Getting Back In The Groove

Well, I've been quite busy as of late and it isn't going to stop.  That used to be a scary thought to me, but I'm continually readying myself for the next wave of inspiration and insight, knowledge and responsibility.  The big picture is darn big.  I see parts of the tapestry weaving themselves perfectly together.  It really is beautiful!  I wish to convey that to everyone.

Now, I've been given many assignments, one of which was to start writing again so....

It's time to start writing songs again!

I'm getting back in the groove!

Any ideas?  Random words flying around in any of your heads?  I love input and I promise output in exchange!  Give me an idea and I'll write a lyric line or song around my perception of what it is you were trying to tell me.

Give me words, phrases, puns, etc.

You're all geniuses.  It's a fact.  So whether you try to live in denial of that fact or not, it doesn't really matter.

Dallin Hughes

My Mission

I am a mentor.

I am a student.

I am an entertainer.

I am an example.

I am a speaker.

I am an artist.

I am a creator.

I am a brother and a future father.

I am a  dancer.

I am many more things, but these are my current assignments.


Ciao!

Dallin Hughes

Got fruit?

Mediocrity

Is a land bearing no fruit.

Do not settle there.

Future Perspective of a Day Like Today: November 3rd

Today I studied many studies.  Studies that were brilliantly put together.  Very organized.  Exactly what I imagine my study will look like when I finish it.  After studiously studying studies, I turned to my studies.

Now studying thoughts, pondering studies, and admiring them.
As I studied, many calls and other ways of communication were made to those "Gold-circle" friends who make my life just that much more enjoyable.

We shared dreams, accomplishments, visions, lessons learned and many more things.

I had few breaks in-between my schedule.  In those breaks, I raked the leaves. 

Yes, today was a day to rake.  I only raked the front yard, but with such a large yard, even the front was a task to behold.  Autumn hung in the air like its leafs on a strong breeze.

At the end of the day, I received a call informing me that I had several applicants for the job openings in my company.

After skipping around the house a few times (and throwing a couple of round-off backhand springs I knew my chiropractor friend would hate me for), I decided the leaf pile needed some company.
I ran inside, picked up my wife (who had a schedule of her own, but willingly let me take her) and set her down at the front door to cover her eyes with a bandana I had grabbed before sweeping her off her feet.  I then ran and selected a few blankets with sentimental value, covered her in them, then cradled her and continued on our journey to the leaf pile.

Setting her down on her feet, I took one of the blankets off and laid it to the side.
With my left hand in her right, I took off her blindfold and embraced her tightly, then kissed her, letting her know that I loved her in my native love language -the most meaningful to me, and as such, the most meaningful to her.

For the next ten or twenty minutes, we played around in the leaves like kids.  Become as a child, right? Haha.

We cleaned up afterwards, and as she was finishing, I got dinner ready for the both of us and told her it would all be outside when she was ready.
So then, with my leaf-covered blankets and dinner set out, I wondered how it was that I could fool such an amazing woman into marrying me. Haha. Just kidding.

I felt that we worked well together, strengthening each other, backing up each other in our weaknesses.  To say that one of us got the better or worse end of the stick would be completely false.  Rather, our hands fit perfectly into both of the sides of the stick we had been given, because we chose to work it.

Then she came outside. 

She was simply dressed, yet as elegantly as any queen.

Words could not express the beauty that my mind had such a hard time grasping.

It was one of those "you had to be there' moments. ;)

So we sat and ate dinner.  We talked about our schedules, our victories, our realizations, epiphanies and such.

After dinner, she insisted that I let her take everything in and clean up.  It wasn't going to happen.  Playful debate then erupted on why it would be better for either of us to do it.

We eventually settled on sharing the quest of labor and both cleaned up dinner.
I purposely let her go in first so I could make sure the blanket had been left out.
I finished putting everything away and then, with an exasperated look on my face, (acting as the worst actor I possibly could) said, "Ohr nor!! (I decided Aussie accent was the way to go here) I left the blanket outside! Do ya think you could help me grab it?"
She laughed, knowing what I was doing, and took the arm I held out for her.
As soon as we arrived at the blanket, I tackled her.
Giving her kisses and tickling her till even my man strength ;) couldn't hold her down.

Then we laid there.
We were there for a while.  Silent for most of it, but at the end, I reiterated those things that are the most important to me.

We picked up the blanket to be washed inside, then finished our routines and slept, cuddled cozily underneath warm and comfortable sheets.

Sunday Nights

Lengthy messages

and warm tea, sweetened with love.

Feeling like a king.

Letting Go

My past mistakes, troubles, bothersome temptations, regrets and misunderstandings are gone with the wind.

Not gone with the wind because I don't care about them, but because I wrote them down, forgave myself, sought forgiveness from my higher power, then burned them and let them fly away, never to come into existence again.

When I've done something I know I will regret, I write it down to get it out of my head, seek restitution for my actions and humbly bear my being to my Heavenly Father for forgiveness of those actions. Who wants to live with the weight of past actions anyway? Well, some people can be addicted to their emotions, but I'm sure I'll get to that in a later post.

Then I burn what I wrote, sealing those issues away into eternity with fire.

I prefer to do this on windy days. It's more fun watching those ashes fly away.

Breathe. Let it all out.  Let go of what you have held inside you for so long. It wants to be free. It doesn't want to weigh you down and halt your progression.

We all have trials. Not one of us is perfect, but then, that would be the reason we're here, wouldn't it be?

To get over those trials is possibly the hardest trial we have yet to face. The funny thing is... it's easy... when you search for how to do it.


Love you all,

Dallin Hughes

A Vision of Success

Because my sister is growing more and more mature and busy daily, she and I talk much less, so I enjoy our chats and discussions and cherish them to a much greater value.

Recently, we discussed our thoughts on why certain children are thought to be Mom or Dad's "favorite".

We looked back on many memories, discussing and loving them as they resurface to our conscious minds.

Both of us used to think Jacob was our father's "favorite" child, being so adept and prodigious in music, when in reality, it was just our father seeing Jacob excel in music.  Succeeding in our father's perspective. So he naturally encouraged him more often.

Our mother however, was more often disappointed in Jacob because of the time he spent on his music instead of his academics.

My mother's perspective of success is more intellectual than artsy.  Succeeding in academics was what she wanted to see and when she didn't, she got discouraged.

Another insight was brought to light as we talked more.

 Kristina used to think I was our mom's "favorite"!

Wow.  Eye opener for sure.  Literally!  My eyes bulged, I'm sure!  I had no idea!

It started to make sense, though.  I caught on to different things that my mom would have seen as successful faster than she did, so my mother went out of her way to spend more time with me because she liked to see my "success" (or her perspective of what "success" was).

 I get glimpses of the love our Heavenly Father has for all of his children when I see my parents' love for us, their children.  It's a never ending reserve of love for each and every single one of us. Judgment aside, pure love.  Something so perfect, it overwhelms me.  I feel tired and full of light after these experiences.

While the appreciation of success is not an equivalent to love, some people tend to see it that way.

With the heightened understanding of this, I can now make my parents aware of this and appreciate every piece of success my future children bring to the table.

I wish I had more time to write, but I am currently on a quest to make $20,000 before I leave for my mission. It will happen.

I love all of you, whoever you may be.

Your friend, brother, mentor and student,

Dallin Hughes

Real intent Haiku

Delusional men

Hang high hopes on low branches.

They will not succeed.

I Love You.

I can't hold it in any longer.  I feel like I'm in an air compressor when I can't express my love for people.  Yes, I'm more of a Touch/Feel kinda guy.  Not in an awko taco kinda way, but if you want want a hug, you better be prepared for the best hug of your life!

One of my favorite songs, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, has a lyric line that I used to think said, "Those three words are said too much, but not enough."  But actually ends in "They're* not enough."

I honestly like my version better.  To me, it means that while people use and abuse them all the time, they still are of tremendous power and worth and they could and should be used more, but with an understanding of the depth they contain and the potential they have.

A darling and very good friend of mine and I were talking about how we didn't want to say that we "loved" anything to much because we felt it made the word worth less when it was needed to mean more.

My perspective has changed.  A word only means the connotations it's given.  It can be said with little  or no respect for what it's meant to mean or it can be given great respect and reverence for what it is meant to mean.

However you view this, it is true for you.  I'm not saying your perspective is wrong.  I believe that however you view a word is exactly what it implies... To you.

This is all just buzzing in my mind.  Let me know if you have anything to say on this matter.  I love your input.

Your friend, brother, mentor and student,

Dallin Hughes

Stinky House Haiku

Basil drying here.

The scent is overwhelming.

Warning sign needed.


Not bad for a first try, eh? *Eyebrow dance*

Dallin Hughes

The Power Of Thought.

There are so many things I would like to say right now.  I think I'll start with a story of my own experience in a situation that I had shaped with my perspective, by my mind.

In my earlier years as a scout, I learned much.  I had a lot of fun hanging out with my peers and shared many memories with them.  Everything was as simple as it could be for a young man of my age.  All until *Cue scary music* the (we'll say) Johnson family moved in.

Their family was like my own in that theirs was also a performing family.  It was most of the Johnson side of the family with six fathers and their families.  It was just the dads that performed, though.  They also belonged to the church of which I am a proud member.  During some church youth event that took place long ago, one of the Johnson kids (we'll say John's son) had rubbed me the wrong way.  I don't remember what happened, I just remember that I felt wronged.  From that day on, I felt and thought as if he were the meanest kid I had ever met.  This was my perspective.

Going through everything at the time, it seemed as if everything he did fit the label that I had put on him.  Everything he might have possibly done to be kind to me was an act of spitty (spite and mock pity, haha) towards me.

I felt this way for two years, never allowing him a single inch of leeway, and boy, was I awakened when I finally woke up to who he really was.

My change in attitude towards him occurred when I went to my first dance (the one that I mentioned in a previous post).  I walked in during a fast song.  The dance was well underway since the car I had been traveling in was late.  I was in awe of the energy that permeated the building.  It was like I was in an ocean of energy that moved so fluidly and beautifully that I couldn't help but get caught up in it.  I was soon out on the floor with the few people I had known and met previously, dancing the night away.  After that song ended, I saw him and his group of friends, resting from the tiring amount of energy spent moving around.  The beat of the next song kicked in and he had started a dance circle with as many people as he could.  It was quite a large group considering that quite a few people liked him a lot.  In the next few moments, my brain was having trouble registering that he, who had been such a wretched and horrible person before, could ever be so good and charismatic, or have any good quality at all.  After all, I believe I had come very close to hating him.  While my conscious mind was undergoing this transformation, I decided to go and dance battle him. 

Now, he didn't know that I was battling him or challenging him in any way.  To him, it probably just looked like I wanted to have as good of a time as he was having.  My brain finally got in gear and realized that I had read him wrong.  I had judged him incorrectly and, after that dance, I said a very fervent prayer of repentance.

To this day, we are not the closest of friends, but we are good friends, and I would trust him with my life.

Now, we have addressed part of the power of perspective.  Let us move on to the power and influence of our thoughts.

Past President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, David O. McKay, said, "There is another responsibility correlated and even coexistent with free agency, which is too infrequently emphasized, and that is the effect not only of a person's actions but also of his thoughts upon others. Man radiates what he is, and that radiation affects to a greater or less degree every person who comes within that radiation."

I have indirectly been able to witness an experiment done by cousins of my cousins.  Their family decided that they wanted to expiriment with the power of words. The only question was "How would they be able to measure the affects?"

They finally came to the conclusion of an inanimate object with life sustaining properties.  Food.

So what they did was buy two tomaotoes that were exactly alike in every way they could possibly measure.  They put them in separate rooms and started their expirement.  Calling one of them names and saying horrible things to it and praising the other in every way they could.

The tomato that they had verbally abused went sour after one week, while the other stayed good for almost a month!

The next test was on water.

They filled two glasses of water and decided not to say, but to think things, and they prayed over one glass of water, while mentally abusing the other.  To measure the effects, they put both glasses in the freezer.  When the glasses where frozen, the family took them out of the freezer and broke the ice out of the glasses.  They put them under a microscope next, and to their surprise, the ice structer was comepletely different in every way.  The glass that had received all of the positive energy was beautiful, organized and absolutely breathtaking.  It was everything the negatively affected glass wasn't. The negatively affected ice was unorganized, scattered and in disarray, and quite ugly to the eye.

Now take a moment to think about what the percentage of water is in our body.  If a glass of water can be affected as much as that, then how much do we change a person when we think negative thoughts about them?  Or say something rude?

I hope that no one abuses this knowledge.  Remember that our thoughts cannot take away someone else's agency. This doesn't mean that they cannot be influenced.


Your friend, brother, mentor, and student,

Dallin Hughes

P.S. This is just a draft with more to come when I feel it necessary to write more. 

You Have A Light. Let It Shine.

After re-reading my post on courage, I've decided to take it a step further.

I have decided not only to stand up for what I believe, but I have decided to become a shining example of my beliefs.

For many of us, "shining" may well mean to do what is right, to be a good example, and to keep it small and simple. But because the world is on a downward slide and the good team is in dire need of players, we need to step up to the plate. This will be harder for some than others for many reasons, but mainly because we are all so extremely different, with different weaknesses, strengths, talents, and insecurities. We will all have our different trials, but we are never given something we cannot handle.

Your thoughts are the key to unlocking your potential. All of what you can or cannot do is based on natural law and your thoughts. Think of your comfort zone as a fence surrounding an estate. Your estate. The rest of the surrounding world is yours for the taking, but there's one catch. You have to claim it by building a fence around the land you want. What does that mean? It means there's work to be done. Hard work. Don't beat yourself up over the idea of it. You'll end up hurting yourself more than any of the cuts or bruises the hard work may give you. You have the materials, and if you want help, there are plenty of friends just waiting for you to ask them.

Go out and do what you dream of doing. If there's something along the way that looks like a shortcut, but requires you to drop your standards, don't take the risk. The path is there. Even though at times we may feel lost, there is always a way to find that path. It's called "prayer" and there is no fee but humility.

So go out and show the world your light. There are many lights that need The Painter to help them shine. Why don't we help Him reach them by shining our lights as bright as we can in this dark?

Your friend, brother, mentor and student,

Dallin Hughes

Think A Happy Thought

As I was sitting in the living room this morning, I was thinking about my dreams, aspirations, challenges, Etc. And my little sister came up to me and asked me why I was smiling.

I simply said, "Because I'm thinking happy thoughts."

As I said that, her mouth beamed and the sides of her mouth curved up to form a smile so deep, I could see it in her eyes and they were as bright as any light I have ever seen.

Then she opened her mouth and spoke words as profound as any, words that I had already known, but not come to know of their depth.

"Then you're going to fly."

Our success isn't completely based on how hard we work, it's based on our attitudes when we are working.

Dream about the things that make you happy, find your center, and you'll fly.

Your friend and brother,

Dallin H.

Who am I? Who are you?

For my entire life, I have known that I have a purpose. There's a reason that I am who I am.

Every decision, every experience I've ever had has put me in the position I am in today. I am the sum of my choices, with the ability to make many more choices, and the unlimited possibilities therein.

So who am I?

 I am Dallin Hughes. I am a singer/songwriter, an instrumentalist, a slightly lazy perfectionist, the second oldest in a family of fifteen, (including parents) an entertainer, a dancer, and many other things, but the title that I hold dearest to me is Child Of God. 

I have the privelidge of writing to all you and telling you that I know this to be true. I know it with every part of my soul.

You are all children of God, and don't you forget it! There is nothing more valuable than a human being. We have the greatest potential out of all of God's creations. We have the potential to become like Him!

So this reason that I spoke about earlier... This reason that I am who I am. I have gifts and abilities, talents and opportunities to spread this message to the whole world, and that is what I will do. That is what I have been called to do, and I will not shirk or sluff my responsibility.

Now that I have given you part of the truth, I emplore you to search out the rest. It is now your responsibility to spread the message I have spread to you. 

Spread it like butter. All over your toast. (Or the world, if you haven't caught the drift yet. ;) Slap on a huge glob of truth and goodness! Haha.

Every talent, ability, gift, opportunity you have been given has been given to you to play your specific and personal part in this game of life. So play your cards.

Dallin H.

My Journey

Imagine yourself in the most comfortable place, with the most comfortable things, eating the most comfortable foods. Now imagine yourself staying there for the next two years of your life. What do you think you look like now? What would have happened to you had you gotten up and worked? Would your outcome have been different? Of course! You would probably be an entirely different person!

 What do I call that getting up off of your bottom? I call it a journey. Journeys are how we learn, grow, become.

So what do I want you to do? Leave your comfort zone! When you push yourself to your limits, your capacity grows and expands.

So I challenge everyone who reads this to do something good, out of their comfort zone twenty times. It shouldn't be the same thing twenty times, but try this, and I guarantee you will be so much happier after it is done.

 At my first dance, I was soooooo scared to ask anyone to dance. I was anxious beyond the butterflies in my stomache. I was still dancing with all of the "jumping" songs, but I couldn't bring myself to ask anyone to slow dance with me. After about half of the dance was over, I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror and wondered why I couldn't ask anyone to dance. The thought then came to me that, maybe everyone in that room had an experience like I am having now. I thought back on the faces of all of the older kids in that room, realized that I would have to make a decision that had already been made by so many before myself. So I decided that I would then be known as the nicest boy there, and the dance king. I walked out of that bathroom after spiffing up a little bit, and searched for a girl that looked about my age. I found one, and with the butterflies still bugging me, (pun intended) I asked her to dance. It turned out that she was actually 17! For that one dance, I told her that it was my first, we talked a little bit, and for the rest of that dance, she taught and inspired me to be able to continue on with what I like to call, my "intention", or the intended result of my journey.

This was the beginning of my reputation at dances. I now know almost every youth in my stake. I love them, and I feel their love for me every time I see them. Because of that experience, I have grown mountains above the person I was. It opened up the opportunity for many more learning experiences than I will ever be able to count, and I will forever be grateful for those small thoughts of inspiration that I received that one dance.

The avalanche that resulted from one single decision with an intention behind it was monumental. I have forever been changed by that experience.

 I personally testify that when you set an intention, and leave on your journey to fulfil that intention, that you will gain what you intended to gain.  Look for the end goal, but remember to keep an eye on the road you take, cause sometimes we trip. Be faithful to yourself and take one step of faith at a time. 

 Your friend and brother, Dallin H.

Charity Pays For Itself

At the theater my family owns, I work in the concession stand.  A few weeks ago, three elderly ladies came up and asked me if they could have glasses of water.  My first thought was to charge them the cost of the cup and not worry about the water, but I looked back at them and felt like I should just put it entirely on the house.  So I did.

About five minutes later, another lady came up and asked if she could have a glass of water.  I thought about the other three ladies and decided I couldn't not give her the same treatment.

 When I gave her the water, she asked me how much it would cost.  I smiled and told her that she shouldn't worry about it.  She then proceeded to pull the exact cost of all four of those waters and told me that it was a tip.

I've learned it's better to accept a tip and thank them instead of seeming ungrateful.  The lesson here is simple.  Charity pays for itself.  It generally isn't through monetary means, though.  I think that the saying "What goes around, comes around" is completely applicable.  I'd also like to add something I've learned recently.  The saying, "You reap what you sow" doesn't just mean, "what goes around, comes around."  When you plant an apple tree seed, what do you get?  You get a tree that produces thousands of apples with a few seeds each!  What happens when a weed grows?  It grows fast, dies fast, then produces hundreds to thousands of seeds.  The same is with our actions.  When we sow seeds of kindness, we receive more kindness in return, along with one of the most amazing feelings in the world!  When we sow seeds of hate, envy, or enmity, we receive more of those, and who wants to feel that way?  These are the thoughts of a boy who searches for and loves truth in everything. :) 


Your friend and brother,

Dallin Hughes

Enjoy My Random Thoughts!

It is so incredible to me that such courage, love of self, innocence, faith and happiness can be found in the most vulnerable of all people-babies.

Babies are simply perfect.

They are courageous and loving of themselves in that they are not afraid to ask for what they need or want.

So much can be learned from them.

Innocent at birth, we begin to learn about everything through the eyes (perspectives) of our parents and/or close elder persons.  This is amazing.  To think that how I viewed the world (myself included) was almost entirely shaped by my parents both excites me and terrifies me (in a good way).  As much as I already know this, it still blows me away to think that I have the potential to influence every other human being the same way, but especially my family.

I see this every day.  For example, my cousin Matthew consistently repeats the opinions of my uncles Adam and Andy (Andy being Matthew's father). He does not repeat the opinion right after it has been offered, but when that subject is brought back up.  You can see he just soaks in every bit of opinion, every sliver of perspective, every drop of viewpoint.  Many times he will do so without even thinking why that opinion should be had.  Such profound faith in his father and his father's knowledge just testifies of the man I need to be and am becoming.

So... what if I have been taught wrong?  Well... Ask and ye shall receive.  If you want to change something about yourself, ask for a way to do it and trust that you will receive your answer.

The easiest to change of these imperfect beliefs for myself, was my individual worth, my "mirror" or how I saw myself.  Such a small perspective I had.  I only saw my imperfections.  I saw blemishes, dark bags underneath my eyes, imperfect teeth and I didn't have "the perfect voice".

It was a very depressing way to view myself.  It was a way that I didn't like, but had learned that it was the way I was supposed to view myself.

I decided I didn't want that.  I would let myself know it too.  I spoke words aloud to dispel those thoughts.  I spoke to retrain my subconscious to think better of myself, to correct those imperfect beliefs.

"I love and approve of myself.  I am safe."

A few other affirmations were verbalized, but that was the big one for me.

I said it like I really believed it and I eventually "tricked" myself into believing it.

Now the small "bathroom mirror" perspective I had has transformed itself into a dance studio wall mirror.  I see all of myself and much more!

No, I am not the man I will be, but the point is that I will be that man.  I look forward to the beliefs and principles I can help my children understand and I hope to do too.

After all, "romance" is another way of saying "love" and love can not be fulfilled without a family.

I am a hopeless romantic to the core.

Dallin Hughes

P.S.  Everything begins with a thought.  Start thinking!

Courage In A World That Continues To Decline Around Us

Although the moral standards of this world are declining more and more, many people today don't intend on being your enemy, especially when you use kind words.

I remember, almost two years ago, I had multiple experiences with people that I had never known before. I was going to The 2010 National Scout Jamboree. On this trip, there were many people with standards that were not my own, and many people that did not share the understanding of the importance I felt my standards held.

I feel kind of lame saying this, but it was the first time I had gone "all offense" on what I consider to be destructive. You see, my fellow scouts had problems with their language, moral standards and habits, and code of conduct. Honestly, I wondered how they thought they could maintain the title of "Scout".

The first day of the trip was the worst. The profanity was near unbearable and I couldn't take another day of it, not to mention my younger brother, my cousin, and my uncle were all there with me, having their ears corrupted as well.

When I woke up the next day, I said my prayers, asking my Father in Heaven to help me have the courage to say what needed to be said for their hearts to be softened.

For the next... two hours?? (I think it was about that length of time.) I was contemplating how and what I would say, when I realized that all I needed to do was open my mouth and God would take care of the rest.

I walked up to a group of four of the thirty or so youth that had come with us and said, "Hey guys, you all know my little brother is here. I've been trying to set as good of an example for him as possible. Do you think you could help me?" a chorus of "Of course! What do you need us to do?' went up, and I stood there knowing that I could finish the rest myself, because I had been given what I needed to bring up the issue without putting them on the defensive about it.



To my suprise, those four young men went through the rest of the camp and asked everyone to watch their language and behave reverently while we were on this adventure.

Throughout the rest of those two weeks, I and my family stood out as examples and ended up becoming very good friends with each of those thirty-odd boys.

I know that sometimes you may feel it hard to stand up for what you believe in, but others watch you and judge you (even though they shouldn't) by what you say you believe in and your actions.

"He does not believe that does not live according to his belief." ~Thomas Fowler



People will judge your character off whether or not you live your belief.



I hope we all stand for something, for if we don't, we will surely be brought down with the majority, for it is man's nature to be selfish, reactive, and carnal, and we must rise above our nature and become better, if not for religious reasons, then just because the world will be a better place.



I believe we are all courageous enough, we just need to know that we have our own courage and strength and that it is improved by our faith and our willingness to do what is right.



Your friend and brother,
Dallin H.

The Wonder of Wondering

I sit here typing this, wondering who will read it, wondering who I will inspire, wondering how I will inspire them.

I have a mild case of insomnia. Some people would consider insmonia a horrible thing, I know I do at times. Right now though, I consider it a blessing. I have received many different thoughts and promptings tonight.

I love the guitar. I spent a good three hours playing, writing, and goofing around on it, and I will tell you, it is one of the most fun instruments I have ever played. (And I've played quite a few)

When I sit awake at night, I wonder what other people think about when they can't sleep. I find it depressing that I already know the answer to that. Most cases of insomnia are caused by emotional/relationship stress. I went through something similar, so I know how that feels.


 I wish there was some way I could influence every single person in this world. I'm so sick of all the depression, anger, Etc. that rules the world.


I'm sure whoever is reading this will know or already knows I'm a musician. My biggest dream as an artist is to praise Him in every way that I can, and maybe, just maybe, have the honor and privilige of Him saying to me, that it was good, that I helped Him help others.

In the night, around three-four-ish I receive some of the most profound lyrics for my songs, and I have no doubt that the lyrics were intended for that song.

Finding the right lyrics for a song is like putting together a puzzle, but not really. It's had to describe. Somehow you think something might work somewhere in a phrase and it turns out you use it in a song you were working on two weeks ago, and you bring the phrase from the song you just re-wrote into what you are working on now and the pieces fit so well together that you know you had help.

I never used to consider myself a creative person. Always I was logical. Always I would stick to the course of events, never changing a thing, but here I am now, opening up to a mindset that was never really my own and yet, it was. Another part of my personality entirely. I knew I had a creative side, but next to that of my father's or my sister's, I didn't consider myself very creative. In the past short while, I've come to realize several things, the first of which being "The only person that can keep you in a box is yourself". People who are afraid to get up and dance because they are afraid people will see them and judge them because they weren't "good" enough set their own limits on themselves that don't allow them to express or open up. This is how I was with my creativity. I was afraid they would think (because their creative works were better than mine) I had little potential because my first steps were small.

Now though, I have taken those steps. I have begun to walk the path of a creator who is unashamed at his "... one-thousand ways not to make a lightbulb", and I will stay on that path.



Your friend and brother,
Dallin Hughes

The Power of Harmony

I wish I could express to you the power music has in our lives. I know you all feel it, but there is a distinct difference between feeling the amplifications that are created through music and understanding them.

So many people in this world today use music for very different reasons. Some use it to express, some to open anothers' eyes to beauty, while others are just using it for enjoyment.

Music has the power to amplify any emotion or understanding to it's highest possible elation. Sadness can sink to serious depression, happiness to a point of incandescence, or anger to rage. It can be either creative or destructive.

Unfortunatly and fortunatly, most people use it to express, but most people aren't perfect, so they tend to express the hard times they're going through, emotionally or physically. Most people can relate to what they feel, or so they think. What they are actually doing to themselves is destructive. Bringing ourselves back to places where we didn't enjoy being in the first place also brings back our feelings and stops us in our progression to what would be happiness.

On the upper hand though, when expressed with a smile and sweet melody, it brings inspiration, allows for room to think, and opens us up to things we may have never thought about otherwise.

If you don't mind, I would like to define the word "artist" through my own words.

I believe an artist is an individual who uses his/her abilities to create a possitive perspective on life and the many things therein for others in the world around him/her.

I would encourage you all to take care of yourselves and listen to uplifting music.


A mind can only output what it has input.


Until my next post,
your friend and brother,
Dallin H.

The Blessings of Trying

There countless times in my life where I've wanted to give up, whether it be at a sport, a specific skill, or an award I wanted to earn, my parents kept me at it.

I learned that no matter how hard my task, no matter how high the wall was, I was able to climb that wall using my ingenuity or strength, and sometimes both.

One of my favorite scriptures, "Nephi 3:7" (I don't think I could ever pick a favorite, if you know what I mean.) quotes "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they my accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

My parents instilled in me the principle of constant progression, and taught me to appreciate the fruits of my labor.

Now, as I have matured, (though still far from "mature") I look back and thank them in my head, or verbally for what they did for me.

My parents have taught me most everything I know, (directly or indirectly) and I could never repay them completely.

I hope that we all open our eyes to see the beauties and wonders of this world and the lives we partake of, and take advantage of all of the opprotunities we have been given.

Never stop trying.

Love you all,
Dallin H.

A Hopeful Thought for the Future

Although most people know this subconsciously, they never really think about their NEED for love, family, and companionship. They just understand that they WANT it.

I hope that, in the future, I can find a woman who is humble, independant, intelligent, organized, has a love for God, has a knowledge of her and other's worth, and loves others regardless of what they may have done.

"Dallin..." "I'm up" "Good. Get ready, the kids have already got up and dressed." My wife says, as her lips open into the beautiful smile I fall in love with everytime I see it.

I got out of bed and looked out the window as the first rays of the sun started to open themselves up to the world in the distant sky.

"Thursday." I thought with a smile. "Today we go to the temple with our two oldest children, their friends, and their friends' families." I walked into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and finished the daily routines that may be simple, but help ground and discipline our minds and bodies and allow for clear and focused thoughts in this crazy, fast paced world we live in.

I got dressed and walked out into the kitchen to see her standing there, preparing the food that we would need for our day at the Temple. I silently sneaked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, put my face in her hair and stood there, rocking back and forth, to a song that ears would never hear, but that the heart would sing for all eternity. Then, the thought that had occured to me so many times before, but that always seemed magnified every time it came back to me, "I'm happy now. Now that I have what so many need and desire. Love, companionship, and a family of my own." and the best part was... I knew she was thinking it too.

Note: In this thought, my wife was preparing the food of her own volition. I'm not a sexist stereotyping hooligan, I promise. :)