Have Courage and Be Kind - 2015 in Review

It's crazy to think that 2015 is already ending! 

It's been a year full of memories and experiences that I'm so glad I have!

As things end, we often look towards the beginning. Last January I made a motto for the coming year, my new form of resolution:

As the year unfolded, I did my best to stick to that motto. I faced some inner demons, I took some leaps of faith, I saw what real beauty is, I said Geronimo, I celebrated God's creations - of which I'm a part, I recognized myself as an unrepeatable miracle, and I moved some mountains.

2015 was an eventful year for me!

I:

• got into the Dance Major program at BYU, on track for Dance Education
• saw many friends and a sister leave on missions to serve the Lord
• revisited my favorite place on earth
• worked with Mormon Helping Hands in San Marcos for flood clean up
• overcame a knee injury and a back injury
• spent time with family missing my Grandpa on the first anniversary of his passing
• attended two amazing rodeos
• went camping (in a tent!) in Payson Canyon
• spent lots of time with those who matter most
• attended my first big Comic Con and had the time of my life
• celebrated the first anniversary of this blog
• worked with ASL missionaries
• donated blood for the first time
• flew to New York in pursuit of a dream
• began teaching what I love at Dance La Vie' Academy
• had the craziest summer of my life
• learned of the passing of one of the most amazing women I've ever met
• attended the wedding of one of my very best friends
• finished the hardest semester yet while working 2 jobs
• had my first (in memory) White Christmas

I hope your year was eventful, crazy, fun, uplifting, enlightening, and wonderful.

Here's to another great year!

Decembers

Christmas is just around the corner, and I am so blessed and happy to be among my family again. I feel like, for the first time in a long time, I am here with them, really here, physically and mentally. I don't have any assignments or tests tugging at my consciousness; I don't have to worry about anything except enjoying the holidays with the ones I love the most.

As I've been reflecting on this year and years before, I dug up a piece I wrote years ago that explores the idea of Decembers, and how they change as we get older.

I hope you enjoy, and I hope you remember the real reason we celebrate. Remember that the warmth behind our smiles and light behind our eyes are because of a Son who was born, a baby who would grow to save the world.

Decembers

                It is December, one of the most thrilling months, and I can barely see the end of the line. I gaze up at my mother forlornly. We’d never make it. Mama catches my expression and reaches out to take my hand, even though she already holds my little brother on her hip. Sufficiently comforted, I return my gaze to our destination, peering around strangers to catch glimpses of red and gold and green, grinning at each passing of the colorful train.

                My sister stands nearby, almost as excited as I am. My youngest brother snoozes in the stroller, and the middle child stomps around on the tile, talking and singing to himself.

                We are close now. I can see the elves greeting children and can count the number of cars in the train. A few more steps, and we enter the main area, no longer closed in by a low ceiling or nearby walls. I gasp. There he is.

                It is our turn before I know it, and I eagerly give a friendly elf my name. She takes my hand and leads me up to Santa, lifting me onto his lap. I gaze shyly at his black boots until I hear him say my name. Slowly, I look up into the whitest beard I’d ever seen, with two rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes nestled within. I smile timidly and say hello. He laughs his belly-laugh and leans in close.

                “Now, what would you like for Christmas?”             

                It is December, one of the most beautiful months, and I can see my breath. I inhale the frigid air and exhale with an exaggerated “Hhhhaaaahhhh,” smiling at the shapeless puff as it disperses into the night sky.

                Mama presses a cup into my hands with a warning to not drink it yet, it’s too hot. Face turned upwards, I nod distractedly and begin to spin, slowly at first but with ever increasing speed, laughing with glee as the lights above blur together into one great expanse of color.

                Suddenly recalling the beverage in my hand, I stop and look down at the cup. Insignificantly small puddles fill the cracks in the lid, but there should have been a much greater mess for how fast I had been spinning. I smile at my cup. Daddy must have already gotten to it.

                I raise my cup to my lips and take a cautious sip. It’s perfect – not scalding but delightfully warm. I drink greedily, enjoying the feel of the hot chocolate sliding down my throat and warming my belly.

                I join my family at the exit, looking back over my shoulder at the towering tree of lights, still dizzy from my spinning, still warm from my cocoa.

                It is December, one of the most reflective months, and I am standing in silence. We all are. We are all emerging from the bustle of lights and people dressed up as soldiers and messengers and merchants and feeling the change in the air, the shift into quiet reverence.

                The crowd stands just behind the fence, some leaning over it to get a better view. The still night air is broken only by the sound of hushed footsteps and murmurs of appreciation. I stand with my hands in my jacket pockets, the jacket with the hot chocolate stains on the sleeves, and smile at the scene before me.

                A little ways from the fence, perched atop a gradual hill, is a stable, complete with stalls and a manger, filled with straw. A man kneels beside a young woman, his arm wrapped around her to ward off the cold. The woman slowly rocks the baby cradled in her arms, soothing the child to sleep. Both gaze down at the infant with love and wonder, their own little miracle among the hay.

                The crowd echoes the family’s affection, couples gazing first at the stable scene and then at each other before walking on, hands clasped tightly; children being still and quiet, watching with wide eyes as they pass the stable, led on only with persistent urging from their parents.

                A quiet part of my soul warms and swells as music plays through my mind. I slowly break my gaze from the sweet family and walk away, humming quietly to myself, footsteps in time with my song.

                It is December, one of the busiest months, and I can feel my eyes closing. Shaking myself awake, I wearily search for a pencil not worn to a useless stub. Daddy’s voice echoes through the house, calling the family to prayer.

                I maneuver my way through various piles of things to be done and join my siblings in the family room. Kneeling by my youngest brother, I glance over at the tree in the corner, noting a Darth Vader among the decorative orbs and stars. Mom catches my scrutiny.

                “Your ornaments are in a box over there,” she gestures to the corner. “You can put them up whenever you get the chance.”

                I nod wearily and bow my head. It is Daddy’s turn tonight and his deep voice reverberates through the room and swiftly up to heaven.

                The night is dark and cold, icy tendrils of air tapping hungrily at the windows of our warm house. As Daddy finishes, the family disperses with various “Good night”s and “Love you”s until I am alone. I sit quietly for a moment, procrastinating my return to the mountain of homework waiting for me. The icy wind whistles past the windows, and I grudgingly stand.

                On my way out of the room, I stop to turn off the lights. The Christmas tree provides the only illumination – bathing the corner in soft yellow light. I pause at the doorway and stare at the tree, remembering Christmases when things were much simpler. My gaze drifts to an old shoebox at the base of the tree.

                Homework forgotten, I kneel by the box and gingerly lift the lid. Ballerinas and teddy bears and stars and nativity scenes crowd the box in an arrangement of ceramic and glass and clay and glitter. A smile, soft as candlelight, spreads across my face as I revel in the mementos of years past.

                As tradition dictates, I begin with the teddy bear in pink long johns, clutching a heart labeled “Baby’s First Christmas.” I gently hang it on a bough, and reach for the next. I proceed to hang each ornament in chronological order, smiling as my handmade clay stocking, tiny ballet shoes, and sleeping puppy find their place among the needles. My first time ice skating, the year I made the dance team, my favorite family vacation – each finds its way onto the tree.

                After placing the last one, a framed picture of me in my drill team uniform, I sit back and look, drinking in the sight of my family’s memories hung among the lights. Slowly, I stand and make my way to the doorway, where I pause, unable to tear my gaze off of the memories set aglow within the tree.

                Something pulls at me, bringing me back to the excitement of meeting Santa Claus, the warmth of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, the thrill of spinning underneath thousands of joyous lights. There is something about Decembers that no amount of time will ever take away, something that will forever be within our hearts, something that grows as we do.

                After one last glance at our tree, I walk away, a holy infant in mind and a sweet song on my lips.

Lead, Kindly Light

One of my (many) favorite hymns is Lead, Kindly Light. As the Christmas season has come into full swing, I've been able to make new connections to its inspiring lyrics. The first verse goes as follows:

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene - one step enough for me.

I end up singing this to myself often as encouragement whenever my life becomes dark. There are so many times when I feel like I don't understand why I'm going through what I'm going through or where I'm going in the future. This hymn reassures me that
It's okay to not know everything right now. It's okay to not have your whole life figured out.

As long as you have the Light to follow, you're going to be just fine.

But was is that Light?

As we enter into the Christmas season, I am reminded of another group who followed a light:

The wise men followed the new star that led them to the Savior. They didn't have an address for the stable that they plugged into Siri. They had been looking diligently for the sign of their Savior's birth, and having seen it, they set off in faith, not able to see "the distant scene," but simply taking "one step" after another, trusting in that light that was guiding them.

And look at the result of their faithful following:

They had the opportunity to kneel at the feet of their Savior and present Him with gifts.

What would have happened if they had given up halfway through their long journey? What if they got discouraged after they didn't receive perfect illumination right away?

Because they trusted in that which they could not see, they were blessed with the greatest Light of all:

Christ is the Light.

If we follow him, trusting in the plan that God has for us, we will be blessed beyond anything we can imagine for ourselves.

This Christmas season, focus on the Light. Trust in the Light. Follow it, even if you can't see the path on which it will lead you. Climb bravely over the bumps in the road. Brave the winds and rain that you meet on your journey.

Keep your focus on the Light and you will be just fine.

I am so grateful for a Savior who was willing to come to earth in the most humble of circumstances, who was willing to sacrifice his life and more for each of us, who was willing to be our Light.

May we all look to the Light, and allow Him to lead us to our greatest selves.

I Am Not Grateful For My Blessings

You read that right. 

I wanted to make a blog post today because my perspective has grown and changed so much over the last few years, and over this last year in particular.

I am not grateful for my blessings.

I am in awe of them.

Saying that I am grateful for the infinite love, gifts, and beauty that my God has given me simply doesn't do it justice.

I am completely and utterly in awe of what God has given me. I simply do not deserve it all. I have been given a loving family who has raised me to love others and love God. I have been given a working, healthy body and mind. I have been given the gospel of Jesus Christ and the tools, such as scripture, prayer, and a living prophet, to grow closer to Him every day. I have been given an incredible world featuring watercolor sunset skies, crashing oceans, resolute mountains, and a cornucopia of life in the wide range of animals and plants that populate this fruitful earth.

There simply is no way to express how I feel about the Lord's blessings, and "I'm grateful" is definitely not enough.

I do, however, want to express gratitude today for something I often neglect to thank God for: my trials.

We've all had struggles in life. And I know for certain that mine have shaped me into who I am today. If it wasn't for the horrible, difficult, heart-wrenching things I've been through, I would not have the joy, strength, and confidence I do today. So today I want to tell you the three trials I am most grateful for.

1. Injuries

I own crutches, an Aircast, an ACE bandage, and no less than three different knee braces. I have had needles stabbed into me and electrical shocks sent through them. I have been half dragged, half carried out of a dance practice because I couldn't stand anymore. I have limped off the contest floor with tears streaming down my face after completing a kick routine on a fractured ankle. I've collapsed onto the ground, knowing if I didn't get there voluntarily, I would pass out and end up there anyways. I know how frustrating it is to feel incomplete, to be standing on the sidelines with a broken body, wishing you could do what you love to do, but instead having to just sit there in pain.

But I have learned how to overcome feelings of disappointment. I've learned that sometimes I need to take a backseat and let someone else take the reins for a while. I've learned to listen to my body and take care of it instead of pushing it past its limits. I've learned the joy of healing and I've learned the patience of waiting. I am so grateful for all of the times I've been hurt, because they have made me stronger.

2. Heartbreaks

Okay, I'll admit, I have to dig a little to find gratitude for these, because, just being honest, they suck. With every rejection, shut down, and disappointment, it's hard not to wonder if there is something wrong with you, if it's your fault. It's really hard when something seems like it's everything you've ever wanted, and then a door gets slammed in your face. It's even harder when God leads you to someone, when you pray about it and get a definite answer, and then it still doesn't work out the way you wanted or expected it to. 

But I have learned so much about trusting in God and His timing. I have learned what I deserve and to wait until I can get it. I have learned to let go of things that are dragging me down. I have learned that I am stronger and more resilient than anything or anyone that can hurt me. I have learned that God's love matters more than anyone else's. I am so grateful for my heartbreaks, because they have given me experience and strength I couldn't have received any other way.

3. My Past

I won't go into the whole story here. Maybe someday the time will come when I think that needs to be shared, but that's not the case yet. However, I do want to share a little bit about who I was and how that made me who I am. When I was in middle school, I was miserable. I had rock bottom self-esteem, which led to bigger and more dangerous problems. I look back on that time on my life and it sometimes scares me to think of where I was. But since then, I have done a complete 180. I am confident in who I am, what I look like, and what I am capable of. I look back at this, the greatest trial I've ever been through, and am blown away by how I have been able to overcome that and change my life. 

My past is something I wouldn't wish on anyone, but I am so grateful that I went through it. I have learned that, with God, you can overcome anything. I have learned my true worth and my abilities. I have learned how I can help those who are struggling in similar ways that I was. I have learned to reach out and love everyone, because you never know what they are going through or what weight they have been called to bear, now or in their past.

This Thanksgiving, I'd urge all of you to look at your life and recognize the absolutely incomprehensible and awe-inspiring blessings God has given you.

 And then look at the burdens He has asked you to bear and find gratitude for those.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mountain Mover

Faith can move mountains.

I'm sure we've all heard this before. But who do you usually picture doing the mountain-moving?

A prophet? A great leader? Jesus Christ Himself?

What if I told you that you could move mountains?

We have been promised by Christ that "if ye have faith, and doubt not...ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:21-22)

Now, I haven't had any physical mountains that have needed moving lately, but I have had difficult classes with seemingly not enough time to keep up with them. I've had sick and exhausted days. I've had frustrations and disappointments so heavy, I feel like moving the corners of my mouth upwards is just as hard as moving a mountain.

But I have gotten through all of these things. How?

I asked Christ to move my mountain, fully trusting in His ability to do so.

God and Christ love us more than we can ever comprehend, and they want to give us every good thing, help us through every trial and tribulation, and guide us through every rocky path in our lives.

Trust in yourself, and trust in your all-powerful God.

Ask in faith, and watch your mountains move.

Unrepeatable Miracles

Hey everyone! I hope your lives are going well!

If it's not, I hope you know you can call me anytime and I'll be here for you!

Also, I would prescribe ice cream as a way to make any situation just a little better and prayer as a way to make any situation a LOT better! :)

I just wanted to share something from church last week that really resonated with me.

Once a month, LDS churches have a Fast and Testimony meeting on Sunday. Members of the church go without food or water for two meals and donate the money they would have spent on those meals as an offering that will be used to help those in need. Then anyone who feels so impressed can go up during our meeting and bear testimony of their Savior and His gospel.

This past Fast Sunday, my bishop (the leader over a specific LDS congregation) said                                something that really resonated with me.

     He said: "You are each unrepeatable miracles."

When you think of a miracle, what do you think of? Maybe Moses parting the Red Sea? Maybe Jesus calming the storm or healing the sick? Maybe manna from heaven?

Look in the mirror. What you see is a miraculous creation unlike any God has ever made or will make again.

I've been thinking a lot about my purpose lately.
I've been working on myself and my relationship with God and Christ,
studying my scriptures deeper, praying harder,
ponderizing a new scripture each week,
trying to better understand my Savior and His Atonement,
and asking God to show me what I need to change, how I can
become better for whatever purpose he created me for.

The closer I've gotten to God, the clearer one thing has become:

He loves me and knows me, more than anyone ever has or will.

You are unique, immeasurably precious.
You are a child of God.
And He loves you.
More than you can ever understand.

If you aren't sure of this, pray and ask to feel His love.
He will show you.

Never forget whose you are.

Never forget that you are truly an unrepeatable miracle.

I'm Geeky and I Know It

Hey y'all! As those who saw me blow up Instagram know, I attended Comic Con this weekend!

It was a ton of fun, and this little video is here to show just how much fun, but beyond the panels and geeky merchandise and cosplays, there were a couple more important points I wanted to talk about in this blog post.

Point 1: Love What You Love

I am a total geek. I love Sherlock, Marvel, Star Trek, Disney, Harry Potter, and more. And I have a right to enjoy what I love. Too often, I think we look down on certain interests people have while approving of others. But why is that?

What makes us think we can tell someone that the thing they love isn't worth loving?

If you  love Rubik's cubes and own fifteen different ones and can solve them all behind your back, that is awesome! If you know every detail about a certain movie franchise, down to the heights of the actors and habits of the cinematographers, cool! If you love to read and spend your free time curled up with a book you've read a hundred times, great!

If something you love isn't what the majority of people love, that is totally fine! Everyone has a right to find happiness wherever they see fit.

(I love this quote even more because Simon Pegg from Star Trek said it)

So don't be ashamed of your special edition DVDs that make a picture on the spines when they're all lined up. Swing your customized light saber like you mean it. Rock your thirty five Disney tee shirts like you're on a runway.

Don't let the opinions of others hold you back from enjoying something you find value in.

Point 2: The Choice of Modesty

As you hopefully know by now, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of the many things I believe God has asked me as His daughter to do is to dress modestly. This is something I've tried to do, granted, with some slip-ups, my whole life. I won't lie and say I've never wanted to wear something immodest or that I've always dressed perfectly modestly.

But I know that dressing modestly is one way I can show respect for myself and for my Heavenly Father who gave me this body as a gift in which to house my spirit.

Modesty is definitely a choice. It's a choice I've struggled with sometimes in the past, but one I've reaffirmed since coming to college. I want to obey my Heavenly Father's will and show my respect and love for Him and myself, and one way I can do that is through the way I dress.

Everyone has the right to make their own choices, but my choice is modesty.

Comic Con offers a wide range of cosplayers dressed as everything from Slave Leia to Gandalf, and I knew before I went that I was going to see quite a few cosplays that would be quite different than those that would abide by the standards of modesty outlined by my church. I thought about which cosplays I wanted to do, and decided on Vanellope Von Schweetz from Wreck-it-Ralph and a USO girl from Captain America.

Vanellope's outfit was totally modest, but I made the decision to alter the USO girl outfit to fit the standards of modesty I have a testimony of. And I am so happy I did!

I was completely comfortable all day, and I was proud of myself for proving that I didn't have to compromise my standards for any situation, including cosplaying at Comic Con.

Never give up something you believe in.

"Fitting in" isn't worth it.

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

To anyone who has ever had to hold fast to what they believe against the popular tide, we salute you.

My Bite Out of the Big Apple

As was announced earlier, I went to New York City to audition to be a performer with Disney Cruise Lines. I attended two auditions: a character audition and a dancer audition. It was an incredible experience that I will explain mostly in pictures!

Mom and I arrived Sunday evening and of course our first stop (besides our hotel) was Times Square. We'd been to New York before (thank goodness, because there was simply not enough time to do a lot of touristy things), but it was still fun to see the lights and everything!

 

The Disney Store!!! This is the only picture I took because I was too dazzled by the pixie dust, but they had all these Tangled lanterns along the ceiling on the way to the second floor!

M&Ms world, of course! 

(We may have had a movie night during which a despicable amount of M&Ms were consumed)

The next morning we got up nice and early to get to auditions! I met some amazing people there and became fast friends with quite a few!

 My audition numbers for each audition!

Kairisa and I met right at the beginning and hung out all day! She's awesome!

 Kairisa, Chloe, Josh (who was on the Voice, btw, no big deal), Fiona, and Brooke!

Audra, Emily (who's from Austin, too! Small world!), Kairisa, and Sammy! We played Heads Up during down time before Dance auditions started.

I attended two auditions, both for Disney Cruise Line. The first was a Character audition and the second was a Dancer audition. In each we were taught a very short dance piece or ballet combo and showed it to the judges in small groups. Both were neat experiences, and even though I got cut pretty early on for both auditions, I know I'll just keep coming back!

One of the wonderful girls I met at auditions, Paulina, told us about Broadway Dance Center, where you can pay per class for walk ins, and showed Kairisa and I the way. I took a Musical Theatre dance class from Lane Napper (you can see me in the back for like a second haha) and it was soooo fun! It was fast, sassy, and difficult enough to push me! I loved it so much!

For our second (and last) night, Mama and I ate at Hard Rock and checked out the enormous Toys R Us before crashing early (after another M&M filled movie night) so we could wake up at 4 am to catch our flight home!

This experience was such an incredible one, and I am so happy that I made the leap and went after my dreams! No one said I would get them right away, but I know that every step closer makes them more of a reality!

And I am so grateful for this woman right here (and my Daddy!) for being so supportive of me through this whole thing. Not many parents, when their child comes up and says "I want to go to New York in a month for a long shot audition to possibly be at sea for nine months." would say "Okay, here I got plane tickets and a hotel booked! And I'm coming with you to be there for you every step of the way!"

My parents have been my biggest supporters since day 1, and words cannot express how much they mean to me or how grateful I am for the fun couple of days I had with my Mama in New York!

Start chasing your dreams now! You might not reach them right away, but every step you take will be worth it! Believe in yourself and have the confidence to go after what you want in life!

And say thank you to the ones who support you no matter how close or far you are from your goals!

Hold a tiara for me, Disney! I'll be back again soon!

God's Creations

This past three day weekend, I was able to go down to Southern Utah 

with my family to experience Arches National Park and Goblin Valley State Park.

I had been to Arches before, but not for about 12 or 13 years, 

and I don't think I've ever been to Goblin Valley.

And let me tell you, it was breathtaking:

I got into a conversation with my cousin Brianne about how gorgeous and incredible it all was, and how to us, it manifested the truth of God and His hand in the Creation of this world.

Maybe some of you would look at rock formations and think about science: weathering and erosion and all that.

And I would agree with you.

But there is something divine inside me that flutters when I see the beauty of this world.

I know there are a lot of opinions out there on the Creation and Evolution and the Big Bang and all kinds of other theories, and I won't spend too much time here preaching my exact beliefs on how this earth came to be about (although if you want to know, read Genesis 1-3). 

Instead, I will spend this time celebrating our world the way I see it:

 as a place filled with God-touched wonder and beauty.

I look around and I see life.

I see trees sighing as a gentle breeze whisks away their morning dewdrops.

I see a rushing river that chases the light of the dying sun.

I see a mountain stretching skyward, its face changing with the seasons.

I see a sky so vast and heavenly, I feel closer to God just by looking at it.

And I see God's children - as much a part of this beautiful world as the rocks and trees and sky.

There is a hymn that expresses better than I can the marveling feeling I get when I view God's creations, and a woman I respect for many reasons, her voice being one of the least of them, sings it amazingly. Please enjoy, and I hope you feel that flutter of divine creation within you as you do so.

God's creations are beautiful. They are awe-inspiring, divinely touched, and part of His incredible Plan of Happiness.

And you are one of His beautiful, awe-inspiring, divinely touched creations.

 

So take a moment to go outside and appreciate all of the wonderful creations God has blessed us with.

And then look in the mirror and celebrate one more.

Geronimo

Well, summer is officially over. 

I start up Fall semester (super psyched for that, by the way) tomorrow morning.

But instead of mourning the loss of long hot days, I'm super excited for what's in store for me! Looking back through my memories from the last few months brings laughter and fond smiles.

I've really jumped in this summer.

I said "Geronimo!" and just went for it.

And that's something I'm proud of.

Summer is a time of diving in.

Headfirst.

Hair flying, heart pounding, and splashing and reeling and finally feeling...

oh wait sorry that's Tangled...

But you get the point.

Maybe it's the warm air, the playful breeze, or just the freedom of having so much time to fill with whatever adventures you choose, but summer is when everyone tends to be a little more brave, a little more daring. 

But why does our adventurous spirit die with the summer heat? Why can't we keep that forever?

As I start this Fall semester, I'm hoping to continue the wonderful adventures I've had this summer. I want to lose my voice at football games, jump into piles of leaves, go after my dreams. I want my fall semester to be like my summer. I want it to look a little something like this:

Milestones

Today officially marks one year that I've been doing this blog! The posting hasn't always been super consistent, but I look back at what I've done in the last 365 days and I hope that my posts have been able to uplift and inspire.

This milestone has really made me look back at the past year and at other milestones I've reached. It's crazy how different I feel from the girl who was about to start college and had no idea what to expect.

I look back at where I was and I can't believe how much has changed.

I also look back and am proud of what has stayed the same.

When we reach milestones, we need to celebrate them.

We need to look back with fondness, appreciating what we've accomplished.

I can guarantee there is at least one milestone you've reached in the last year that you deserve to be proud of.

So celebrate it!

Sometimes I think we get so focused on our goals and who we want to become, that we don't take the time to recognize how much we've already accomplished. So take that time today! Acknowledge a milestone you've reached in the last year and do something to celebrate! Go out to eat at your favorite restaurant. Treat yourself to a manicure. Set aside one hour just for some you time with your favorite book or TV show.

Give yourself permission to be proud of what you've done.

If this blog has helped you at all in the last year, I am thrilled. God has given me such an amazing life full of experiences, both good and bad, that have helped me become the person I am today. If it wasn't for His love, His guidance, His timing, and the answers He gives me to my prayers, I wouldn't be where I am today. This blog is simply a result of a life full of ups and downs, a life guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's an imperfect life, but it's one I hope can bring inspiration and help to those who need it.

Thank you for reading! Here's to another year!

Leap of Faith

I've talked a lot about bravery since my "have courage and be kind" resolution, and in a lot of ways, I've been more brave this year than ever before. I've tried new things and put myself out there, and I've learned quite a bit from each brave moment.

For instance, leaps of faith are sometimes like this:

And other times, they're like this:

But even if things don't turn out "perfect," being brave is worth it.

It's hard to be brave. It takes you out of your comfort zone. But anything that pushes you past your limits makes you stronger.

I am so happy with the brave things I've done this year, even if some of them maybe didn't work out exactly the way I might have hoped.

Take the leap.

It is worth every hands-shaking, heart-pounding, mind-numbing, am-I-really-doing-this? moment.

Think of something you've always wanted to do. It can be as small as a restaurant you've always wanted to try or a hobby you've always wanted to pick up. Or it can be as big as a country you've wanted to live in or a bucket list item you've never really thought would happen. 

Now stop thinking about it, and make it happen.

What are you waiting for?

Honestly think about the question, though. 

Why is it that we so often don't stray from our comfortable lives? Why don't we go out on the limb? Why don't we step out of our box? Why don't we take the leap?

I was recently talking to a friend about this, and we came up with three main reasons why people don't try new brave things: 1) fear of failure, 2) being content with staying where you are/not moving forward, and 3) laziness (doing big things takes big amounts of work!)

Every moment you waste in fear or lazy contentment is a moment you can't get back.

Think of the time you're in right now. 

Think of where you might be in five years. 

Will it get easier to go after that dream job, to drop everything to go on a roadtrip, or to pick up that instrument or language you've always wanted to learn?

No.

The longer you postpone something, the more life will seem to get in the way.

So why not do it now?

Everything you've ever wanted to do, and everything you've wanted to be, is waiting for you on the other side.

So take the leap.

I have recently decided to make a pretty big leap towards my own dreams. For a long time, I've thought that working for Disney, particularly as a performer on their cruise ships, would be such an incredible experience. Of course, auditioning for such a thing, and being gone on the sea/in different countries for months and months at a time, is a kind of frightening and rather large step to take. However, I am excited to announce that in about a month, I will be flying to New York to do just that. If my audition goes how I'd like, I will be leaving in late December for a nine month stint at sea! If my audition does not go how I'd like, I will still celebrate the brave step I took, and I will look forward to my next chance to try again.

Don't wait to go after what you want.

Don't shy away from bravery because it scares you.

Find the courage to claim the experiences and personal growth that you deserve to have.

Take a leap of faith, and celebrate your brave moments, 

both big and small.