Why Family Relations Matter

     Growing up some of my most fond memories are linked with doing some sort of work around the house with my family. I remember Saturday mornings cleaning the house with ABBA music blasting and singing along at the top of our lungs with the rest of my siblings. We all got to help with meal prep whether we were actively helping prepare the meal or helping to clear and set the table but we all were in the kitchen spending time together. On normal weekdays we all were assigned jobs to help keep the house clean which I didn’t always love at the time but now I really love cleaning my apartment! Each of these memories are full of fun family time and feeling accomplished that I was able to help make something great happen. I do remember sometimes feeling frustrated that I had to do things sometimes but despite those negative feelings, I remember feeling much closer to my family members by the end. I think that because work was such a huge part of my family's life that it becam...

     What comes to mind when you think of the word communication? Some things that come to my mind are talking, discussing, or sharing ideas. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines communication as, “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” It goes on to say, “information communicated information transmitted or conveyed,” and “a verbal or written message.” I found these definitions to be very interesting and helpful in understanding the main purpose of communicating. We also learn that there is a great deal more to communicating than just what we say for how we act. Even in the definition verbal forms of communicating weren’t mentioned till the very last definition. It is clear that talking or discussing things is not the only part of effective communication.       There are three main parts of communication, words, tone, and body language or nonverbal cues. We use all thre...

  In life we will all go through stressful and hard things. We may experience the loss of a loved one, losing a job, suffering from health challenges or extended sickness, being forced to change life plans, moving to a new location and the list could go on and on! Sometimes when we already feel overwhelmed by so many life stressors, it seems like that is the time everything begins to fall apart, and even more, things happen that can wreck any sense of normal we ever felt. When we are faced with so many life challenges or stressors it can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed, alone, anxious & may lead to feelings of depression. So why do stressful or unexpected events leave us feeling anxious or sometimes hopeless? To understand this we have to understand & a little bit about our brains & how we react to danger.   Our brains can split into three main categories, the Frontal Lobe, the Limbic System, & the Brain stem. Each has a different role to play....

     Why do we as a culture feel uncomfortable when people bring up the topic of "Sex" or Sexual Intimacy? I think at least in my culture growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I remember having lessons as a youth about the Law of Chastity, one of God's Laws. This Law tells us to not have sex before marriage & to only have sexual relations with your spouse after marriage. I remember these lessons often being pretty awkward or super vague. We would mainly focus on the Law that we shouldn't have sex before marriage, but I remember sometimes wondering what avoiding sex till you were married meant.  How could I apply the law of Chasity to my daily life other than just waiting till marriage? Did that mean you shouldn't talk to a boy until you are old enough to marry? Was being attracted to a boy as a teenager breaking the law of chastity? Should I feel ashamed by having questions about sex or the differences between men's and women’s anat...

  Building a strong marriage relationship is hard and takes a great deal of effort! Before marriage in dating, courtship, and engagement it is so important to be talking with and getting to know your potential spouse. Especially once you get into courtship and engagement you should be establishing some very distinct boundaries or standards for you both in that relationship. These boundaries could include how openly you share private things shared between the couple with people outside the relationship. A boundary could be how one interacts with friends especially friends of the opposite gender. I think these boundaries have to first start from knowing your spouse and understanding what may be a challenge for them. It also goes back to how you perceive things. This is a good opportunity as a couple for you to define what being in a relationship with each other will look like and can even help you grow closer to each other in the process! An important adjustment to establishing stron...

     This week I have had the opportunity to read several articles and attend meetings about dating. I have learned a ton and am hoping that today in my blog that I can address two overarching questions in regard to dating. These questions are, how does our culture see dating today and what impact can that have on our ability to build healthy relationships, and what is actually a good date that can help us build healthy relationships?      To get a sample about how the world sees or prompts dating just take a look at today's popular media. Modern movies, Hallmark shows, popular TV shows, music, and even modern Disney movies have played a huge role in shaping our culture regarding relationships. All these shows portray people meeting in some random way, often getting physical on the first date or soon after meeting, and show romance as being very sexually turned on by each other. Often they show a whirlwind romance and after only knowing each other for a sho...