yourself. Keeping your leafy greens and veggies coming in will help you maintain healthy levels of nutrients and vitamins. Keep this in mind as you go back for another serving, and plop some more spinach or carrots on your plate.

Another great way of treating yourself at home is to get a light box and do light therapy.Light boxes of an adequate emission level are available online at Amazon, or from other stores for less than $100. Do some research, you might be able to find them for a very good price at a store near you. The light box should start making a serious dent in that depression within three to four weeks. If it isn't working for you, go seek a professional.

Finally, meditation is a great way of decreasing your stress and treating depression. Cognitive meditation especially can help improve mood and memory problems as it helps your amygdala.

Good luck this winter. Keep yourself healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

False Words

Sometimes they are peers, or elders, or respected friends.

They deny God exists. They tell you that He does not love you. They tell you that truth isn't desirable because it can hurt. They make you feel worthless, or lost, or alone, because you have the things that they desire. Things like love, honesty, and faith.

They make good things like morality and caring about others seem as if they are foolish or terrible. These people are vain, proud, uncaring, and deceitful. They have become as Peter said, the "servants of corruption". And the hardest thing about it is, they often don't even realize they are doing it.

Sometimes all it takes is a small comment. The undermining of your self-esteem, or the claim that God is punishing your loved one or letting them suffer from illness or grief. The idea that God is vengeful and would purposely inflict pain upon anyone is false. He is the relief from all pain! It is when we are disobedient, ignore him, and try to stand on our own that we suffer most.

If anyone's words seem to undermine your faith in God, or make you question your strongly held love for your Savior, then that person is a false teacher.

Let me make this abundantly clear: God loves YOU. He cares for you with every part of his being. You are his. Every trial that you suffer through is one that will mold, define, and grow you. He doesn't like watching you hurt, and would take much of the burden of pain from you if you let him. He can even do this by sending wonderful people into your life to listen to and comfort you. His love can be a balm to your soul; a safe haven from worldly pain.

Turning away from God... listening to these falsehoods from Satan that convince you that he doesn't love you... they are all a trap. They are dragging you down into the mire after you have worked so hard to clean yourself free of the mud that lies there.

Sometimes life seems so very hard. You just want to give up, and the voices all around you are telling you that you cannot possibly succeed because they have already failed. You have already risen above the dark muck of the world and are on a path to safety, when those voices try to tug you down again. If they succeed, and you succumb to the darkness again, then you will be lost. God can only pull you out if you keep reaching for him. So don't give up!

Christ's atonement can free you of your sins, but only if you allow him to. He will help you turn from addiction and habitual sins, but if you keep turning back to them you will fail. If you mess up, however, you CAN return to Christ's loving arms. He will ALWAYS have them stretched out towards you. Don't forget that. And getting a few splashes of mud on you when you are trying to struggle free of the mire is expected. You might even fall back in by accident when you are struggling so hard to pull yourself out. Just remember that you can ALWAYS get back up and try again.

Don't give up. God's here for you. I'm here for you. You can do it!