"It's your time to shine, so go get em'!"

My whole life I've been insecure about being myself, and I must say after I met two very important ladies that are in my life right now, that wall broke down almost completely. Back then, I was afraid to speak in front of people, I was very quiet and spoke softly (not with a big stick as Teddy Roosevelt says...lol sorry I had to), I was just very insecure about everything. And sometimes even now, I get insecure about things, but I've learned to just push past all of that and not to let what people think get to me. I've recently been going to a family friends' church/youth gathering. It's called Chrysalis Ministries and I must say, it is WONDERFUL! They're isn't many people there, but it's still amazing. I'm part of the drama team there, where we do dances to Christian songs and they're so much fun (thanks to Jordan...she rocks!) But anyway, to my point of this blog. Last Tuesday (the 16th) was the first day I went to Chrysalis and right away I jumped up and danced even though I didn't know the moves or anything. I didn't hesistate once. I just got up there and did it without even thinking. Now if you would have asked me to do that 4 years ago, I would have said, "NO WAY!" Now I knew everyone there but 2 people, but I'm not usually the type of person to just jump up and dance, but lately I have been. I see myself just jumping up and doing anything. Whether it be singing in front of people, dancing in front of people, or speaking my opinion in front of people. I'm not scared to do anything, and that all changed after I met and became closer to Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Moore. It's amazing how 2 people can change your WHOLE life, your WHOLE outlook on EVERYTHING! And I thank God everyday that He helped me and let these 2 women become very big influences in my life. Back when I just felt like giving up and that everything wasn't even worth it, I was scared, confused, hurt, and so insecure, and sometimes I feel myself going back to that, but then I remember everything that I've been taught by the people around me and I remember how hard it was to push myself out of my comfort zone and I stop myself from feeling that way and think to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to and no ONE person will bring me down no matter how much it's tempted. I thank God that I've been through the things I've been through (good AND bad) because it HAS made me a stronger person, and I've recently realized that, despite all of the people that have told me that I am a strong person. I thank God that he brought the people that I do have in my life right now in my life because without them, I'd be so lost and without God I'd be nothing. I'm so glad that I can just jump up and do anything without even thinking about it for a second. Yes, I will admit that when I do jump up and do things I ask myself, "what in the world am I getting myself into," but once I'm up in front of people, I just think of the things I have learned from so many people, and say to myself, "you know what? Who cares if I make a mistake or slip up because at the end of the day, nothing will matter except for the feeling that I had doing it and how it made me smile. Nobody matters except God, and I shouldn't try to hide myself because if I hide myself from others, I might as well hide myself from God because He can see everything." So, right now, right this minute, I'm breaking out of my shell COMPLETELY and not once will I stop myself from doing what it is I want to do. I refuse to hold myself back anymore no matter how big or how small the task is. "It's your time to shine, so go get em'!" - Mrs. Moore