A New Perspective

        One of my favorite sights ever is when the sun sets right behind a mountain. The mountain seems to turn black and completely dimensionless causing the sky to seem even more bold and overwhelming. Some of my favorite pictures and paintings replicate this exact moment.

(Photo creds to my awesome dad) The colors  and  life they take on through the clouds are unique to every sunset. I find myself marveling at the beauty that it holds, just staring at those moments that are nearly impossible to recreate. So now that you've heard about my dramatic obsession to sunsets ill try and get to the point. 

         It's immediately after those moments of complete awe that I realize that within that particular sunset there was another beautiful thing taking place that I completely ignored, the mountain. Some of you are probably confused as to why I would think that a solid black silhouette of a mountain could be beautiful, so let me explain. The mountain in the picture up above is a family favorite. I've hiked that mountain numerous times throughout my life and have some amazing memories that will be in my heart forever.

(My family at the top) That mountain has always been beautiful and special to me, but lets be honest when there's a Maine sunset behind it it's pretty easy to forget about that "big thing standing in the way". As I have looked at these pictures since my realization of the mountains beauty, I have realized how vital the mountain really is to the sunset. They need each other. The way they contrast allows the other to stand out and be even more bold. The mountain truly is beautiful.

         I like to compare this whole concept to self image. In my honest opinion the way people view themselves these days is horrible. Teens are practically taught to believe that they're only as good as their looks. It's rare for teenagers to be able to look in a mirror and feel completely comfortable saying "I'm beautiful, inside and out". They see themselves as that plain flat mountain surrounded by beautiful sunsets. Well this is what I have to say about that, we all have insecurities, we all have faults, and we all have trials. None of us are perfect. In fact I bet theres times that those sunsets wish they could be as bold as the awe-inspiring silhouettes. If we were all born perfect and everything was honky dory our whole lives there would be no growth, but you want to know what I honestly believe?     

              I believe that through the gospel and the principles that it holds along side our perspective and outlook on life and the situations within it we have the power to be happy. I honestly have no doubt that our Heavenly Father loves the "mountains" just as much as the "sunsets" so why don't we? It's time we stop focusing on one thing or the other and start focusing on how every aspect of the picture holds its own individual beauty. 

Discovering sunsets (And in this case mountains) one day at a time. Perspective is a necessity to happiness.

(Insert fantastic Jeffrey R Holland quote here)