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Every day is a blessing

Lately I keep learning the lesson over and over again,

that life is so precious, and yet so short!

I feel it is a lesson that I needed to learn.

I feel as if I am in constant motion, 

waiting for the next big thing to come along

instead of loving each and every single day and finding

pure happiness in the moment.

The president of the Murray Chamber of Commerce,

R. Scott Baker, passed away Sunday Evening.

A man that I respected very very much.

A man that made you feel loved and appreciated.

A man that would always speak so highly of my family and I.

A man who truly gave and served and loved.

I actually can't think of one time when I didn't see a smile on his face.

He was  simply a very AMAZING and REMARKABLE man!

I had the opportunity of working very very closely with him

as our Youth Chamber group is directed right under the Murray Chamber.

I thought so so highly of him and he had all of my respect.

But now I can't help but wonder, 

Do you think he really truly knew how much I admired him?

After hearing this very unexpected news and then thinking about 
the shooting in Connecticut that took 26 innocent lives,

it gave me a true desire to live my life in a more giving and more fulfilling way.

So here is a little exercise... Where are you on your journey?

Multiply your age X 365 days!       _________

(This will give you your current age in days.)

Subtract that number from 27,375 days.    _________

(That's an average life span (+/-) these days.)

I probably have ______ days left.

My answer: 18,615 days.
(Wow, doesn't that just put life into perspective?)

I have to tie in the power of one in right here!:)

There is good in every single day.

You can change a life, in just ONE day!

A lesson can be learned, in just ONE day!

A dream can come true in just ONE day!

Faith can be found in just ONE day!
Miracles can happen in just ONE day!
Every day matters!
Every day is a gift from Heavenly Father!

Source: Pinterest

Ashley's Rules to live life to the fullest!

(I have to admit, I am not pro at living by all of these all the time, but I sure plan to work on them harder)

Rule 1 - Have a good attitude! 

Life is just too short to be cranky. There is something good in every single day, find it! Your attitude is what people will remember about you most.

Rule 2 - Live with integrity.

Keep your word, always follow through to what you say you will do.
Be honest in everything. Set out some values and live by them!

Rule 3 - Forgive everyone, especially yourself.
Don't hold on to past mistakes, we all make them! Forget and forgive!

Rule 4 - Move forward
Don't dwell on the hard moments in life. The moments that make you sad, that fill you with fear, or that bring anger to your heart. Treasure them for the lessons they taught you and then move forward to the moments that will bring you happiness and peace.

Rule 5 - Quit worrying
There is so much to fear in this world but about 88% of what you worry about doesn't actually comes true. It just isn't worth it to live life in worry and fear and waste the perfectly beautiful days  away that you could have been enjoying all along!

Rule 6 - Be grateful
There is something to be grateful for in all things. Be grateful for the tiny things that so often get overlooked. Gratitude brings more blessings, not because of karma but because the more you count your blessings, the wider your eyes are opened to see more of them.

Rule 7 - Enjoy the little things. 

It is the little things that make up to be the big things. Enjoy the people in your life a little bit more. Enjoy the moments you have, to sing your favorite song. Enjoy the journey of work and school because you will be sorry when those moments are gone. Enjoy everyone and everything in your life right now!

Hero

My eyes filled with tears as I watched the live news reports flooding in Friday 
afternoon due to this terrible, tragic event. 
Any time a chaotic or horrific event is displayed on the news, I can't help but
pause and think for a moment, how would I handle the situation?

My heart sunk for the children, growing up... I feared EVERYTHING!
Some days I was afraid to go to school for fear that an event like this would happen.
I can't imagine the fear that faced these innocent children.

I cried for the pain of the parents.
My mom always tells me "You can't possibly know how much I love you, 
until you have kids one day". 
She is right, I can't fathom the love a mother and a father must feel for their
children but I know it is powerful.

All I ever wanted to be growing up, was a teacher (that has changed now).
But I couldn't help but cry on behalf of the teachers, the principle and any staff
that had their life taken too soon that day.
I couldn't help but picture being a teacher, would I have been strong enough for the
kids that day?

This event had been through my mind a lot this past weekend but then this morning,
I was looking through Facebook when I stumbled upon this page. 
A page dedicated to one true and brave hero.
And tears flooded my eyes.




This is Victoria Soto, a 27 year old woman. Victoria was a music teacher at 
Sandy Hook Elementary School. 
They say her enthusiasm and cheer was evident. 
When Victoria heard the shooter coming to her classroom, she hid all her first graders
in cupboards and closets and told the gunman that the students were in the gym.
With these students hidden, the gunman then fatally shot her as she was protecting the children.
Victoria saved the lives of 10 children.
She was so brave and courageous and perhaps the most selfless teacher.

I seriously can't imagine being in her shoes.
This woman will forever live in my heart as a hero!
She inspires me beyond comprehension. 

Want to make a difference?
Go sign THIS petition. It is a petition to give Victoria Soto the "Medal of Freedom" award. 
It is the highest award granted to a civilian.

Self Esteem Playlist

I believe we all need a list of songs for those moments when you just need a pick me up.

You know, the playlist that you turn to when you are having a bad day. 

The playlist that you play when someone hurt your feelings.

The songs that can make you smile no matter what.

Here is a list of my favorite "Build me up" songs. 

On my ipod I have this list called "Keep dreaming and believing" 

• The light - April Meservy
• Send it on - Disney Friends
• Everybody Shine on - Mk song
• Be Ok - Ingrid Michaelson
• Believe - Cherie Call
• I will - Jenny Jordan Frogley
• See the light - Jericho Road
• The Climb - Miley Cyrus
• Don't stop believing - Glee 
• Standing in the rain - Jenny Jordan Frogley
• He gives flowers to everyone - Cherie Call
• Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
• I came to win - Jenny Jordan Frogley
• Because I believe - Jenny Phillips
• It's not just make believe - Karl Kimmel
• Whatever it takes (EFY 1999) - John Mcvey & Felicia Sorensen
• No one - Aly & AJ
• Carry Me - Katherine Nelson
• What Heaven Sees in you - Doug Walker
• Here to be - Rachel Thibodeau
• Unwritten - Natasha Beddingfield
• Forward with Faith (EFY 2000) - Kim Bracken
• Stand for God - Katherine Nelson
• Get Up - Superchick
• Who you are - Hillary Weeks
• In this skin - Jessica Simpson
• If I had it my way - Emma Roberts
• Reach - Caleigh Peters
• I fly - Hayden Panettiere
• Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
• Beautiful - Carole King
• Keep me in motion (EFY 1998) - Felicia Sorensen
• Perfect love - Felicia Sorensen
• Perfect Day - Hoku
• Reachin' for heaven - Diana Degarmo
• Never be another - Jenny Jordan Frogley
• Don't worry about a thing- Shedaisy
• Don't get lost in the crowd - Ashley Ballard
• We can - LeAnn Rimes
• This one's for the girls - Martina McBride
• This is my time - Raven Symone
• Dream - Priscilla Ahn
• Set the world on Fire - Britt Nicole
• Who says - Selena Gomez
• Just the way you are - Bruno Mars
• Perfect (clean version) - Pink
• You are loved - Josh Groban
• Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson
• Freckles - Natasha Beddingfield
• Firework - Katy Perry
• Believe in yourself - Nsync
• What makes you beautiful - Backstreet Boys
• Gold - Britt Nicole
• More Beautiful You - Jonny Diaz
• Try - Pink

Leave a comment if you have songs that aren't on my list!

Jeans for Teens Drive!

Have you heard about the Jeans for Teens Drive yet? 

1.7 million teens are homeless and the #1 item 

that they request from shelters is, you guessed it...

         JEANS!!!

So how can you get involved and help?
Drop off your collected jeans at any Aero or P.S. store.

Every person who participates receives a 25% off coupon for

a new pair of jeans.

All jeans collected, will be donated to a local charity or shelter 

right in YOUR COMMUNITY!

Clean out your closet and make a difference to a teen in need!

Big sizes are the most requested but they need every size.

It doesn't matter on the brand, just make sure they are in

a wearable condition!

I have my Murray Youth collecting jeans from now until mid February.

We are making it a competition to see if we can get 1,000 pairs

collected throughout the Murray Community.

Leave a comment if you want to get involved in our competition.

ONE pair of jeans can change the life of a teen.
ONE pair of jeans can provide hope for a homeless teen. 
ONE pair of jeans can empower a teen to dream again.

Think about it, jeans are something that we wear everyday. 
When you wear your jeans, it probably doesn't cross your mind 
how blessed you are to own a pair.
But there is someone out there right now who is wishing and hoping for a pair,
just to stay warm.
Why let your jeans sit in your drawer if you won't be wearing them?
Donate them and make a difference!
One donation is going to change a life!

Self Esteem Matters!

Self-Esteem has been a long journey for me to reach.

Growing up...
I was the girl that always got teased.
I was the girl that struggled to make friends.
I was the girl that didn't get asked to dances as often as I would have liked.
I was the girl that always desired to be popular.
I was the girl that dreamed of being a cheerleader but lacked the confidence.

I tell you this because I am guessing many of you out there can possibly relate.

Recently I was looking through my High School journals and there was definitely a pattern in everything I wrote about. My journal revolved around two main focuses:
1. Service and how I chose to give of myself to others that day
2. Random acts of kindness people showed me and how others made me feel

Every day I would write about the service projects and kind deeds I had offered others that day. 
I would also write about others and the SIMPLE things people did to make me feel loved.

You see, I was the shy girl. The girl that so desperately wanted to be friends with 
everyone but didn't know how to start a conversation. I lacked the confidence to talk others, 
always worrying what they would think of me. 

Although confidence was the battle that I fought on a daily basis, 
I can't help but feel like it was MY BATTLE for a reason. 
Personal trials make us stronger but they also inspire us to do great things. 
It is a blessing I went through this personally because now I know I can be an example 
and mentor to others just like me! 

I feel like MY purpose or gift is to help others feel good about themselves. 

So why does Self Esteem matter anyways?

To feel confident about yourself is the center of everything you do! 

Have you ever had a bad day? You felt like no body around you cared? You felt like a tiny dot on this big earth? 
I HAVE... and what does it do to your attitude and your mind the entire day? It weighs you down!

How can you help others to feel loved if you don't feel loved yourself? You just can't! 
You can only give away what you have yourself!
If you have a dream but don't believe in yourself enough to reach it, then what good does chasing your dream actually do?

It effects the choices you make! When you are confident in yourself, you respect yourself 
and your body more and you don't allow others to influence you with the standards you have set for 
YOURSELF!

Self Esteem effects us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and even financially!
So this blog is focused on YOU and how you can become your best self and feel confident with
THE WHOLE YOU - the talents, the flaws and all!

Live, Laugh and LOVE because today is your day to stand up be confident in your own skin!

7 Keys to Self Esteem

Self Esteem is one of those things in life that is constantly changing.
Some of us have it more than others, but chances are we all experience ups and 
downs of confidence through different days, weeks and phases of our lives.

Ever notice how some days you feel super confident and like the world is yours,
and then other days you feel like you just want to hide under a rock?

Because change in emotions is inevitable, here are my secrets to having more 
confidence when you feel like you are in a slump.

My KEYS to feeling and gaining more Self-Confidence:

Key #1

{Suggestion: If you are religious in any way, you may want to pray about who needs a visit from you... allow the Lord to use you as a tool!}

Key #2

{Suggestion: It helps if you keep a list of what you think your strengths are by your mirror and read them every morning so you can constantly have them on your mind}

Key #3

{Confidence is a process; it takes much time and patience to feel completely confident. So when all else fails, just pretend you are confident and trick your mind}

Key #4

{Sometimes not caring what people think can be one of the toughest battles in this life. But you will never truly reach a 10 in the confidence level if don't stop caring. Love people, truly love them and give them everything you have but you have to do this not expecting anything in return. You have to care about every single person you come in contact with no matter if you think they like you or not. Once you stop caring if others love you back and you simply fall in love with people just because they are human, that is the moment you become a whole new confident person!}

Key #5

{Keep dreaming and failing! You may not end with the......   but one you will be glad to remember.}

Key #6

{Growing up I always wanted to learn to play the piano but my parents couldn't financially afford it at the time. I taught myself to play the piano 10 years later so I could compete in the Miss Murray Pageant...it was not easy to say the least but the price was SO WORTH IT! Find something you want to be good at and just keep practicing no matter how long it takes.}

Key #7

{Through all my school years, I always felt like an outcast. I was SO SHY that I struggled to make friends, I struggled to feel like I fit in, I struggled to get to know new people.. If I could go back, I would be more willing to hang out when invited to something out of my comfort zone. I would be more daring to sit by someone I didn't know and I would really get to know them. I would be more watchful of others that looked like they needed a friend just like me.}

Bullying

Bullying hurts.
I was watching the news this weekend only to find out a middle school
boy named David shot himself in front of peers at Bennion Jr. High on Friday.
My heart started to ache for this 14 year old and his loved ones he left behind.
He didn't voice his pain to his parents, they were clueless and shocked.

I believe bullying is 100% preventable.

It only takes ONE, just ONE to take a stand or tell a teacher or tell a parent.

If only someone was aware of this boys pain, something could have been done.

Just one friend by his side at lunch time so he had someone to talk to.

Or perhaps a classmate to report the teasing to administration but ask to remain anonymous.

Isn't just incredible? The influence we have on one another.

Every day we are given a choice, bring someone up or bring someone down.

Words hurt, I don't think we realize how big of an impact just one word can have on an individual.

Bullying is near and dear to my heart.

Growing up I was the victim.

I was the girl that often got made fun of.

I had just moved to a new school and I was struggling to make friends.

I got teased for wearing glasses.

I got teased because my hair wasn't as pretty as the other girls.

I got teased because I wouldn't say bad words no matter how hard they tried to convince me.

However, I was BLESSED!

I was blessed because I did end up making a best friend, Tiffany!

She stood up for me and she stood by my side.

I was blessed because I felt comfortable enough to come to my mom and tell her 

what was heavy on my heart.

I was blessed because eventually I found courage within my heart to stand up for myself

while doing the best that I could to not put the bully down.

But the biggest blessing of all, was experiencing how badly it hurts to be teased,

it has made it easier to remember how badly words can hurt others.

It has also given me passion and motivation to help those around me

develop higher self-esteem and to teach my 'Power of One' movement.

I pray for an opportunity to take this movement to all schools around me.

While I don't know the what exactly was on the heart of David or his loved ones at the time,

I do know this boy was important.

His life was valuable to so many people on this earth

and Heavenly Father loves him very very much.

I just can't stop thinking about this situation.

How my heart would ache if I was this boy's classmate and I hadn't said anything.

How my heart would ache if I was the boy's parents and I felt completely hopeless

because I didn't know the burden my son was carrying.

How my heart would ache if I was the principle and I wanted so dearly for these students

to treat each other with respect.

How my heart would ache if I was the bully and I wanted to take back absolutely everything 

I did to cause pain to another kid who was probably facing the same struggles as me.

This situation reminded me of the time I got to be apart of an amazing assembly.
It was a blessing to get to speak to a whole Junior High student body about 
how bullying really does have an impact.
But paying it forward to one another at school can create positive change
and can save lives!

Here is a small clip of the assembly:

My goal is to see how many assemblies I can get going in Utah before the school year is over.
A change needs to be made.
Bullying needs to be put to a STOP!

If you know someone at your school who is being bullied, here is a list of what you can do:

1. Stand up for the victim - this takes courage! Lots of it. But once the bully knows that there is more than it isn't just him and the victim any more, they bully is a lot more likely to be intimated and step down.
The bully will also be shocked and embarrassed once stood up to.

2. Don't join in on the bullying - Always refuse and walk away if the bully tries to get you to join in. Even if it is a good bribe to get you to do it, you will later regret it.

3. Stop the rumors - You have complete control of stopping rumors by simply not passing them on. When you hear someone else spreading the rumor, jump in and set the facts straight if you do know the story.

4. Tell an adult - The bullying can be put to an end much faster if an adult is aware of the situation. No matter how small the situation may look from the outside (for instance just a little teasing) it may hurt A LOT MORE on the inside. So tell a parent, a teacher, the principle, a counselor or any adult you see.
If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe about your comments, ask to remain anonymous and to keep your comments private. Have a friend go with you to make it easier.

5. Offer help - Once the bully is gone, make sure the victim is okay.Try to be a friend and see if he/she feels like talking about it. Encourage the victim to talk to an adult about the situation and try to instill courage in the victim to stand up for herself/himself next time.

Also, here is a great RESOURCE for Bullying and what you can do about it!