It's been awhile since I posted on here, though I don't really have anyone to write to. In fact I feel a bit odd writing on here basically to myself, I guess that's why I stopped after just two postings, but it's all good. I had been reading nienie's blog today and she really is an inspiration. I don't even know her, but her story has affected my life. In one of her posts- it was the February 16th one, she said, "Everyone has a story and it is being guided (if we let it) by our Heavenly Father." That stood out to me, because the past little while has been teaching me that Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and unless we choose to not accept that plan, it will happen, nothing will stop His plan for us from happening. I also think that everyone wants to feel important, but it's easy to not feel so, especially when we are always comparing ourselves to others, and seeing how great everyone else seems to be. In Nienie's simple statement, that everyone has a story, it brings a feeling of importance, and the fact is everyone is. We all have something to say and do, we all have our own experiences, and know things, which are important, that can be of assistance to others. We should not live our lives comparing ourselves to others, but we should live reaching for our own personal best, try to help others in any way we are able to, and expect no more or less of ourselves. This is something I admit I find rather hard to do. I've been trying for a very long time to gain confidence in myself, and to simply enjoy life. I realized a few weeks ago, as I was studying the scriptures about confidence, that having confidence in ourselves has a great deal to do with having confidence in the Lord, and having charity for others. I realized that in not trusting myself I was doubting God, I wasn't putting my full faith and trust in Him, I was saying He had failed in me- but God can't fail, He never has and never will. I realized also that in not really liking myself I couldn't love others, because my thoughts were spent focusing on myself; how foolish I was, how I could have done this or that better, or that this person must think I'm so stupid...etc. I would forget to think of what others needed, I would forget to think that the people around me might be struggeling and need someone to love them, to help them. So I'm working on my thoughts, and what I focus on- I'm trying to trust God's infinite, and perfect judgment -His perfect and clear view of all things, which is better than my finite understanding, and picture of life. So Alecto is back! :) I'm going to do better at clearing my mind of negative thoughts, and seeing what God sees, not just in myself, but in others, and in life. Things might not go exactly as planned, but I can solve any problems I'm faced with, as long as I turn to the Lord, I can be happy with who I am, and I can look forward to the future, we all can.