Our Anchor - Part Four - [you fill in this spot]

I put this part in because sometimes, as they say, "one man's trash is another man's treasure."
So, fill in the blank; what's really important to you? And I don't mean things like an Xbox, Wii or Smartphone; I mean things that are special. Things that can help ground you in a quickly changing world.
For example, maybe playing the piano is a big thing to you and it's really important. That could be part of your anchor.
Sometimes for me, I like just doing something by myself because it gives me time to think. And during that down time, I might be listening to an audio book or doodling or something. But doing something like that helps me to slow down even if I'm really stressed and busy.

I guess what I'm really getting at is, what helps you slow down and relax a little?
We need to have a time for ourselves. It doesn't really need to be a regular time but taking some time for you is important. Sometimes, when I'm backed up on homework and life, I find myself doing something creative or something that's not really important. And I realize, "Hey, I could be doing something that I need to do." But sometimes I'm glad I took that time for myself because during that time, I forgot about my other stuff and I just focused on me. It gave me time to wind down and relax.
Now, I can't do that all the time and that doesn't mean that you should forget what you need to do but it does feel good to take time off.
Do you have a favorite book, movie or song? A favorite game or hobby? That could be part of it (your anchor). In fact, I'm not limiting how many things might make up this part of your anchor. But remember, I would encourage you to think about things that are important to you. Think about it. Look past your iPod and Tablet; what is something that is truly important to you? Something that refreshes you, maybe makes you think about something in a different way. Maybe touches you in a special way.
For example, an anchor for me might be the book Courageous. It covers a whole variety of topics like the loss of a family member and gangs. It was a very touching and highly inspirational book. (There's also a movie; I think the book is based off the book. Not something that happens all the time!)
So, think about it and find out what helps keep you anchored.

Our Anchor - Part Three - Friends/Peers/Mentors

Friends are a huge part of life. Good, trustworthy, honest friends; that's what we need more of.
Faithful friends are the ones who stand by you in the roughest times and in the smoothest times. They respect you and honor your views and opinions. As Elbert Hubbard said, “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
Friends are people you connect with, people who understand you, people who feel with you.
Friends are like family.
Like family, friends stick together.
Like family, friends fight (although unlike family, friends don't fight as much).
Friends are one of the greatest gifts we have.
Friends are all around us, we just have to go up and say hello.


Peers are people who are of the same age, status and/or ability as another. Peers are pretty much friends.


Mentors are people who encourage, push and prompt us. Chris Brady said, "Great coaches are necessary to help you think through whether you should think what you think you should think."1
And Orrin Woodward said that, "A person is blind to his own faults, making mentors and confidants crucial to success."2



1 Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward Edge, p 126

2 Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward Edge, p 128

Our Anchor - Part Two - Family

Family is part two of our anchor. I know that may sound crazy, since we live in a world where families are getting shoved aside, but your family is always there for you even when you don't think so. Everyone has arguments and disagreements but deep down families are close-knit kin. Really think about it; your family was there at the beginning and will be there till the end. And even if they're not here here, as in they've passed on, that doesn't mean that they're not in your heart. Yes, that's what everyone says but it's true. Remember the good times and the bad times and all the time in between.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that one "key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure” here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship."1
It also seems like we spend a lot of time with family. Vacations, family nights, etc.
Studies have shown that when we participate in family dinner it helps children become academically boosted and have positive family interactions.2 (Please note that this does not mean it applies to everyone.) With that in hand, I challenge you, if you don't do this already, to have at least one meal a week with your family. Something else to try is, even when one person is done ask them to stay and talk with everyone else. Another suggestion would be to try Bedtime Math. What happens with that is you get an email every day with math questions for younger to older kids. I don't particularly like math but Bedtime Math is pretty entertaining. (Although, be warned, some of the questions are not that well thought out and the Big Kid Bonus ones can be kind of complected.)
Family time is essential and means more, especially to children, then you could imagine.


1 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things that Matter Most
2  http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf

Our Anchor - Part One - Beliefs/Religion/Standards/Scriptures/etc

Imagine that you're a ship. It doesn't matter what kind of ship it is, it could be a cruise ship, a cargo ship or even just a plain rowboat.
Now, imagine that the world is your water. And challenges in life are the waves, wind and storms. What's one of the things that can help you from being pulled and pushed, battered and beaten?
An anchor, especially when you're in the harbor. But you're not always in the safety of a harbor. Sooner or later you're going to get pushed out to sea. In fact, you're probably battling the storm right now. The storm is trials, temptation and, just like the water, life.
Some people are trying to just stay afloat and that's fine. Some people may be upright and somewhat stable; now they just need to move forward. It doesn't have to be fast. Some one once said, "Mile by mile, life's a trial. Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life's a cinch." Or something along those lines.
Anyway, one thing that can help us is our anchor.
I was thinking about this concept the other day and I think that we all have parts to our anchors. I came up with four sections, although there could be more.
1) Beliefs/Religion/Standards/Scriptures/etc.
2) Family
3) Friends/Peers/Mentors
4) [you fill in this spot]

The first part is made up of our beliefs, religion, standards, etc. We're basically looking at the things that spiritually hold us down.
For one it may be an inspiring scripture or song. For others it may be a youth program.
Maybe it's a belief you have. It could be a lot of things. I would say more, but this is one of the more personal parts of your anchor and I really don't know what else to say.
All I can say is,you have to find out what helps to hold you down. Not me, not anyone but you.