Twilight, New Moon and Blah, Blah, Blah

Reading the third book in the Twilight Series makes me wonder if the male hero of the story is a substitute for both Jesus and the perfect husband. What more could you ask for? (How about strong relationships with Jesus and my real husband?)


So, when all the girls ages 12 to 18 at church were talking about these books Twilight and New Moon by Stephanie Meyer last summer, I decided to check it out so I could relate to them better or whatever. As I read the first book, I thought to myself a few times, "Is this actually a good book?" I couldn't decide. I liked parts, and I knew they were really popular, but I kept asking (quietly) what is wrong here? Should these books be as popular as they are?

Anyway, I read them and enjoyed them, which has got to count for something. But I didn't jump at the third book in the series when it came out in August 2007. But now my daughter is going through a new stage, and I need a book to read so that she can't come up and slam my laptop into my face yet again this week when I am trying to enjoy some free time. She is much less interested in my book, and, for the record, I can already see her making connections between my book and her books and her games that have letters, which is very cool.

So, I opened Eclipse and almost barfed. It is common for the first chapter in a series book to be trite and hard to swallow because the author has to word things funny to remind you what happen in the last book without boring the people who remember, but this was crazy bad. I think the line, "I'll pay you back if it takes 100,000 years" or something close to it was in there somewhere and I almost cried because I was actually excited to read, and I thought that line might be my limit of cheese for the day. But, hence, I persevered, and made it to the point where I am reading and smiling and laughing. But let me tell you: that Edward, sorry ladies, is not real. NOT REAL.

Just a few pages into my reading today, I totally picked a fight with my husband, and I bet if I could read into the depths of my little mind, it had something to do with how my man doesn't hold me, watch me sleep or smell my hair the way Edward does for Bella all day long (or ever).

Come on, ladies? We've got to admit. No one has a man like what... unless they read the bible. Last summer when I was reading a friend of mine pointed out that Edward, as a character is perfect (like Christ), and that many of our friends were using him as a substitute Savior figure to fill lulls in their spiritual lives ... the same why that Bella does with her personal life. Anyone who thinks the perfect actions of a romantic hero will make their troubles and pains go away is not of the right page. The whole concept of Bella and Edward is that he is the perfect lover. He has perfect love. No matter what she is or who she is, he will love her. That story is not new. It has been told... in the bible. (And since the Author is Mormon, like myself, I think it is more than far to make these comparisons.)

So it comes down to this. The writing is fine and entertaining but sometimes cheesy, and the main character is a substitute for what will really make the reader happy, which is selflessness, charity, pure love in there own lives and not in Edward and Bella's. How many people really put that book down and then think "I should be more like Edward?" I bet most people walk away from the book thinking "I deserve an Edward... so, dear, be more like Edward!" Maybe I'm just sensitive because I'm not very good at keep up on my spirituality AND my I an a band widow.

I might just stop reading the book in order to save my soul and come closer to the real God. Probably not, though, because in reality the book is pretty clean, and the alternative outlet for my relaxation is Grey's Anatomy, which could single handedly chop down the tree of life (a metaphor for eternal life.)

Your thoughts about the series? Please comment.

Refocused on Yoga and Hopefully Motivated for Future Inner Peace

A pain in my hip reminded me of the horribly destructive cycle I have in my life when I get healthy and feeling too good.

So the other day I was walking, and I noticed my hip was totally out of alignment. Within a few hours my back hurt, and I couldn't fall asleep. Everyone knows the saying, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it," and this pain issue is a constant cycle for me. It's very obvious, and still I kept ignoring it.

It goes like this: I get really into yoga and exercise because it is good for my body and makes me feel great. Then I get busy and stop doing it all because my body feels fine. Then something goes wrong in my body, and I do not notice for weeks until it all catches up to me with a headache so bad that I can barely move.

I go to the chiropractor and get one adjustment to start the mending process (and get my back freakin' bruised because he sucks at his job.) And then since the whole thing was this great wake up call, I get back into yoga, and the cycle starts all over again.

Well, I was at a Women's Expo a few weeks, and I talked to a holistic chiropractor. I told him my cycle, and how I need a more enlightened doctor for my office visit whenever this happens. He said to me, "Well, I'd rather treat your lifestyle instead of putting and Bandaid on it every few weeks." Ouch, he's right. A bruise to my ego.

I really do consider myself to me enlightened and holistic, but I guess that is only when it is convenient. So this time I was much better. I felt the pain in my hip and went to work on it right away. I did a yoga practice before bed, went for a walk the next morning and woke up early on a Saturday morning to attend my favorite mind bending yoga class at the Gold's Gym on 800 North in Orem, Utah. (It's so good that is transcends crappy gym yoga which is hard to do. )

I thought about the whole cycle a lot today because I am sore as heck from having to jump back into a yoga routine so quickly, but it is good for me. What was I thinking just saying, "That was nice, but I am fine now, again." Everything I know about yoga and taking care of your body says that it involves constant persistence and attention. I guess motivation is hard sometimes... for everything in life. School, work, motherhood, nutrition, correspondence, service to others and especially personal bans on horribly inappropriate TV shows that you love so much (like Grey's Anatomy.) It all takes a special and constant motivation that seems to fall in the crack of the couch when I'm busy watching an episode of Friends after a hard day of supporting my family. I bet that last sentence wouldn't sound so bitter if I hadn't taken the last month off from my routine of grounding myself in inner peace and love. Oops.

Afterthought: Syl Carson is a yogi in Provo who is incredibly enlightened and well trained. If I had $130 I would have headed straight for one of her Thai Yoga Messages (that comes complete with an amazing pep talk) when I noticed the pain in my hip. Syl is a huge source of inspiration in my life, and somedays just knowing she exists is enough to keep me focused and filled with peace. This is much like how I feel about my friend Lizza, who I rarely talk to but think about constantly for the life force that she is.

Syl Carson, White Mountain Yoga