You Can Make Happiness Wherever You Go

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written by Erik January 2017

Kelsie had been saving up to move to Spain for a loooong time. She moved toward the end of the summer. At first, she was going to move around June, and then she had to wait for her Visa, so she pushed it back to August. And then one more time, she pushed it back to either the end of August or beginning of summer, I can’t remember. But anyway, she finally was able to move to Spain! She got a job teaching English to children. She had left after I knew that my cancer was deemed incurable. So when I said goodbye to her, it was with the thoughts of “Wow, I’m never going to see her again on the earth!” And it was saddening to me. I was up in Salt Lake for the weekend when she left (Sept 18^th- Ill get to that later), so I was able to grab dinner with her at Dennys and then said goodbye.

She did enjoy the freedom and bliss and lifestyle over there. I knew she would! She said that her job was extremely hard, though. She was stressed out that way. I think eventually she got burned out. She told me that she would have to travel out of town just to even attend Church. And I remember a chat I had with her one night… she wasn’t happy. And she realized that the destination isn’t the happiness. I’m assuming that she thought that everything would be happy and life would be awesome once she moved to Spain, but realized that life is what you make it--- she can be happy anywhere she goes.

Around Christmas time, I sent her a message and wished her a merry Christmas, asked her what her plans were. She said she was going to travel to Barcelona. So that was that. But on Christmas day, we are sitting on the couch opening presents. There’s a knock at the door. I’m sitting on the couch and turn my head as Mom opens the door, and there is KELSIE! She had flown back!!!! I was SOOO shocked and everyone could see it. I was like, “Kelsie! You’re in America! What the heck!” And the best part is that no one knew she was back, except her older sister who was the one that picked her up from the airport in Vegas. They said hi for about 5 minutes, and then continued on to her Mom’s house (which none of them knew she was coming). I asked her if she was just visiting, or what? And she told me that she’s back in the USA now for good. She moved up to Logan just a week or two ago, got her old job at the EconoLodge, and is just… happier I think. J And that’s a really good lesson I’ve learned, and it kinda sucks that Kelsie had to move all the way to Spain to learn it (but I don’t think she regretted living there)… happiness is WHAT YOU MAKE IT! It’s not a destination. It’s not a “once I hit this milestone I’ll be happy.” HAPPINESS IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. You can make happiness wherever you go!

The Mom Whisperer

Erik Gray's Journals
#journalgems

Written by Erik January 2017

One hilarious thing about SOAR days was Matt Illiario. We always joked and called him the Mom Whisperer. He was also an Aggressive Assister in the mornings, and everytime I saw him talking to someone, it was a Mom! Haha those moms loved him and we teased him about that all summer.

Another great thing was that we knew we were doing our Aggressive Assistance job when we would go up to a parent or student and they would kind of blow us off and say, “Yeah, someone else with a nametag already explained this to us.” And someone even mentioned that we were kind of annoying. HAHAHA! It was great.

Let it be an Example

Erik Gray's Journals
#journalgems
Written by Erik Dec 2016

And it's given me so many emotions- scared, frustrated, angry, positive, believing, trusting, hoping. I've kind of been prepared for this outcome since July, but still--- it's here, and it's real.

But what a joy it is for me to look back and smile. I've lived a successful life, in my eyes. I've made some big mistakes, but I've also made some big victories. I served a mission for the Lord, I've been able to grow in a loving family, I've been able to help my family grow, and I've accomplished so many things in both the spiritual and "Carpe Diem" aspect. I have a testimony of the gospel and that God is real. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real and that this life isn't it. I can't imagine how much harder everything would be if I didn't believe in a hereafter.

Don't look at my life and think of how unfair this is. Please. Look at my life and let it be an example to go and do something today that makes you happy. :) Life is all about learning and growing, relying on the Spirit and enjoying the journey along the way.

So until next time, keep running.

Junior Class President

Erik Gray's Journals

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Written by Erik January 2011

A school paper writter by Erik in 2011

It has been said that the student government organization holds a high school together. This organization carries out service projects, gets other students involved in fun activities, and tries to make the school a better place. I am involved in student government; the position I hold is the Junior Class President. Being in this position has a lot of duties and responsibilities. Some of these include: helping the entire student government with the annual Homecoming week, planning the Junior Prom, and bringing the class together as we head toward our senior year. Along with these responsibilities, another one is that I need to be an example to those around me, because as a leader, everyone looks up to me, even if I don’t realize it.

Preparing and helping with Homecoming week was a lot of work. One thing I was in charge of was the decorations of a couple of halls inside the school. We (meaning my presidency and I) met together a couple weeks before and decided what we wanted our halls to look like. Next, we had to plan where the posters, streamers, and other decorations were going to be. Last, we made a lot of the posters beforehand to save ourselves time on the day everyone decorated the entire school. I felt like I had done a good job preparing, and when the day came to transform the school, things went very smoothly. Some of the time I was walking around, overseeing things. When I could, I was physically helping out everyone, and I was more than happy to do so.

Planning the Junior Prom is no simple task, but with the help of a presidency, it makes the planning significantly easier. It is great to help others, but also just as great to have people help me. I have found out that I need to surround myself with people that are like that, and that they will help me out if I ask for it. As the president, I am in charge of getting meetings together. I also need to take charge, oversee, and most importantly, delegate. Nobody can do some gigantic task by themselves, and I am no exception. I would not be very well off if I didn’t know how to delegate.

I decided at the beginning of the school year that I would try to get to know as many people in the class as I could. I have always admired the person who takes time out of their busy day to talk to someone and make that person feel good. There are two reasons that I believe this goal is good for me. The first reason is that I love to talk to people and to see how they are doing, what they are up to, and other things like that. The second reason is that I am sometimes afraid to talk to people I don’t really know, but this goal will give me the motivation to branch out. As a leader, it is important to make sure you are familiar with many people, and in turn, they will be familiar with you.

In conclusion, I believe that a leader must possess many important qualities. A leader must be prepared, be able to take charge, and also be able to delegate. When you are a leader, it means not only delegating to others, but delegating to yourself as well, and helping others out with their assignments. Speaking of help, a leader must be able to do this, even if it means giving up something smaller to help out a greater cause. A wise man once said that “a leader is one who leads by example.” This quote is true in more ways than one. A leader leads by example such as helping, showing kindness, and including everyone. While I may be in an important position right now, it doesn’t mean I’m the best person at possessing these qualities. I work hard and try, everyday, to be a leader and to follow the example of leaders that have served before me.

I Choose God

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written by Erik

On a job application, May 2015

I am a 21-year-old, currently serving as a Church-Service Missionary at the St George Utah Temple.

I live in Cedar City, Utah, as the fourth of five kids.

I am a cancer survivor 

and choose to make every day great! 

I have a passion for music and running. 

Because of my experiences with cancer and student leadership, I know that people look at me constantly. 

I have made an effort to post uplifting pictures, quotes, and status'. 

Two years ago, I started a blog to write down all my cancer experiences and how they and the gospel have ultimately blessed my life. 

I've seen my blog reach many different parts of the country, as well as many countries around the world. I have come to understand that technology is a strong aspect of life today; what I put on my Facebook page matters. 

There is so much that can come from the internet, whether it be good or bad. By posting uplifting material on 

my blog and social media pages, 

I choose good; 

and by choosing good,

I choose God.