Salt Sucks

 One day in class, we were talking about media violence, and how it is a risk factor for aggressive behavior. Yet, it is something that we can definitely control in our lives!! Then my mind went to salt. Why?

My head loves analogies. Through comparisons, I understand things better. Once in a human physiology or anatomy class here at BYU, I learned that however much salt you eat consistently, that's what your taste buds become accustomed to. So, in essence, your sensory neurons become desensitized to whatever level of salt you're feeding yourself. You choose the level of salt, and your body becomes accustomed to it, so that you NEED that amount of salt on your food to feel like you're getting the same effect. Health implications follow.
Whether this is actually right or wrong, it fits with the purpose of this analogy. :)

I thought of the uses and gratifications of violent media, and how people may feel a rush by watching violence, but soon need more to get that same rush of adrenaline. Then, I thought of many people I know who have served missions, who wouldn't touch a violent ANYTHING for months after they get back (making me feel really bad and worldly for even suggesting we watch it. Shoot. Ha.) While we may think of those RMs as out of touch with the "real world", I feel like they're just not horribly desensitized like many of us are.

If we lessen our "salt" (violent media) intake, I think that we'll realize that we didn't need that high amount of salt in the first place. In fact, we may find that our high intake of salt was impacting our health. Little did we know. That's what desensitization does.

Princesses and Prophets

"When I was a kid growing up, my grandmother lived with us,and one of her things was to make sure that I went to bed at night. So she would tell me stories. I wanted to hear Snow White and Cinderella, but she'd always say, 'I can only tell you something that's true.' And so she would tell me the stories of Joseph Smith and the pioneers." --Susan Easton Black

Sometimes, for short spurts of time, life will continually give me a theme to ponder. And sometimes, that theme comes from a media source, with little treasures popping up when I least expect them to. This was such a time. 

I was on Facebook one day, and I stumbled across a New York Times article that someone had posted about how storytelling brings families together and makes them more resilient. The ideas it gave resonated with me. But I soon forgot about it as I went about my daily life, racing my deadlines. 

About a week later, I was reading a random Deseret News article, when I got hit with the idea again. It was the quote you see above, by Susan Easton Black (who is an amazing teacher!) My thoughts immediately went to Dr. Coyne's study on princesses, and how so many girls love and aspire to be like the cartoon princesses.

I wondered. What if we spent as much time teaching our daughters (and sons) about real stories of real people? About our ancestors who faced challenges? About the people we admire? Would our little children have a better sense of who they are? Would they be more resilient and feel more bonded with their families? Would they be stronger for it?

I've never been a very good storyteller, and so I never thought much about the significance of the stories we tell. But as I think about people like Susan Easton Black, whose inspirational career and love of church history was fostered by her grandmother's bedtime stories in her early years, I begin to rethink my paradigm. 

 

Music, Shopping, and Cheesecake

Last month I went to the Cheesecake Factory for the first time (I know, where have you been all my life?!) And one thing I noticed about the experience, other than the food, was that I really loved the music they played. All of it. Maybe I was just in a really good mood for that kind of music, but honestly, that alone makes me want to go back again!

Cheesecake Factory

When I thought about it more, I realized that music has a big effect on me whenever I go into a store. Even silence has an effect. The music or noise I hear can drive me away, or make me want to stay longer (and... spend more money). The other day I went to a pizza place where the one girl there was listening to screamo stuff, and I just wanted to leave. In fact, I did. After we ordered the pizza. The customer service was great, but the music almost drove me away. Music has a powerful effect on the atmosphere of any store, and in extension, it can even determine the success of an establishment.

Miss-representation

As I watched the Miss-representation video in class, I'll be honest. I felt a little sick to my stomach. Why? Because I felt like I had been convinced of a LIE my entire life. The video caused me to take a big step back and look at what kind of belief system I'd been subscribing to since I can remember. I mean, I knew that media is unrealistic for the most part, but little did I know what a huge impact it has on our society, in that I think it is a catalyst for perceived expectation. Here's a few ideas that I liked/thought were profound in the video:

• Media culture (and in extension, society) values the looks of women. How are we to rise above it?
• The media affects the brain on a subconscious level.
• Advertising is based on making people feel anxious, insecure, and therefore moves us to do things to feel more "powerful". 
• Women spend money on cosmetics instead of school--the rhetoric of this "empowerment" is that it completely dis-empowers you.
• Women are objectified in media. We think that they're empowered, so young women try to use their sexuality to become as empowered. 

There were so many more good points, but in short, I want to make sure that I'm a more conscientious consumer of the media, and that from now on, I look hard at the messages that the media is really sending. 

My Laptop. My Life.

I have just a small thought. I write this post, cringing a little as I do. I have a question for you. What would your life be like if you didn't have your laptop? Just thinking about that makes me feel a little bit guilty, because I know that I would have so much more free time to do (in most cases, probably) more meaningful things! My laptop is a powerful tool for good... but it can also be a vice. Why do some of the best gifts to us have such a power to ensnare us as well! It's like a pendulum... the farther it swings one way (for good), the farther it can go the other way (for bad)!

I suppose the only way to solve the problem comes with these two words: responsibility and discipline. I hope that I can continue to develop those, so that I can be better myself and also teach my kids those important principles as well, so that we can all avoid the "technology takeover" and live real, productive, and happy lives!

Powerful Gospel Lessons From... Disney?

This is a post in response to my friend Jenna Berkey's last blog post. She related how she was able to better learn aspects about the gospel through Hercules. Reading this reminded me of a spiritual moment that I had about 8 years ago, when I was new in seminary. I used this clip as a part of one of my devotionals at the beginning of class:

Do I think that we can learn gospel lessons through Disney, or other secular media? Absolutely. I love this example of the Lion King.  I think that a huge part of our conversion process is the realization that Heavenly Father exists, and that we are literally His children. That knowledge has influenced everything about my life, and I believe that everything good that I have in my life comes from that source. There is power in knowing WHO WE ARE, because if we know that, we have a greater capacity to recognize the great potential that we have, and we can work towards it! I think of Simba at the beginning of the clip--directionless. But by being reminded of who he really was, he re-discovered his purpose, and went on to do amazing things. 

And you know what? We have amazing things to do as well. 

Interesting Pinterest-ing

I love Pinterest, for many reasons. Having the convenience of putting all brilliant ideas in one space and NOT LOSING THEM? Bonus! (I tend to lose things a lot!) But yet, I'm not addicted, and I never have been. Maybe it's just not my personality. Or maybe it's because I haven't planned a wedding yet (because I'm definitely using it to help me!) I hear people talk about how they're addicted, and I know that it could happen to me. I need to be careful. 

I love that we have social networks that allow us to connect with people and share ideas. For me, I love home decor and making spaces look good, so for me Pinterest is golden! Or so I thought. Lately I've been having second thoughts. Yes, think that Pinterest has a wealth of great ideas. BUT, what does it do for people, really? Do they end up doing the countless projects that they pin? What about all the fashion posts, the cool hair posts, the motivational get-in-shape posts--do they help? I almost think that "Pinterest-ing", if used improperly, could easily turn into a rabbit-hole of unfulfilled wants, and possibly make us more and more unsatisfied with what we already have. In class, we learned that the more kids watched T.V. and the more exposed they were to advertisements, the more materialistic they were. Could this also apply to sites like Pinterest? I'm still deciding what I think about it.

Advertisements That Rock.

The Sunday after our advertisement lecture, our Relief Society teacher began her lesson with this advertisement, which is part of a campaign called "Lead India." I felt really inspired watching it.

Lead India: The Tree

Another video I just came across: an ad promoting the discontinuation of labeling children with certain disorders. Again, inspired. 

Stop Labeling Children: Anonymous

What is it that makes these advertisements so powerful and inspiring to many people, not just to someone who loves learning leadership principles and is a Human Development major? I think that a good advertisement portrays its message in a way that a lot of people can relate to it. I think that almost all humans are similar in our deep yearnings... a few of which are highlighted in the two commercials above: the need to have meaning and purpose, the need to be understood for who you are, the need to feel loved and appreciated (to name only a few). My favorite advertisements are not those that mostly entertain me (although those are great!)--my favorites are those that inspire me, remind me to be a better person, and leave me determined to change.