An Open Letter to My "Robin Scherbatsky"

I always read these kind of things online, so I thought I would write one that many people could relate to. 

If you have never seen "How I Met Your Mother" then this letter won't make sense to you. You should also get on that and watch the series because it's amazing. 

Dear "Robin," 

I know that you believe we're never meant to be. And I totally respect that. I know that I'm the one you can always rely on to give you a listening ear, a hug, a smile, or just to assure you that someone cares for you. I know that when times get hard with your dating life, career, school, whatever it may be, that I am a foundation of rock to tell you that you can do it.

I also know that you've been through a lot. Your thoughts, fears, dreams, likes, dislikes, everything has been shared between the two of us. You've never judged me, and you've never left my side. 

We've had some times where we fall apart. We've had our ups and downs. We've dated and watched each other date other people. I've even told you that I love you multiple times. And yet you haven't run away which I'm so grateful for.

"Robin," this letter isn't to try and win you back. This isn't a way for me to try and make you feel guilt. This letter is for you to know that I've accepted who we are together and how at peace I am with it. This is a way to show you that I will always be there for you. No matter what the world throws at you, at me, or at us, we will get through it together. 

I know that we will never fall in love. It's been a hard journey for me to finally come to grips with that, but I really have accepted it in my heart. You found love and I found love, and it's amazing. 

Please know though that because I'll always be there for you, I will always love you as well. I will still steal a French blue horn for you, even a blue orchestra. I'll decorate our apartment in Christmas lights extravaganza to cheer you up. I'll miss you when you go to Russia, and I'll be the first to greet you when you come back. 

I will always be a phone call away. You have evolved to be one of my dearest closest friends. Never forget that. 

"Robin Sherbatsky" you are amazing. I will always love you. 

Love, 

"Ted Mosby"

Remembering to Keep Your Eyes on the Main Goal

Even if you aren't Mormon, I still recommend you read this. Though I use analogies with the temple, the lesson taught here is still relevant for anyone who's striving to reach a goal in life. 

Go ahead and look carefully at this picture:

Do you see the temple? Look again until you find it (it's there, I promise)

On Sunday, I really wanted to take a picture of the Jordan River temple because, well, it's beautiful. That day I thought, "Since it's Sunday it might be closed. But there's still a chance." I debated about going or not. I finally decided to check it out on that said day because I usually have work, Sunday is such a calm day, and I thought I'd just take the chance anyway. 

Surprise. It was closed.

It actually bummed me out that it was closed because I was really looking forward to a stroll on the temple grounds on the Sabbath day. But at least I now know that Sunday's are closed (as now do you. Go to Temple Square or the Provo temple instead).

I wasn't going to leave without any pictures, so I took some through the gate. Hoping to snag some sort of angle that I appreciated. I started thinking about how I love the temple and long to continue being worthy to enter into them. 

As I was about to go back home, it hit me.

Take a picture up close with the gate. Because that's how I kind of felt that day. 

Then the gears rolled some more and we have the picture we have at the top. 

Now let me explain everything this picture represents

Let's look at it this way -- the temple is the House of God, a peaceful place where we can worthily enter and be away from the world. Even the grounds are peaceful and bring the Spirit into your life. So let's have the temple represent our goal in life, whatever it may be. 

Next, the gate -- it seems self-explanatory that it would be what's blocking you from entering the temple, literally in this situation. You can't even get close to the temple if the grounds are locked up. Sunday is the Sabbath day and yet the grounds are locked. We'll call this the roadblocks of life. 

Lastly, the trees -- what great beauts in the picture, right? But what is it doing? It's blocking the temple. I could barely see it through all that beautiful green. It was still a really pretty sight to see and I love the shots you can get on the temple grounds because the grounds are always so gorgeous. We'll call the trees things we do in life. 

Kind of catching on here?

What I'm trying to say is: 

Do not lose sight of the goal you have in life, no matter what is in your way. 

Figuratively speaking, but in all seriousness, I never want to lose sight of the temple and the blessings that God gives me as I live the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love it and I live it. However, there are many times in life that I get caught up in things that aren't as important -- school, friends, work, life itself. They're all great things and bring joy and happiness to my life. But sometimes they can accidentally make me lose sight of want I want most in life -- eternal marriage and true joy. 

Sometimes (or a lot of times) life throws me curve balls to try and completely block my way to the temple -- life situations that are barriers. They may be temporary but realistically they are there. 

The trees weren't planted where they're planted to purposefully block the view of the temple. Though the trees are beautiful and add variety and happiness to the temple grounds, they aren't the main attraction, so to speak. The gate isn't always closing the temple grounds, they are only temporary, but they still are powerful enough to prevent one from entering in. 

Just like that, we as human beings can get mixed up in stresses of the world and lose focus of what really matters, and what goals we may have. We have to remember to prioritize and remember the good, better, and best. 

"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

So whatever it is that you are striving for in life (that's right, you!), go for it! DO not lose sight of your prize. It can be easy to be distracted, but you can stay focused. I for one, am grateful that I was reminded of this lesson while practicing my talents, and that I can continue to live the gospel and try and become better everyday in all aspects. And I hope that you do the same!