ACCORDING TO ZAC

My good friend Lauryn sent in a request for this blog: make an alternate version of this 26 Pieces of Life Advice From a 26 Year Old post. Having lacked inspiration to write, I was glad for her idea! I don’t know that I’m sage enough to have 30 meaningful tidbits from a 30 year old, but I can give it a try. This is part 1 of this blog’s first-ever 2 part series. 1. Meet people where they are I've realized over the last year or two that I've spent so much of my life waiting for people to come to me, meet my expectations, and read my mind. And that's meant I've found myself consistently frustrated, and often disappointed. But what I also realized was that because I wasn't verbalizing my needs, people couldn't pass the test I'd created for them in my mind. It's a harsh reality check to come to understand that when I felt failed by someone, it was because of what was going on with me , not with them. So I started extending more grace, or meeting people wher...

"You know everyone, don't you?" he said to me as we walked down the hall towards the clerk's office. I had just high fived someone that we passed walking the other way. I hadn't even thought twice about the gesture, it just felt normal. And yeah, I know plenty of people in my ward. I've been here for two-and-a-half years now, which I would hope is long enough to make some connections. But as I thought about his question over the course of the day, what I really think this new friend of mine was saying was this: "You really have a family here, don't you? You are loved here, aren't you?" And the more I thought about it, the more overwhelmed I was at the truth of what he was getting at. My life in Mesa has had some challenges, of course. We've all got them. But my time here has also been everything I never knew I needed, all thanks to the amazing people that I've been able to rub shoulders with. And when I really stop to think abo...

I’ve been reading a Mormon site called By Common Consent . It’s generally a place for honest introspection and spiritual questioning without disparaging anyone on either side of the theological issues facing Mormonism. I just read one article about the legacy of President Thomas S. Monson, who passed away in January. The author suggested that a lot of the big controversies the Church was involved in over the last several years might not have really been spearheaded by President Monson, and that he’s getting a bad rap for being the figurehead of the modern Church at the time that these situations were unfolding. Perusing the comments of articles such as these can prove dangerous. People say terrible things about our beliefs and about each other, depending on the site you might be looking at. The last thing I want is some online troll causing me to question my faith. I can do that all on my own without a stranger’s help. In a shocking twist, however, I was uplifted by one ...

They say that when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, right? Personally, I like sweet more than sour, so maybe lemon bars would be a better analogy for me, but the thought is all the same: my life isn't perfect, but it's coming around based on my own efforts. I've been thinking this a lot  the last few days: (I'm rereading The Fault in Our Stars , where this gem of a quote comes from, and it's perfect. Minus the cancer and tragedy. But seriously, it's so good.) Anyway, the awesome part about me saying "WHAT IS THIS LIFE?" this week is that it has been about good things. As in "how the heck did I get so dang lucky?!" I mean, today is my birthday, and that's pretty cool. I've really felt a lot of love, even through generic Facebook wall posts from people I haven't spoken to in a long time. But even better is the love I have felt through the people closer to me (both emotionally and geographically) who have texted, c...

I've had a few long talks with friends and family lately about the decline in my mother's health. It's hard to see someone that taught me and supported me  be so bogged down by a terrible illness. It makes my heart hurt. Tonight a thought came to my mind that hadn't really occurred to me previously -- what is going to happen if I am still living at home when my mother passes? I feel like my dad and I are going to feel so lost inside of this place without her. I've never known this place without her watchful eye. But while that is so painful to think of my dad and I being lonely in this house, aching for her return, a sweet thought came to mind -- where she goes next will not be a painful place. She will be made whole because of the Savior's sacrifice. She will be reunited with her own mother, who she loved so much. It doesn't need to be as sad as we make it. That attitude is hard to keep continually, but I try to soak it all in when it's here, because it...

I cry when I least expect it. I was coming to the end of Mockingjay , a hopeless, gory and depressing book. It offers no sense of realism in any way shape or form. Katniss spent the whole book in a stupor, actively trying not to cope with everything going on in her life. After months of denial and struggle, she comes to and decides to pick herself up and get on with life -- it's really the only viable option for anyone, anywhere. And that's where it started: She began writing down the details of the people she loved dearly but had tragically lost in the war against the oppressive government: the details of a person's laugh, the color of her friend's eye, or the kindness of someone she had grown up with. All of a sudden she was human again, and it struck a chord. I'm a detail-oriented person when it comes to personal interactions and relationships. As Katniss brought these details forward to prevent them from ever being forgotten, I thought about how much I do...

I'm trying to blog something personal and something of value, but I'm having a hard time. Life is just weird right now. I keep waiting for summer school to be over so I can finally feel the relief of not having deadlines. I keep thinking that once I'm free of the class I can focus on the good stuff, the places that my life is headed in the next little while and feel good about it. Ultimately though, I don't really think that's the source of the problem. I think the problem is that my whole life is in flux right now, and I can't do anything about it. People are moving, graduating, getting married, getting mission calls, and all this other stuff that is disrupting the perfect balance that I had achieved in the not so distant past. I had to cope with change not too long ago when everyone graduated high school, friends moved away, we found directions for our lives to take, and did our best to establish ourselves as "adults." Now I'm waiting for a ...

Do you ever say something and then think, "Whoa, that just sounded like dad/mom?" Well, I definitely did that the other day, and I was kind of proud it happened. I've got rockin' parents, if you didn't know. Now you know. :: On a different note, Nicole got married today. She looked stunning. It's sad to see her start this chapter of her life, because we're kind of on different pages now (to keep with the literary metaphor). But the more I think about it, the more that's the way it's meant to be. I'll find myself a good spouse someday, as will all of my friends. We'll all leave each other behind to find bigger and better things in this life, and the only thing left in the end will be an empty stretch of road that we all used to travel together. We'll each replace that stretch that we once took together in favor of individual roads that lead us on to better things. We can chase our dreams a little more fervently when you have that comp...

It's interesting to think back to kindergarten. Life was so different then. Priorities were snack time, lunch time, and play time. Food and game related activities, essentially. Fifth grade seemed like an eternity away. By fifth grade you were wondering when high school would arrive. High school wouldn't arrive until you suffered through three years of middle school, and let's face it, everyone is awkward in middle school. Everyone. Then you go to high school, and as much as people think you start finding out "who you are" in high school, college is what makes you really think about it. College has presented me with some cool opportunities. I have a rockin' singles ward. I have super cool friends. Being an "adult" isn't so bad (at least the parts of adulthood that I've chosen to accept). But what it really does is force you to analyze who you are, what you want to be, and how you're going to get there. Which is completely nuts if you as...

I wonder if in 50 years, people will look back at handwriting and admire how cool it is, just like I admire my grandparents' awesome handwriting that they have shaped in their 80+ years in existence. Times are so different now. Times will be different in 50 years. It'll be cool to see the way things change.

I've never wanted to be anything other than a Conservative as far as politics go. Never. As I've gotten older I've drifted closer to the center, but am still right-wing in general. Well, mark tonight as another victory for the crazed liberal yuppies and their persuasive prose. I'm reading a John Grisham novel right now, and it made some very good points about the death penalty and how awful it is. My new official stance on the issue: bad. What's weird is that just a few years ago I wrote a whole satire in my honors English class about capital punishment. I firmly believed in it then. You're asking about the reason I don't like it anymore? A man in the book, a minister actually, noted that Jesus Christ would have never wanted us to kill others for their wrongdoings. John Grisham is a crazed liberal yuppie. I wonder if he even believes in Jesus Christ... I guess he's from the South, so he ought to have some form of religion in his life. Regardless,...

Welcome to the new year. I'm sort of mortified that it's 2011. As each year passes, I think about everything I wanted to accomplish but didn't. The more I think about what didn't happen this year, the more I think about what I want to do next year. A lot of the things on that list carry over from year to year, and that will probably happen for the rest of my life. What probably should happen at this time of year is to look back at all of the awesome things that happened and what I was able to accomplish. As I do that, I feel a little bit better about all of the stuff that I didn't accomplish because I really did do some cool stuff in 2010. I've never been one to say good riddance to a year of badness and welcome in a fresh start. As time has gone on, I still think that if you're waiting for January 1st for your fresh start, you need to take a look around. Your fresh start begins when you're ready to put in the effort and make it a new and better time...

You just have to do the best you can with what you've got. That's all there is to it.

Matthew 8 : 24-27 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him , and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! The gospel brings peace unto our lives like Christ brought peace unto the sea. He calms the raging waters that knock you back and forth. Just as you think you're going to fall beneath the waves, he'll be there. Trust in the Lord no matter your circumstances. In times of trial I think of this song lyric: "and then I see the light, and he's walking on water, and he's only an arm's reach away." We have a constant support system if we look in the right direction. As we do what's right, God w...

This season should be one of excitement and celebration. I mean, it's December after all. I ain't no Scrooge. Instead, I'll just have a minor breakdown over my homework that I'm not getting done. [I'm not actually making this face right this moment because I took this picture on the beach in Mexico, and, let's face it, what could be more care free than a beach? But , that's kind of the face that I make when I think about all of that crap I have to take care of in the next two weeks. Awesome. ]

Today was a really great day. It was Thanksgiving, yes, but even for a Thanksgiving, it was particularly excellent. The food was delicious, the company was wonderful, and I have been happy all day long. Here is a quick list of all of the things that I am grateful for. The earth. This planet is so filled with wondrous things for us to enjoy. People really take for granted the amazing things there are to see and do. My appreciation for nature has come with age, but even many people who have grown up do not appreciate the earth and the magnificent things it has to offer. There aren't enough words to describe how truly awesome the earth is. I will love it forever. This country. This nation is not perfect. However, beyond our imperfections, we have some fantastic opportunities here in America. To have the opportunity to say what you want, practice any religion you please, and have a real say in the function of our government is a blessing. I know this country is a wonderful place to...

Tonight we went and saw Hereafter .  [ This one , in case you were wondering.] Eric moaned and Austin tried to nap. I found it positively engaging and thought-provoking. The entire time I couldn't help but think of how blessed I am. Life totally sucks sometimes. Seriously. Granted, what stresses me out, like school, church obligations, etc., are relatively small in comparison to some of the things other people deal with. At the end of the day though, I know why I'm here, what I need to do, and where I'm going, and I have a wonderful support system of family and friends that keep me above water when I don't feel like I can swim any longer. The people in the movie struggle with deaths of certain loved ones and what lies in the hereafter. Death is hard. You don't need to tell me that. I think that as a 20 year old, I'm reasonably well acquainted with it, especially losing my uncle that we were all close with.  But having the knowledge and understanding of God...

I find it slightly remarkable how quickly your day can be turned around. It's not like today was a truly awful day. On the contrary, things were going alright. I was just stressing myself out like crazy over this news story I have due tomorrow. Granted, I still haven't written it, which is the main thing, but at 1:45 in the afternoon, you only have one of your four required sources, and you nail down the remaining three, things get a whole lot cheerier. One of which was a fantastically forward nutritionist who loved to chit chat, which made my job as an interviewer really easy (thank the heavens). You're saying, "1:45? That's awfully early in the day to be stressing out about it." Normally I would agree, however, when your sources are real people, you can't just Wikipedia it at midnight. I don't think most people like to be called and bothered at midnight (I know I don't), so you kind of have to plan accordingly, which gets a little tricky if th...

Here we are. Blogging. You're thinking, what's the deal with this kid, he blogs everyday for an entire year, and can't just let it go? Well... not really. I feel like I hardly have a purpose when I wake up if there's nothing for me to show the world by the end of the day. That's what was so fulfilling about Through the Lens . But this time things are going to be a little different. I'm not blogging everyday, and I'm not blogging exclusively photos. I am blogging my life, because at some point down the road my memory will fade and I'll be a little upset that I don't have a record of the fun things I did in my youth/young-adulthood (not that those are actually different in any way, shape, or form). And, I really do tend to have a lot to say. Too much to say, sometimes. At any rate, According to Zac is up and running. Awkwardly, I don't actually have a lot to blog at this point, so stay tuned for the happenings of my little life as I do my best t...