•my serendipity•

I have always had this "little secret". Something that I have done and have had my whole life.

Dancing and teammates. I don't know how I have been so lucky to be and have been a part of teams that get along so well. I have always felt at home without having to search for this place where I finally felt I belonged. I just did. I just do.. Even if it's only for a short time. 

Dancing has brought so much to my life in so many different aspects. I honestly don't know where I would be without it, and I never want to have to find out.

I miss Stars (The Dance Spot). I miss the girls, I miss the atmosphere. I constantly find myself looking back on the memories I have there and it breaks my heart that I no longer have that to call mine.. 

But now I have something else in place. I can't say it's better or worse, it's just different, and such a joy. The UVU Dance Team. I have grown so much being apart of this team, and I love it! I could be having the worst day, the worst week, but as soon as I get to practice I know that I am loved and cared for- it can turn anything around.

I am so grateful that I have had both of these as such a constant and big part of my life. We all need something to hold on to in such a crazy world, so why not a passion? Why not each other? 

{with love}

People are what matters.

My favorite Young Women's leader posted this as her status quite some time ago and I just happened to run into it again- 
 

"Did you know that are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to be mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most? Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are: I love you, I'm sorry, and Help me? Some- times just because a person looks happy, You have to look past their smile and see how much pain they are in."

People need people.

You are somebody to somebody.

Life is hard. So hard. That's when we realize that people really do matter. Sometimes all we can do is keep breathing until someone comes along and reminds us how strong we really are, and that we can make it through. Be that person for somebody else. Take the time to be there for those around you. I could talk about why, who, and how.. But I think these quotes will do us justice.

The quote on my calendar for this month says: To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.. This is to have succeeded. 

Why live if it's not to make each other's lives a little but easier?

"If nobody cared just a little for you, and nobody thought about me, and we all stood alone in the battle if life, what a dreary old world it would be. Life is sweet because of the friends we have made, and the things in common we share; we want to live on, not because if ourselves, but because of the people who care. It's giving and doing for somebody else- on that all life's splendor depends; the joy of the world, when you sum it all up, is found in the making if friends."

I have a friend who used to always say "I believe we we're put on this world to take care of each other." 

'...I believe that a relationship, any type if relationship is the most important thing. You can't really live without it, no one is really happy alone. You have to learn to let people into your life, to let them love you...' 

The capacity to care, I believe is one of the greatest things we have been given. The tricky part is learning how to use it. How to be okay with giving and showing emotion.. With being real. Everyone around you is fighting some sort of battle, and it's not always going to be right up in front of you. It may be your job to discover, or maybe it's your job to just be kinder than necessary.

"Maybe we are the way we are because of the people we're with or maybe we just pick the people we need. However it works, when you find each other you should never let go."

Find a hand to hold. Be a hand to hold. Everyone needs someone and that someone may be you. 

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 

Much love. xoxo

Stay Strong.

We all experience challenges in our lives, some tougher than others.. But we are never given something we couldn't handle. I have heard that in Heaven we chose things we would agree to have challenge us when came to earth, such as a disorder, a lifestyle, or a situation. The same young women's leader I mentioned in my other post, shared this with us when I was in young women's:

"When we were in heaven I don't think I raised my hand for this... I must have been swatting a fly."

I love this! It's so true! As we go through hardships we don't understand why we were given something so difficult and so terrible to live. But He is always there by our side if we are willing to let Him help us. He will never give us a trial that we can't survive, we are only given things to test us and to make us stronger. He also gives us the people we need to make it through, to lean on and have support from when we are at our weakest. So never give up hope. Keep loving, keep living, and keep breathing. Things will get better and one day everything will make sense.

Yep. I'm one of those people who truly believe that everything happens for a reason. 

Stay strong.

Ignorance is bliss ;

Everyone is under the impression that I have everything all together... That I am completely in control, I know what I want, who I am, where I want to go, calm, collected, put together.

The truth is, I still struggle. I often find myself in times of unexplainable sadness, anger, and dread. I find myself surrounded by people, yet feeling completely alone. Numb.

If someone asks me about it, I usually dismiss it with a wave of my hand and say, “I’m just in a weird mood; I’ll be fine.” Then I’ll smile, make a joke, and laugh until I’ve successfully convinced myself and everyone else that I’m fine. Ignorance is bliss, right? 

You see, I’m good at encouraging other people. That everything will work out the way it's supposed to; everything happens for a reason. We are who we are because that's how it's supposed to be. We are here to be real, not perfect. That we shouldn’t feel shameful, embarrassed, or guilty about what’s truly going on in our minds. That it’s okay to not be okay. But I’m bad at taking my own advice and applying these things in my own life—practicing what I preach, admitting that I might not be okay.

People have thought I’m being aloof, or not interested in sharing my thoughts with them. This is not true. The fact is that I’ve not shared my thoughts with them because I’m still not sure what my thoughts really are.  I still have a lot of conflicting feelings and I don’t like trying to explain things that even I don’t understand.

Poems. Monica Lin.

I follow this girl on Instagram who writes poems. She's brilliant. So I just want to share a couple of my favorites, they are definitely worth your time. <3

Born to be real <3

The quote I shared in my Miss UVU interview:

I survived and I'm so proud

I made it, and I made it through in one piece. I honestly didn't know if I was going to make it through the past 2 months. It was a roller coaster ride, some ups and some downs, but definitely a worth while experience. It's fun to see how far I've come and how much I've grown. None of this would have been possible if it weren't for Chelsi standing by my side and giving the courage to push forward. Along with all the other support I had surrounding me.

 

The 10 minute interview was by far the hardest part of the process. I was so nervous, I seriously didn't know if I was going to survive it. The rest of the pageant was actually a lot of fun and afterwards I felt like was on top of the world, like I could conquer anything. I took second attendant, and I would be lying to say I'm not sad I didn't win. I'm a very competitive person. I know that everything happens for a reason but I'm not sure I know or understand this one yet.. I feel like I was ready for it, I felt ready.  

I'm very proud of our new Miss UVU, she did so incredible and she is going to do so well! All of the kind words from people afterwards really meant a lot.

I really enjoyed this journey, I wish it could have ended a little differently, but I'm excited to see what comes next!

With lots of love and a grateful heart, Samantha.