In The Moment

So, I realize that it has been a while since my last blog and I have much to write about it, so here goes.

The last time I posted was after spending a weekend with the family in Shallotte at the beach. I realized that there was so much more to life than trying to figure out what I want to do ten years from now or worry about something that happened ten months ago. I realized that living in the moment is one of the most important things one can do in life because living in the moment means noticing and cherishing everything that happens in their day and their world. And I realized that I was not doing this and taking time for granted, which is not at all what I needed to be doing. Some time has past since that revelation and each day I work more and more towards my goal of "living in the moment and letting the moment take my breath away."

Nonetheless, I have experienced many feelings over the past month. I have been overjoyed and overwhelmed, stressed and carefree, confident and doubtful, and I have believed and not believed in true love and everything it has to offer. I successfully completed my first year of college at UNCG. The year however, was everything that I expected it to be and had many surprises along the way. Entering school in August, I never thought that I would be teaching dance and loving every minute of it to the extent that this may be something I would want to do with the rest of my life. I never thought that I would be one of those people that really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life entering school, but I was wrong. I have now decided to change my major to Entrepreneurship with a minor in Dance. I am looking forward to starting the next school year and studying something other than how to talk to people. Along with the ending of school, came the beginning of the ending of dance, which means recital. Dancers Edge recital is the second weekend in June and I am really looking forward to seeing my choreography and students unfold on stage as they perform their dances. My personal dancing took me to New York City this past weekend to study with some of the world's greatest tap dancers, including two of the masters, Dr. Prince Spencer and Skip Cunningham. It amazed me that I was worthy enough to be not only in their presence but to be dancing and learning from them what they do best. I only hope that I can have an influence on half as many people as they did through their feet. Over Mother's Day weekend, I traveled to Fayetteville and Raleigh for Anna's graduation. Grandma and I made strawberry jelly and she informed me that she and Mr. Burhman are going to be getting married!! But, not only are they getting married, they're getting married on June 6th! She never has been one to wait around too long! I am so happy and excited for them because both of them deserve nothing but happiness and I am so happy (and jealous) that they can find that with one another.

My life is leading me in eighteen different directions right now. But regardless of where I am going or what I am doing, I try to remember where I am from, where I am going, and what I was sent here to do. Whether I know the answer to all of those questions is beside me, but I hope that those eighteen different directions will lead me where I need to be.

wouldn't it be nice?

Wouldn't it be nice to be young enough to not have a care in the world? To not wonder what tomorrow holds and sometimes if there will be a tomorrow? To wake up and know that the day is going to go exactly as planned and not have to question whether or not every move you make is the right one to make? Wouldn't it be wonderful to frolic around in the sand and not care if it gets in your hair or if it fills up your bathing suit bottoms? Have you ever wondered what it would be like? How much different life would be?

As I looked back over a couple pictures I took this weekend, I wondered that very thing. These children, babies have no cares, no worries and it makes me jealous. I wish I could be that carefree again. I wish every little thing didn't make my skin crawl and fluster me. I wonder how different my life, my world would be. Where would I be right now? What would I be doing right now? Would I be sitting in a chair in Greensboro, North Carolina looking at this very computer screen, typing this blog? Or would I be somewhere else doing something that has absolutely nothing to do with this because a) I would have never thought to blog & b) I may or may not have reminisced on those very thoughts because I may or may not have been at the beach this weekend to witness those very carefree and mellow infants. " Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." -Rabindranath Tagore. Maybe those children were there on that very day, in that very spot on that very beach to send me some type of message. I only hope I can figure out what that is.

back to reality

After an amazing nine days in the Outerbanks, it is back to the daily grind of school and work and just trying to keep up with myself. I don't want to go back to reality, however I know that I do not have a choice and I know that before I know it, the seven remaining weeks in this semester will be over. It truly amazes me how quickly time goes by and it is hard to believe that in just seven short weeks, I will be finished with my first semester of college. Gah I'm getting old!

This week, was amazing though. Last Friday, Kimberly, Patrick, Tim, and myself packed up from Greensboro and headed east toward the coast of North Carolina. While we were traveling, Jay was traveling south from Norfolk, Virginia where he is based in the Navy, to meet us in Buxton. I was trying to prepare myself during our six hour drive as to what to expect, after only visiting South Carolina and Virginia beaches. But, they do not compare to the beaches of North Carolina by any means. When we arrived, it was dark, so we unpacked the cars and settled in for the week. Saturday morning, however, we did not waste any time getting up and around so we could get to the beach. We did our grocery shopping and made our way over the dunes to the beach. While it was not extremely hot, it was still warm...when the wind wasn't blowing. Again, on Monday we went out on the beach in the 80 degree weather and left, all having very very red bodies. We went to dinner that night and after visited the historical Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, known for being the tallest brick light house in the world.
On Wednesday, we rode the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island to eat at Howard's Pub and do some touristy items, including visit the Ocracoke Lighthouse. However, after seeing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Ocracoke Lighthouse was just not quiet as impressive. We returned to Hatteras Island and Patrick and I decided that we wanted shrimp for dinner. So, we rode the bikes down to Conner's Supermarket, only to find that they did not have any shrimp. Then, we decided to get a movie and ride back to the house because it was getting dark out. However, we did not go without shrimp, we drove to Avon and picked up 2 1-lb bags of shrimp and a jar of cocktail sauce for $10! We returned to the house and had an amazing feast! The rest of the week was spent relaxing, as the weather was in the 40's and 50's. On Thursday, Patrick and I went around the island together and did some shopping, while Kimberly, Jay, and Tim went off and did their thing. It was nice having a day still on the island but just to ourselves. However, we spent too much money, but that's beside the point.

All and all, the week was extremely relaxing and very enjoyable. As I said, I am not ready to return to normal life, but I suppose I do not have much of a choice. This week, I will return to work for the first time in two weeks and I am ready! Also, I will get the pleasure of having the company of Uncle Kevin and Emily, as they are in North Carolina from Washington and we are all soo very excited=]

I hope everyone has a great week! Take care!

countdown.

Much has happened since the last time I blogged and yet it seems like it's all been the same, I suppose I will fill you in.

I had a birthday. I turned 19! whoo. But it was nice because I was able to spend the weekend at home with the family. We went to Joels and had some wonderful sushi=]. After that we returned home to watch an NCIS marathon I believe, good stuff that NCIS. I returned to school Sunday afternoon only to get back to the normal grind of school work. Monday and Tuesday consisted of work, where I was fussed at for doing my job, what a concept. Regardless, my week and my life went on and the rest of the week was pretty much the same, pretty busy, pretty rainy. I returned home again on Friday in the rain, to go to Encore DCS (dance competition) in Charlotte. But, before that I got my hair recolored on Saturday to about my original color. After gradually going red over the past 2 years, I have completely gone against everything that I have been working towards and decided eh I'm done with that, let's do my normal color. However, it still has a hint of red, so it's okay---I love it! Sunday the family and I went to the competition, to find Dancers Unlimited (my first dance studio), Dance Productions(my second dance studio) and Dancers Edge (my current/4th dance studio) all to be competing against each other, probably one of the best competitions I have been to in a long time. I must say too, that I am very proud of the girls from Dancers Edge, as they put on several amazing performances. After awards, we went to lunch/dinner at Olive Garden before I had to weather the storm back to school.

New week...
Monday, there was no school due to "adverse weather" in other words...a whole heck of a lotta snow=], but what college student is complaining. Oh, yeah then Tuesday there was a 2 hour delay because that snow decided to melt and turn to ice, nasty stuff. However, I believe this is the most that I have been on campus in one week in a long time because the studio was closed on both Monday and Tuesday. So I will go two weeks in a row without seeing my students or my wonderful assistants=[ sad day. Today, was a pretty normal day and tomorrow will be too except for I will work tomorrow night in Winston Salem. Then, it's Friday. Two tests and I am done. But, not just done...done as in I will be headed toward the Outerbanks for a relaxing week with some wonderful people.

I hope all is well with everyone. Take care!

home

flickr.

My weekend began at 9am at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I spent my day on a transfer tour. Having been a Duke and NC State fan for the better part of my now 19 years, it is very hard to admit to the fact that Chapel Hill/Carolina is beautiful. The history and sophistication and superiority of the campus just gave me a feeling I've not really experience before. I would be extremely honored to be offered a position in the student body and can only imagine what it would do for my future and my career. After my visit, I drove around to the infamous Franklin Street, where I went to the Shrunken Head Boutique. No, I did not do this randomly, I went because Charles (my cousin) worked there for many years and I had never visited, so I did. However, I did not stay long, because I was very ready to get home and be home for the first time this semester.

It is always great to be home, especially the weekend on my birthday. Today, has been a lazy day. Mom and Dad have been painting and Reed should be home sometime this afternoon. We are going to dinner tonight to Joels, so I can have my much needed sushi fix! I hope everyone has a wonderful day and weekend. Take care!

my life.

As I go through my day to day life and wish away the minutes for the next point in my life, I rarely stop to think of what exactly I am doing. Now, granted I realize what I am physically doing at the time, well most of the time I do at least. So, what does this have to do with anything, especially since I haven't posted since this time last week. For my freshman seminar class, we were assigned an organization to volunteer or spend our time at. I was assigned to Triad Health Project, and the first thing that popped into my head was what the heck is that. I soon found out that THP is an organization that helps those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. I went last Wednesday for my first visit at THP's Higher Ground, which is a house that those people gather at to eat, sleep, sit, talk, do whatever they please. When I walked into the home, like most people do, I felt like a part of something, like I was meant to be there and I knew what I was doing there and why I was there. First thing, I was given a drawing by Robert and we were greeted by beautiful, (rusty according to him) music from Thomas. Cici, the extremely timid dog, was running around the house, while this amazing aroma of spaghetti filled the home. These people are a "community" as we have been talking about in class, but more so, they are a family. They share a common bond and they understand each other and enjoy each others presence, all without having said a word. Family. This is so amazing to me, especially with everything that happens on a daily basis in our country, our state, our own backyard. Today, I returned to Higher Ground. A white man stood up in front of a group of African Americans and apologized for being prejudice against them when he was younger. This place is simply amazing and like Mark Cassity said "there are no words to describe Higher Ground, you simply must experience for yourself."

Aside from volunteering, school is still the same, busy as ever. I love my job more and more every day, and I am finding myself improving as a dancer as I teach these girls more about dance. I went to my first competition this weekend, not as a performer, but as an instructor and it is so different on the other side. I cannot yet say which I like better, I just know that it is different. I am so proud to be a member of the Dancer's Edge family and so proud of the positivity that radiates from the studio through the dancers. It is simply a blessing.

I am going to leave it at that for now because I need to study before it gets too late. But, I hope everyone has a blessed week and I know that I am super excited for the weekend! Take care.

...

So this week has proven to be much busier than I expected. Monday, I woke up after going to bed around 2 am and went to class, nothing too exciting. I came back to the room before heading to Freshman Seminar. After class, I had to rush to work only to get there about five minutes late. I sat and talked to Evan about some information on Temple for a little while, before Kentrell got mad at us for not doing anything--opps. I then had my classes, but this seemed to be an interesting day. I have had an ulcer in my mouth for atleast a week and when you try to teach 5 and 6 year olds dance, while yelling over music, while they're trying to talk because they won't be quiet...and did I mention that the ulcer is on the side of my mouth so everytime I open my mouth it rubs...yeah good times. Anyways, work after that wasn't anything but normal. We're still working on recital dances, and my 13 and up jazz has about a minute left in their 2 1/2 minute dance, that we have only been working on for two weeks now. I believe they're a little excited.

Tuesday was a very unmotivated day for me, but I had to go to class and I had to be motivated because I had to go to work in Winston..yayy! But, before that I went to the Student Health Center for the ulcer and they gave me this nasty, gritty paste to put on it and it numbs the side of my mouth, so it feels really funny. Later, I went to work and it was good until about 7:45 when the 9-12 rec competition team comes in for ballet. Okay, so not only do they not like ballet, but I think they really just hate me because I'll be daggumed if they ever listen to me. Nope, that won't ever happen. But, when I got back from work I remembered that Erin mentioned a surprise for the MADH members that she was going to be revealing tonight at the meeting. Come to find out, it is hoodies for everyone...very exciting!

Anyways, tomorrow is Wednesday, but still busy. So, hopefully I'll get a chance to write. If not, hopefully Thursday =/

Until then, take care and have a good week.