Life Lessons from Johnny Lingo

This post is a bit more reflective, so consider yourself forewarned. As Enrichment Leader for our ward, planning and executing quarterly Enrichment Nights is something I stress over. Not stress in a bad way, but stress, nevertheless. This past Thursday was one of those Enrichment Nights. I readily admit I stole the idea off of the Internet. I may not be original, but I can fly with someone else's ideas! We did, "How to be a 10-Cow Woman". (I am not known for overly spiritual Enrichment nights. That's the responsibility of the Sunday lessons!!!)

Anyone who's watched the 1969 LDS short movie, "Johnny Lingo," knows exactly what I'm talking about, and anyone who hasn't is probably thinking that being accused of being a 10-Cow Woman is a bad thing. (It's not!) If you haven't seen it, it's on the "Worth of Souls" video. Or, it's also on YouTube in three parts. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-PLyy0XM3Y

So the evening went off without a hitch. We did have a last minute debate about doing the activity indoors because of the 100-degree heat. However, we decided that anyone who was concerned about the heat already would have made the decision to stay away, and besides -- we had tiki torches, candles in the centerpieces and stake-in-the-ground decor that just wouldn't work indoors. So we braved the heat under the pavilion & had our outdoor activity. The heat just added to the whole tropical island, Polynesian theme & feeling we had going, right?

The story of Johnny Lingo teaches a basic lesson that all people have worth, and a person will live up to what is expected of them. In her father's hut, Mahana was a timid, homely, socially inept individual, who believed she was worth nothing. As Johnny Lingo's wife, she became gracious, beautiful, charming, and knew she was worth more than any other woman on the island.

So yesterday, I got thinking about some of the other Life Lessons that are also in the story. I'm sure there's got to be more, but here's what I came up with, in no particular order:

1. Most people who are humble, are already aware of their own shortcomings. (And, conversely, prideful people usually have no idea what their shortcomings are!) No one has to tell a humble person what's "wrong" with them, they already know. Telling them just adds insult to injury.
   
2. Older people are generally very wise, and have good advice, if you'll listen to them. Moki's grey-haired advisor was spot-on in everything he said.
   
3. If you're afraid of something, hiding will not make it go away. In some cases, (like Mahana's) it will take you by the hand to lead you away from misery. In any case, Life will go on.
   
4. Aim high. One piece of advice for Mahana's father, Moki, was to ask for a higher price at the bargaining. If you aim low, you have nowhere to go but down. I tell myself, "If you aim for a pile of manure, you're probably going to hit it!"
   
5. What other people think does affect you. No matter how much people today say things like, "I don't care what other people think", it is precisely what other people think that can shape not only how you are treated, but how your life turns. For example, if your boss hates tattoos, and discovers you have one that he didn't know about, it will affect how he treats you, and possibly whether or not you still have a job. Do you care now?
   
6. People talk. Women in particular can be brutally painful in what they say. One of the most painful things is being laughed at. You have no control over this. But you have control over what kind of ammunition you give them.
   
7. Have faith. Mahana saw the first cow show up and dismissed it as a stray. Don't dismiss something that comes into your life that could be the beginning of the answers to your prayers.
   
8. If people are making your situation unbearable, you don't have to get violent. Just leave. Johnny chased off the island boys who were teasing, and then took Mahana and left.
   
9. You get what you pay for. Sure, some inconsequential things you can get by with paying the least amount possible. For anything that really matters, you have to pay more to get a good quality. Usually, the more you pay, the better the quality is. However, excessive prices don't necessarily get you anything better, they only get you rooked. Johnny Lingo paid 8 cows for Mahana, but not 10. He was the sharpest trader in the islands.
   
10. A really good red dress is something every woman should own and wear!