Unexpected Underdog: Ted Talk

I enjoy many different TedTalks. Do to the influence of my husband I've come to enjoy stories of the Bible and other Scripture as well. I've found it extremely interesting to find the little joys of the gospel stories that you can only get if you look closely enough at them. You can find many different and surprising gems inside the stories if you really study them. 

David and Goliath is a story that many people, even non-Christians know. The David has been reproduced many times by artists over the years. My favorite "David" is a sculpture by Gianlorenzo Bernini in 1623-4.  I love this sculpture because it is so very different from the other David's that were produced after the Renaissance. Many of them have no movement; they stand nonchalantly, not like they are about to go kill someone or die. Many of Bernini's other sculptures are like this. To see his works in St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City would be a trip of a lifetime. 

But our figures in the Bible story are looked at differently in Malcolm Galdwell's TedTalk "The Unheard Story of David and Goliath." Galdwell describes gives us much appreciated  background of the terrain and peoples who are fighting and he sets up the story for us. But he flips our renowned "underdog" story into what could have probably happened. 

Lets look at Goliath first. Goliath, Galdwell argues, is probably much like the beloved "Princess Bride" character Andre the Giant. Goliath and Andre most likely suffered from the same illness that was the cause of Andre's death. This was known as acromegaly--a disorder that's caused by the abundance of growth hormones in the body. There are many complications with acromegaly and many of the people who have it die fairly young. Galdwell explains that Goliath's size seen as his greatest strength was actually his greatest weakness. This hormone disorder can cause severe nearsightedness and double vision, as two of the many repercussions. So David would only have to stand a dozen yards away with his sling in order take Goliath out. 

Speaking of our Master Slinger, David was an artilleryman. Galdwell mentions, though doesn't reference any which I really wish he would have, moments in ancient warfare that slingers were the deciding factor in battles. These men would be amazingly accurate; Galdwell says that they could shoot birds out of the sky in flight which is amazing. David was a shepherd. He would have had to fight off "lions and wolves" to keep his flock safe. He was in the army probably as an artilleryman. Also Galdwell points out that the rocks in the valley they were in were twice as dense as most stones around and they could sling these rocks very quickly. So, an accurate shot to the head with a heavy rock that could be shot out of a sling almost as fast as a bullet would indeed kill anyone let alone a gigantic target like Goliath. 

This "underdog" story here has almost been flipped on it's head. The little guy took down the big guy. But then again the story is still the same, just a different take. All big, scary, problems that we are supposed to face, our Goliath's, can be faced if we are prepared like David was with his well trained arm. Before my understanding of the story was that it was a lucky shot, God helped the rock to fly straight and with enough force to slay this giant, but that isn't the whole truth. God gave David time to prepare for his battles with his Goliath just like he does for us. 

We can overcome anything! 

The Unheard Story of David and Goliath 

https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_the_unheard_story_of_david_and_goliath?language=en

The Power of Introverts

I love Susan Cain's voice. Her TedTalk is one that I listen to often, one: because I would consider myself an introvert, and two: because of her voice. Her way of putting things that I hadn't thought of in realistic and very understanding ways.

Since I started college, I've tried to be more outgoing. In this I've succeeded. I've gained a few good friends by trying to introduce myself at the beginning of classes and it helps a lot now that I'm in my upper division classes and many of my peers are in the same classes I am. But there are many times when I want nothing more that to sit down in a comfy chair with a cup of cocoa and read about far off places. I want to go on an adventure all by myself and maybe at some point talk to a friend (or write on my blog to you unknown people who I appreciate) about the characters and world.

There are so many outgoing people who I know and love very deeply. They do things in ways that I wouldn't have thought of or wouldn't have the guts to do. Speaking in public is causes me the worst butterflies especially on subjects that I have little to no knowledge about. I know many extroverts who can work through things very quickly on subjects they know little about and they can work sound like they know everything. I like to have time to process my thoughts and explore them on my own before I let anyone else have a jab at them.

I hold my thoughts as dear and precious things. Not all of them need to be shared with everyone.

Although, there are sometimes when the extroverts or the louder people step over my words. My own ideas get looked over because my voice isn't as loud as others. There are many times when I have to be flamboyant and almost abrasive to let my voice be heard. Those who are near and dear to me know how much I dislike having my words being stomped on and they are kind in trying to quiet their voices a little or ask me questions so then I can speak.

It was worse when I was younger because I didn't know that it was okay to speak up. I would raise my hand, like I would do in a classroom if I ever spoke up, amongst my own group of friends for them to realize I had something to say.  Sadly, though, there are others who haven't gotten the memo and still step all over me. Whether or not it is getting better is hard to tell.

Susan Cain refers to the idea that I know I had and have that being an introvert is a bad thing. This is false. The wonderful thing about her TedTalk is that she says it is"to sound grandiose, the world's loss" because we need introverts to "do what they do best." We need them to be thoughtful and creative and that little bit of hesitancy so then we don't rush into things without thinking them through thoroughly.

She delves into the differences between introverts and extroverts and how they are stimulated by different things. This is perfectly okay. Find out where you are stimulated the most. Is it in a library where it is quiet and not many people in your ears? Is it in the kitchen with bustling kids? Is it out on the streets?

She also calls out teachers and the institutions where children are taught to realize that 1/3 to 1/2 of their students are introverts and may not learn the best not in group activities but in doing their own work. Realize how different the students are. (I think the best way for this to occur is to have smaller class sizes--though I know that is a difficult topic to some.) Don't simply believe that the "ideal student is an extrovert." That would cut out 1/3 to 1/2 of the students in the classroom.

We introverts need to realize that this is good to be introverts. That it is important that we share our views and share our creative spirits. We don't have to pretend to be extroverts but find a way to let yourself be heard.

I believe that Susan Cain's TedTalk to be very intriguing and worth the watch. She also has a book, that I have yet to read--though I want to, called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. I am very interested to read this.

But please watch her TedTalk. I enjoy her thoughts immensely.

The Best Friend You Can Ever Have

Friends are something that everyone wants. Whether it is a single friend that you can rely on wholeheartedly or to be the social giant who is constantly surrounded by people, people, people. We seek for friends in our communities who have the same interests that we do. Nerds and geeks seek for nerdy and geeky people. Fans of fandom's are sometimes desperate for other fans. The boys and girls who crave popularity find charismatic ways to become liked by the majority of the people around them. I am not different, but I've found that I've had a hard time making and keeping friends.

I am twenty-three and am on the verge of graduating college. I can strike up conversions with people whom I hardly know in my classes. But they are often times more like acquaintances. We may embrace our inner nerd-ness and let our geek show, which I'm very much okay with doing, but then the long hand on the clock reaches the top of the hour and we all go our separate ways. At the end of the semester, there will be many that I will never see again.

Some of my friends, whom I love dearly and have meant the world to me, sometimes seem to cast me aside. I've found that I've become a friend of convenience to many of those whom I hold dear. I'll only be talked to if I'm the only one around or if they have something they need from me. This can be very disheartening, especially when I need someone to turn to, someone to vent to, someone to lean on. I sometimes feel like a ballerina trying to practice in the empty, mirrored room without a bar to hold one to. Or on occasions it's there, but then suddenly it will vanish. I stumble and fall headfirst into the mirror and smash it. It falls like glitter though it crunches like glass.

Do I always have to start the conversation first? It appears so. Then I only get one word answers. Seconds later, silence.

Recently though, I've come to hug onto my sister more, something  I feel I haven't been able to do in a very long time. We sit in the halls at the university and just talk. Simple little chats and in-depth conversations. She has a very sweet heart and I hope she finds the best guy in the world to be her companion for eternity. She deserves him--the right him. (So, dude, watch out. I'm watchin' you.)

I've also been clinging onto a scripture. Well, a set of scriptures that has brought me immense comfort. It is D&C 93:45. (If you want context, go to the link provided.) But this verse says "Verily, I say unto my servant [insert your name here though originally it says Joseph Smith, Jun.], or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me--"

"For you are my friend..." One of the amazing things about this is the word you. Instead of using "thee" like he had previously, he says "you." You may miss the significance of this if you don't know the true difference between "thee" and "you." I've been told that the English of the King James Bible, prominently translated from Greek by William Tyndale in the 16th Century, is the language of scripture. This is why the Book of Mormon and the revelation of the Doctrine and Covenants is written the way it is, with the "thees" and "thous" and why it doesn't get translated into a more Modern English. The difference between "you" and "thee" is how formal or intimate are you will the person you are talking to? "You" is actually the more intimate term. Over the years it has been almost flip-flopped (crazy how languages change right?)

So when Jesus the Christ "I will call you my friends, because you are my friends..." He's not saying, "Lets be Facebook friends and never talk to one another again." He's saying, "You are my best friend. I will see you every day and I can truly understand your struggles. You can turn to me for anything and I will always be standing next to you."

Jesus Christ is the closest friend you can have. Because of His Atonement (this word didn't exist in the English language until William Tyndale, fyi), He can understand what we have gone through. He suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kin; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon hi their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may not know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12). I know this to be true. My husband knows a lot about me, but not even he knows as much as Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. 

Why am I saying this when it started out as a rant on how it often seems I'm friendless? 

I'm never friendless. 

One: I have Jesus Christ on my side and He will never let me down. 
Two: I have the best husband in the world. 
Three: It's sweet when I have to pull away for school and I see my son crying at the window because he doesn't want me to go. (It really warms my heart though I'm making him cry.)
Four: Families are Forever. 
Five: I actually have a few friends who do care, though sometimes they forget it themselves. If I do call on a select few, they will always be there for me. 

These things, though sometimes I forget myself, are the most important. And we all need to remember them, not just me. 

Remember, especially in this Holiday Season to take time and thank your friends and love your family. Not only because you have to, but because you want to and get to. They truly are worth the world.