(Let’s just admit up front that the word super has a completely different definition for every kind of mom. In my case, it means getting 2 or more items done on my to-do list. For those of you who didn’t know that such a feat propelled you to superhuman status, you’re welcome.)
I went to Women’s Conference last week, but rather than bore you with all the details of everything I learned (I mean right now. Of course I will bore you with them later.), it suffices to say that I walked away with a strengthened testimony of God’s complete awareness of me, myself, and my needs, AND a greater desire to find more joy in my mission– to love the things God loves.
(THANK you to those of you who met up with me for lunch or dinner while I was there. It makes me happy to surround myself with good friends leading good lives. In a world where one can sometimes feel like she’s the lone whackadoodle fighting to do what’s right, there’s a lot of comfort in knowing and being surrounded by like-minded women.)
Maybe my posts would be more readable if they didn’t always have a seven-paragraph introduction/disclaimer/random-thought-dump. Whatever, I’m sure you’ve figured out how to skim by now.
Anyway. Guess what? I started going back to the gym every morning at 6 a.m., and by every, I mean Monday through Friday, but it makes me sound very dedicated if I just say every. This in and of itself is actually something I’m quite proud of because it helps me to start my day, as opposed to letting my day start me (like when I wake up to the sound of my children spilling oatmeal or other abominations). I’m not sure, but I think it’s been a little over three weeks now, which almost means I can claim it as a real habit. I don’t know what the rules are about that, but I feel like I’m close. So this new gym things is cool, but that’s not what I really wanted to write about. One thing I hate about the gym is their music video channel that’s always pumped into the gym via two televisions front and center of the exercise room. It’s their own channel, and it feeds the audio that’s heard throughout the gym. I’ll make the story short: It seems like at least 50% of music videos are soft porn (some not-so-soft). It used to bug me before my I’m-feeling-lazy-and-seasonally-depressed hiatus from the gym, but I noticed it again right away upon my return, so I decided to do something about it. I complained before and they blew me off saying “it’s a corporate decision, not ours.” I wrote a letter to the corporate office and explained my complaint in my normal kind and gentle way (like “I don’t see any indication in [your] corporate goal statement that in addition to fueling [your members’] bodies and minds, you’re also trying to collectively fuel their libido..”) and mailed it off.
WELL. I got a phone call yesterday from the corporate office telling me that they were immediately removing the specific videos that I had mentioned, and that they are working on switching over the entire content to more appropriate material that better promotes their ideals of a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and apparently they went through the 400 videos they were given from whatever company produces their TV streaming and requested to remove 25% of them– 100 videos! I thanked them for their acknowledgment and response to my letter. And then of course I called up one of my girlfriends and bragged about it. How cool is that?! I can’t help but think of Sister Elaine Dalton’s claim:
“I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue.”
I tell you this so that you sit at your computer completely flabbergasted by my overwhelming awesomeness realize how easy it is to make a difference.
“[A woman with a mother heart] knows that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man.” (Sister Beck)
Some of you may remember that about a year ago, I started working on a project called the Protecting Innocence Project. I just want to reassure those of you who contributed to the development of it with your research and writing that it IS still under construction and will be forthcoming, hopefully soon. The content is completely done and I’m just waiting on some of the web development that I can’t do on my own. I didn’t want you to think I’d let the whole thing fall through the cracks or make you feel like your contribution was a waste. It WILL happen, I promise.
Well, darn-it, my post already got way too long. I’ll just save my breath and make you a list of the rest of the victories and failures I was going to mention. I’m sure you can figure out which is which.
- Cashed out our budget this month to MAKE ourselves not overspend. Hard, but rewarding. (Today in the grocery checkout line Clark almost asked for something, but stopped himself and said, “I know, mom, we should buy what we need and not what we want. If we buy what we want, we won’t have enough money left for the stuff we need.”
- I think I’ve already put about 4 pairs of wet or soiled size 4T underwear in the laundry today. Probably 15 in the last 3 days. Just when I thought I was done with diapers.
- Ants in our kitchen. Where are they coming from?
- I was trying to save up money because preschool in the fall will probably be at least $100/month. Happened to talk to a friend of a friend of a friend who helped me find a preschool run by the high school child development class that is $65/semester! If I were my mother, I’d write a long, gushing paragraph about tender mercies. Short testimony: I love tithing.
- I love your limericks. I’ll post up my favorites for voting later this week.
Okay. I’m done now.
Diapers and Divinity 
You are a rock star. First, for making it to the gym, and second for really standing up for what you believe in. You get results.
And we will meet up next time, my friend. I’m glad I didn’t try to fit it in there. It was a really long day.
You know I’m all about “one e-mail can change the world”! We really can make a difference. It’s good to be reminded that it doesn’t take leaping tall buildings to make someone ‘super’. Sometimes it just takes 10 minutes at your computer and a polite determination to be heard.
I have to go get a root canal in a few hours. that has nothing to do with your post, but it is all I can think about. Sorry. and yes – you are a supermom. and a super friend.
Awesome. You ROCK. (And I’m not just saying that because you haven’t strangled the owner of all that underwear–which I know, from experience, is no small feat.) I am shocked they called you. That’s great.
Ok, which gym do you go to so I know which gym to join?? That is SO awesome that they are making a change because of your letter! I LOVE how you put “fueling their libido.” You are awesome! My jaw dropped when I read that they called you!
And I have seriously considered cashing out the budget as well. We are trying to pay off our student loans but the resolve has been waning. Way to go!
It’s Lifetime Fitness.
That is so awesome. I wouldn’t enjoy the videos I’m sure, but I’d probably try to turn a blind eye and ignore them. Way to do something about it. The world would be a much better place if we just spoke out. That’s the beautiful thing about capitalism. If we say what we want as consumers, it makes sense for the men in the big leather chair to do what we want to keep us as customers. We need to be righteous consumers, I suppose.
“I’m quite proud of because it helps me to start my day, as opposed to letting my day start me (like when I wake up to the sound of my children spilling oatmeal or other abominations).”
This seriously makes a difference, doesn’t it? I much prefer to start my day by choice rather than from the “abominations” being committed by my children. Way to go!
What a great post. You are right – one person can make a difference.
I love tithing too. We weren’t going to make our budget this month, and we just got a check out of nowhere from our insurance company saying I overpaid what I should have on my son’s ear surgery last November. Now we will make our budget!
Funny you should mention going to the gym for three weeks. Just the other day Greg told me that you have to do something 21 times for it to become a habit! 🙂 (this in reference to our new thing of waking up and doing family scripture study before school/work instead of right before bed when we all-too-often rush through it because our 8:00 documentary show is about to start and we need kids in bed. So glad we’ve stopped that whole “hurry, we need to read and pray because our show’s about to start”. Can you imagine?)
I’ll be sharing the gym story with the fam. That is so extremely awesome! YOU are so extremely awesome.
High five to you!!! Well done for getting up early, exercising and making a stand for something you believe in!
Zip-pe-de-do-DAH!! SHAZAAAM! Cow – A – BUNGA!
We need to come up with a signature battle cry for you. I think we might even have another contest coming on…
Seriously, you are and always have been my hero. Thanks for standing up for righteousness, and setting an example for the rest of us!
That is so awesome about the gym videos! Way to go.
And I taught the preschool class when I went to Olympus High School and remember thinking what an awesome program it was and that I would love to put my kids in it some day. You will never have a better student/teacher ratio, and the high schoolers are so excited to be there too.
Now I live in Davis County, and there is NOTHING like that here. 😦 I am so sad that I am stuck paying the $100 per month next year. It is going to be really hard on our budget, but there just aren’t any other good options.
Hooray on the gym videos! That’s awesome.
My son is in the HS pre-k here and we love it. It’s not as cheap as yours ($85 for two months), but compared to the private pre-k’s — it’s a bargain!
(And I am planning on particpating in GCBC…I’m just waiting until my Ensign arrives. I like to be able to mark the talks. Hopefully this week!)
*Speechless* (in awe!)
Kristina P stole my line. You ARE a rock star. Soooo cool. It makes me want to look for whatever small change I can make. Good job, lady.
You are motivating. If you can get up at 6:00 and exercise EVERY morning, certainly I can. Maybe.
We’ll see.
Meanwhile, I’m proud o’ you. I think maybe it’s surprising that one complaint can change so much, but it’s also so empowering! Good for you!
Way to go on the gym music/videos! So proud of you. It only takes one to speak up! Loved seeing you last week 🙂
Thank you so much for your efforts to speak up and do what you can to make things a little better! I love the boost I get from stories like this!
I can’t imagine what our finances would be like if we weren’t paying tithing. Somehow everything always works out!
Stephanie, this is inspiring. It inspires me to mini-action! Not everything has to be done on the mass level, you know?
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