Breadth vs Depth

I have spent many hours this week interviewing potential candidates as we seek to fill a drama/musical theater teaching position at our school.

One constant theme kept coming to mind as I visited with each of these candidates - You may have a passion for something and you may have talent, but that doesn't guarantee you can make a career out of it.

Each of our candidates had a college degree. Several had advanced degrees. One candidate had a plethora of degrees as a result of his fascination with education! Everyone of them had experience in some aspect of theatre (acting, tech, film, dance, radio, etc...).

So they had a college education and experience, what's the problem?

Most of them had degrees and experiences that were too narrowly focused, especially in a tight economy.

Your degree and experience must have enough breadth and depth to "fit" a number of opportunities. Becoming an expert in one tiny area may indicate you are well educated, but are you easily employable? On the other hand, collecting degrees like someone collects postage stamps is not a good idea either.

Striking the balance of combining what you love doing and are good at with a degree you can actually get work with is an important part of deciding upon a major. And combining your undergraduate degree with an MBA would definitely not hurt your future options.

Just sayin.

Love,

The Mama B

"Forgive, if ye have ought against any..."

As I was going out to water the garden today I heard a little voice reminding me that we must forgive everyone.

Even little doggies who do things like this:

Extending a forgiving heart to someone who has offended us is difficult; often it seems the least logical thing to do.

There are so many ways to justify our anger, disappointment and hurt. However, when we don't forgive others we only hurt ourselves. Our hearts are filled with darkness, our spirits feel heavy. Ultimately, it is we who suffer. (see Mark 11:25-26)

I don't believe the Lord is requiring us to be a proverbial "doormat" that people (or dogs) walk all over. We have been blessed with the ability to reason and make adjustments in our lives that help us avoid situations where we are being abused. But when offense does come, and it will, the Lord expects us to deal with it, learn from it, forgive and move forward.

I choose to feel peace and light in my life.

I hope you do to.

Love,

The Mama B

Cobblestones of Virtue

I had the privilege of teaching the Young Women this week. My lesson was based on this talk by Elaine Dalton - A Return to Virtue.

I reminded the girls that our main goal in life should be to receive the blessings of the temple, and that the path to the Temple is one "paved" with "Cobblestones of Virtue".

Did you know that paving with cobblestone is the best way to ensure a road will last over time? Anciently, roads made from cobblestones did not wear down from heavy use; they prevented the build up ruts often found in dirt roads and they did not get muddy in wet weather or dusty in dry weather. So, "paving" our life's path with Cobblestones of Virtue sounds like a wise idea.

We discussed different ways we pave our paths with Cobblestones of Virtue, using the scriptures found in Sister Dalton's talk as well as some basic ideas such as scripture study, serving others, attending our meetings, magnifying our callings, daily prayer, seminary, personal progress, living the standards in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, etc...

Eventually, cobblestones lost their popularity as easier and cheaper options (asphalt) became available; however, asphalt cracks and erodes from heavy traffic.

Paving our life's path with Cobblestones of Virtue is not the easiest or the most popular way, but it is still the best way.

I promised the girls that as they lived a life of virtue, their path would be sure and that one day they would receive the blessings and ordinances of the temple. I extend that same promise to you and hope you choose the right way, even when it seems old-fashioned, difficult, or unpopular.

The right way is always the best way.

Remember this when you remember me.

The Mama B