5. Where do I go from here?

For so much of my life I was involved in sports. From the time that I was four years old all the way up through high school I participated in some kind of sport. Whether it was gymnastics, basketball, volleyball or soccer I was playing and I never stopped. I loved it. It was a part of who I was. But since graduating high school and coming to college, sports is something that's no longer a part of me. That chapter in my life has ended. I know that sounds a little extreme and maybe it is but I can't help but feel that way. Yeah I still love sports and yeah there's always intramural sports but it's just not the same. I miss the team aspect--spending 2+ hours every day with your teammates. I miss the practices, the games, bus rides, and the friendships. A special bond is created when you spend every day with someone who experiences the rough spots with you as well as the celebratory moments. You push each other in practices bettering yourselves, you learn each others movements on the court or field and can predict each others next move. It's almost like a new language that only you and your teammates know how to speak. I miss being able to go out of the field or court and just emerging myself in the game, forgetting about everything else; all you have to do is focus on the game, your teammates and enjoying what you love to do. Some of my very best friends came from playing on a team together. And I think we were so close because we just understood each other and we experienced so much together. They were the main characters in that chapter. 

So what do you do when that chapter ends? When you no longer have that something that defines a part of who you are and what you love to do? You find something else you enjoy doing to fill that spot. But how do you find that "thing"? These are all questions I'm still trying to answer. I'm still trying to find that certain "thing" that makes me, me--that makes me stand out or different from everyone else. Yes, I have my family and the gospel and my education and I love that. Those things are important but I need something else. Sports was that "something else" but now I need a new hobby that I can find joy in doing and push myself in. I guess that's a part of writing a new chapter though, right? Figuring out what you want the story to be or how you want it to go. That's where I go from here. 

4. Beginning my Research...

I like to think that my family is very unique. But what does it mean to be a Fischer? What makes my family, my family?
Does birth order have an effect on personality?

3. Strive to be your Best Self-General Conference Reflection

Elder Larry R. Lawrence said, "It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we were today." But how? I think a lot of the themes and topics spoken on during General Conference apply to this phrase. Seek the Lord's help in everything you do, turn to him in prayer, ask the right questions, keep the commandments, center your life in Christ, trust Him, be thou an example, feast upon the words of Christ, remember the Atonement, and listen to the Spirit were all themes talked about this past conference that also apply to becoming our best selves. If we want to better ourselves first, we need to figure what needs improvement. Elder Lawrence talked about the Holy Ghost and turning to the Lord in prayer, asking with a sincere heart, "what lack I yet?" Not only do we have to ask but we have to be willing to take the answer we are given and act upon it. Henry B. Eyring said the most valuable inspiration is what God would have you do. And as we obey and demonstrate our willingly to better ourselves the Spirit will send us more impressions of what God would have us do. But as Robert D. Hales said, "Will we let ourselves be led?" Put your trust in Him! Having the guidance of the Spirit is essential in our day and time. Striving to keep the commandments and keeping our lives centered in Christ makes it easier to have the Holy Ghost present in our lives and therefore, easier to receive revelation. President Eyring said that having the "companionship of the Spirit makes what's good more attractive and temptation less compelling." Sometimes our answers come through "ponderizing" the scriptures. Elder Durant invited us all to pick a scripture each week to "ponderize." Having a specific scripture present on our minds throughout the week helps to uplift us. After all, "the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" right?
If you ever feel you are struck and can't progress because of sin or sorrow, remember the Atonement. Dallin H. Oaks said, "Christ is perfectly positioned to lift us and give us the strength we need to endure our afflictions. We only have to ask." The Savior is someone who can help us become clean no matter how dirty we have become. Allen D. Haynie in quoting President Boyd K. Packer said, "the Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed." There is Always a way back to our Father in Heaven. Repentance is just another step in our journey of becoming our best selves and ultimately returning to live with our Heavenly Father again.
Being better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we were today is a continuous journey. As President Uchtforf said, "exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey."