Aida Hashemi

The initial reason that attracted me to this church was their guidance to eat meat sparingly. About four years ago, during the pandemic, I watched the documentary What the Health and adopted a low-fat, plant-based diet. Over the past year, I explored other diets like carnivore and keto (even going down the "plants are evil" rabbit hole—haha, good times...), but now I’m back to planning on eating meat sparingly! :) Another reason I’m drawn to this church is the concept of the Celestial Kingdom. It inspires me to be the best version of myself—not just for my own sake, but for God. When I’ve tried self-improvement purely for myself, it often felt shaky, especially when dealing with personal challenges or external opinions. However, striving to be my best for God provides a consistent and unwavering foundation. Unlike relationships with friends or partners, which can change, God’s love is constant, and this motivates me deeply. I also appreciate the fairness in the belief that t...

Probably one of the coolest things in the world is autophagy. When you're in a protein-deficient state, your body enters "self-recycling" mode, breaking down and consuming its own damaged cells. This process helps keep you looking youthful. I think this is why some raw vegans can look so amazing, while others who consume a lot of protein might appear older than they actually are. Angus Barbieri fasted for 382 days in 1965. Thanks to autophagy, he probably didn't experience much loose skin.

When we hug others, our bodies release a hormone called oxytocin, which helps us bond with people—and even with pets. There's incredible power in a simple hug! I've been hugging one of my friends regularly and noticed it has brought us closer together. Try hugging your friends and family more often (with their consent, of course!). Let them know it’s beneficial for both your brain chemistries and overall well-being. 😊

Traditional Family Dynamics I've noticed that I've become more conservative over the years. I think it's because I believe that an ideal household is one where the man works while the woman is a stay-at-home mom. To me, this setup makes the most sense. Of course, if a woman doesn’t find a partner she wants to marry, then it's absolutely great for her to work and pursue her own path. However, I feel that if a couple decides to start a family, their finances should allow for this kind of traditional dynamic to work well. Risks of Delaying Parenthood I also want to raise awareness about some challenges women and children face due to societal expectations. We're encouraging people to marry and have children later in life, which can introduce unnecessary risks. Delaying childbirth increases the chances of miscarriage and can impact fertility and egg quality. I know this might sound controversial, but I believe it’s important for women to consider these factors. If having...

You know what's really fascinating about life? What we do, what we think about, and how we spend our free time—it fundamentally shapes who we are. Our thoughts, especially those we dwell on most, really change us. Something cool about one of my friends came to mind today. He loved listening to music, and sometimes he'd talk to me by recalling lyrics. It was like music was so ingrained in him that when a situation arose, a song would immediately come to mind.  I’ve listened to a decent amount of music myself, but it's never quite felt that way for me. For him, listening was an experience in itself—he’d lie down, absorbed in the music. Meanwhile, I usually listen while doing other things: walking, studying, or handling tasks. Reflecting on that today made me appreciate how deeply music became part of his thinking. This helped me realize why reading scriptures is so important—doing it daily and consistently. One insight I particularly love about scriptures is something someone...

Hey everyone! I think the purpose of this blog is to explore how we can maximize the amount of joy in our lives. Ultimately, it boils down to understanding what makes us happy and what makes us sad. We can learn this by reflecting on the situations we face in our everyday lives. It’s really important to document these moments and dissect what brings us joy and what brings us sorrow. By doing this, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. I encourage everyone to give this a try—whether through a blog like mine, a journal, voice memos, or video diaries—whatever works best for you.