Week 5

In my personal scripture study, I was reading in Matthew 5:15 and I ran over the old scripture mastery verse "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it doth give light unto all who are in the house." In this context, I think it's meant to be interpreted as don't hide your testimony, but as I read the verse this time around, I interpreted it as an attitude. From the onset of this school year, I’ve seen the profound effect my attitude has had on my productivity as well as all who are around me. Usually, if I’m super stressed out or just upset or sad about something, those around me are effected as well and vice versa. One of my friends is constantly complaining about homework, midterms, friends, exc. And I’ve found it’s a lot harder to be positive and look on the bright side of things when I’ve been around her a lot. I think she’s a great person and has many wonderful attributes, but I don’t enjoy being around her because usually it dims my disposition. Similarly, I have a roommate who i admire with all my heart. She is in a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her from being one of the happiest people I've known in all my life. She never fails to cheer me up if I've had a rough day due to a paper or a midterm and I aspire to have the same type of resilience and genuine happiness that she constantly exudes everyday. I find myself naturally feeling happier and better for just being around her.

Because I’ve felt the two different types of attitudes, I know what it’s like to have someone’s bad attitude seep into mine and I don’t ever want to make anybody else feel this way. Like the second friend, I want to be the type of person whose  attitude can “give light unto all who are in the house.” I want to go forward throughout my life with an optimistic lense and surround myself with people who will help uplift and inspire me and that will be receptive to my reciprocation. I know there will be times where I won’t want to have an optimistic outlook on life, but hopefully, I’ll have people around me who will help me see the good in life once more and my testimony will be strong enough to help me spread that same joy to others.