7 Habits of Highly Effective People

7 Habits was the first non-fiction book I read all the way through--and over the years I think it's gotten me into trouble. Here's why:

It gave me tools "to-do" what I wanted with my life. It fanned the my flames of post adolescent "independence". Goal setting, Time management, Franklin planners became my religion within my religion.

Lately, I've been chewing on the quotes
"Life is what happens to you when you are on your way to do something else"
& the Anti-Christ's philosophy in the BofMormon that
"every man fared according to the management of the creature"

So, if this is true..what is the point of 7 Habits?

If it's true that "Everything happens for a reason" than ... why should I try to be in the drivers seat of my life so much. "God can do a lot more with your life than you can --Benson"

So... it seems to me that anything in the way of God working in your life is not of God.
Should you let life pass through you OR create life through effort.
Should you "consider the lilies?" OR should you "count the cost?"
Should you BE or should you DO?
Your will? or God's will?

So far my experiences have taught me that the most FUN way to live is to keep the commandments & then pay close attention to "coincidences" which immediately start happening. "Coincidences are miracles in which God remains anonymous"

To Be Reactive or or Be Proactive--that is the question
Nephi, Abinadi, Jesus, Joseph Smith, Moses were all forced to react to some pretty crappy events in their lives. Yet, all of these lives started with some pretty amazing initiative & all these great lives involved a considerable amount of "studying it out".

"You couldn't pay me 1,000,000 for my life experiences, but I wouldn't give pay .50 do it over again"

Can you BEGIN with the END in mind? Is it humanly possible?
On some level I think you can visualize (right brain) & strategize (left brain) but you just can't think of everything on the chess board of life. You get schooled everytime. Jesus said, "sufficient is the evil for the day" and missionaries were encouraged to live without purse or script.
Hugh Nibley thought people could live based on God's ability to provide,protect, preside "sufficiently for our needs" in an almost Israelite "daily manna" type world.


So here are some conclusions

Covey's stuff can get you into trouble if you are not grounded in gospel
Scripture trumps Covey everytime
Moderation in ALL things ( Moderation is a gift of the spirit. See Galations 5)
Always Be dependent (with God and others)--you never graduate from dependence with God
Live in the moment
Use less willpower & more Grace ( The Spirit can begin with end in mind, you can't)


Oh yeah... another problem I have with Covey is that he comes across as so perfect. 8 kids all perfect, I get really suspicious when people appear to perfect-- nor do I really enjoy learning lessons about life from people like that.

The Franklin Planner Entrepreneur guy (Hyrum Smith) who had the affair seems like's he's come full circle in his recent book, "My Peace I Give Unto You"

www.ypcommons.org

Lately, I have been feeling very passionate about creating an organization for YP's 'young professionals' . Think about it, people aged 18-30something, are not joining Lions, Rotary clubs, Soroptomists, Masonic Orders..etc... In fact, many GEN X'rs throughout the World are rejecting the common notions of what structure is all about... ( for more google... purple party, or emergent churches, or the millenial generation)

Boy Scouts is on the verge of caving ( partly due to GAY pressures, and partly due to lack of interest, Things are just not as cool as they once were)

So... what is going to happen? Is our society to wake up one-day looking to replace the worn and frayed social fabric only to be surprised with the idea that no one ever thought about it?

www.YPcommons.org seems to at least one organization that is doing something that can replace this and I see a much more entrepreneurial service sector emerging. with people working on PROJECTS... not lifelong card-carrying membership to things like the Boy Scouts.
http://www.informationandreferral.org/

Just thoughts though... what do you tink?

Light,Truth,God,Word creates unique people,relationships,situations

I used to be really into the Color Code/Birth Order/Personality tests, etc.. but more and more lately I've been liking the idea that we are all incredibly unique ( Jewels as God calls us)

A mix of our ancestors strengths & weaknesses, God given talents & God given weakness (Ether 12)

Also we're not just a creation that happened... but a creation that is happening and creation creating.

Frist Day in Idaho 

My trip to Mt. San Jacinto--Tram is only 18.50 after 3 PM and worth every cent.

97 degrees in palm springs 70 degrees at the top 8,000 feet elevation

Don't get suckered into the ALL YOU CAN EAT CHUCKWAGON. But do walk around the 1 mile nature trail!

So... You Wanna go backpacking with me. . .

Send an email to david.jarvi at gmail.com if you want the "Comprehensive Backpacking list" in MS EXCEL format with estimated prices/weights.

Everything you bring on an adventure depends on
1) The trip (What will you be doing? and Where you are going?)
2) Experience of you and the "weakest link" in your group
3) Weight

Must Have items in your group

1. Food System ---Food and Water and if cooking. . . JetBoil OR Pepsi Can Stove OR Good old fashioned Fire
2. Sleeping system (Bag,Tyvek Ground cloth/shelter, Thermarest Z-rest) OR Tent, with bags OR Bivy/Bag/extra clothes/pack as pad
3. Esssentials kit -- Permit,Map and Directions,Emergency Contact info, Water Purifier( Iodine OR filter OR Boil) First aid kit, Duct Tape, Toothbrush/paste, Trash Bag, Hacky Sack, Ibuprofen, Extra Money, Quarters, Emergency ultra light cell phone, High test rope, etc. .

Must have items in your pack
Extra food in your pack ( Clif bars from Trader Joes are perfect, high density caloric food like nuts, etc.)

Headlamp and backup miniLED light
Extra Water (Stored in 2-3 liter platypus/Nalgene or 1 Liter Nalgene bottles)
Toilet Paper( Stored in Heavy Duty Ziploc Bags)

Eating kit ( your favorite spices, mini bowl, lexan spoon fork
Personal Hygiene items ( Ladies you are on your own. . . mini )
Rain Suit ( Dryducks) OR Trash bags

Emergency Kit - Compass, Map, Emergency Whistle, Emergency Blanket,

Clothing Kit (Stored in waterproof stuff sack)
-2 pair socks( preferably different fabrics.....i.e. cotton, nylon, wool)-
Good pair of shoes ( I wear running shoes, but you might want more support if you haven't been running, hiking, walking much)
-Thick Fleece jacket ( use as pillow if not needed)
-Warm Hat and Balaclava for sleeping (40% heat loss through head)
-Gloves ( Liners)
-Nylon shorts
-Shirt (Cotton tshirt minimum) OR if you have the money Patagonia crap
-Good pair of undies (Nylon athletic type)
-Bandana ( Good for sweat, emergency, fashion,etc. .)

Nice things to have

-Sunglasses
-Extra Batteries and Extra Clothes
-favorite bugrepellant
-favorite sunscreen
-Watch
-Digital Camera
-Hiking Poles ( Makalu. . enough said)
-Book of Mormon
-Journal with Pen
-Camp Sandles
-MP3 player ( Ipod)

Why is Pasadena the best city in the nation?

I've lived across the United States (in 9 states to be exact--CA,OR, ID,UT,IL,GA,PA,NJ,CO) and have not found city with more depth to it (per capita than any other city I've lived in or heard of) I'll pay $25 to anyone who can convince me otherwise.

Here is why Pasadena is "pound for pound" the best city in the nation (for me) ... (Any additions to this list are gladly accepted) www.findyourspot.com for those of you who want to find YOUR best city.

• Outdoor Recreation ( 30 minutes to beaches, 5 minutes to mountains, 45 minutes to ski resorts, 8 waterfalls nearby, 2 hours to Joshua tree, Rose Bowl Swimming)
• Weather ( 70 degrees in January, golfing on Christmas)
• More Religious diversity per capita ( no less than 25 different religions)
• More great Art per capita than any other city in the world (Art center, Huntington, California Museums, Norton Simon, etc. . . )
• More Resteraunts per capita than any other city
• Ethnic Diversity ( It is not uncommon to be in a resteraunt with 1 black, 1 asian, 1 hispanic,1 white, 1 middle eastern person) Great ethnic history as well( Greeks-Drycleaning,shoe repair,)
• Wonderful Bookstores (Not rare to have Hillary Clinton come through on a book signing, Vromans, BarnesNoble, Borders, 2 independents, rare book dealers, Travel bookstore)
• Economic Opportunity (JPL, Amount of Jobs, diversity of jobs, and growth)
• Nightlife ( Old Town, Paseo, 20 minutes to LA, 20 minutes to Hollywood)
• Traffic – proximity to major highways, airport, Gold line
• Best public library in Socal
• Best deal on golf in Socal ( $12 all you can play after 4 at Brooksides two courses)
• Events ( Chalk festival, New Years Day Parade, Jazz festival, Rose Bowl events, etc. . )
• Shopping (Old town, South lake district)
• Independent Movies ( Laemmle and Academy 6)
• Best LDS Stake Center ( two levels, softball field with playground)
• Schools (PCC, Fuller seminary, Caltech, Art Center, Culinary--all TOP Schools with great events happening all the time)
• The X factor -- the charm of the city ( Craftsman homes, old City buildings,Trees)
• Walkable communities that are safe, pleasant, and entertaining.
• City Government takes responsibility. Old Town "information" people, street sweeping, clean andinviting storefronts, the trees and fields, parks, etc.
• A tremendous amount of history. (1rst highway in America 110, 1rst AAA auto club,Echo Mountain Resort, great museums such as the Gamble House, Pasadena Museum of History.
• The amount and variety of performing arts (The Civic Auditorium, Pasadena Pops Orchestra,PasadenaSymphony, PasadenaPlayhouse , CalTech and PCC always have some jazzconcert or string quartet or lecturer or solo organisto , and Paseo andOld Town totally pick up on that during the summer andoffer free jazz in the promenades and live salsa bands in the Colorado Oneplaza, busting out the huge dance floor so people canshake it all night long.-A feeling of unpretentiousness.