Dancing With the Stars JMU, Active Minds puts suicide prevention in spotlight - The Breeze: Life: dancing with the stars, jmu, active minds, show,

Dancing With the Stars JMU, Active Minds puts suicide prevention in spotlight - The Breeze: Life: dancing with the stars, jmu, active minds, show,

I Stand for Perseverance.

Today was the first day of my last semester of undergraduate work at James Madison University.

As I walked around this familiar campus for the millionth time, an all too familiar feeling rose in my chest - something between light anxiety and panic. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I told myself : "You've come this far, and you will walk many more miles, one step at a time."

Any sort of change, or transition, such as the beginning of new classes, or new anything really - has always brought a great deal of stress and pressure to my life - I thrive in routine and controlled environments - so college has been a challenge to say the least.

I wonder sometimes how I've made through. But I've come to realize a lot of it has been because of  perseverance. 

Nothing about my college experience has been "typical".

While many young adults makes friends in their dorm that will last a lifetime, I made friends in therapy groups and treatment -- and for the first time in my life felt validated. 

In college many young adults toss around ideas, beliefs and values that they may establish and hold on to for the rest of their lives. I tossed around recovery methods, diagnoses and medications - that too will help me for the rest of my life.

During this time too, a lot of people find love, meet that special someone, some get engaged - or even married. I've just begun to care for myself the best way I know how and take a step forward in loving who I am.

My college experience has been far from typical. But I don't think I would change it if I had the chance. Since I came to JMU as a freshman in 2008, I have become stronger, learned more about myself, and discovered not only how to care for myself, but how to begin loving myself.

So today I felt overwhelmed (as usual for the first day). But I took great pride in the fact that I have persevered - and it gives courage to continue to do so.

I Stand for Perseverance.   

You are Enough.

Life is full of uncertainties. It's full of fears. Life is spontaneity and is constantly changing.

And it's easy to forget: You are Enough.

I forgot this these past three days it seems, as I have been hiding in my room, questioning what and why I am doing what I am doing - and tonight as I sat soaking in the warm tub with candles lit around me, I breathed deeply, praying to God to remind me of who I am aside from who I think I should be, aside from where I think I should be in my life, and aside from who I want to be.

And I was reminded.... I am Enough. - just like this.

Because the truth is: I am Enough. Just as I am, with my past, my present, and whatever my future may hold. I am Enough.

And you are too.

It's simple truths like these that keep us healthy, and remind us what we want to be.

I Stand for the truth that we are Enough.

October 27, 2012 pictures from the process

11:00 am - In Studio Rehearsal at Valley Dance Productions

Erin leads warm up -- just like old times:) 

Barlow Girl "Mirror Mirror"

Anthem of a Seventeen year old Girl. 

Wild Horses

Junior Company Modern 

Group HUG:)

Best Friend time -- We can do this!!!! 

6:30 pm - Doors Open at Andrew Lewis

Backstage

7:00 pm - Showtime! 

The speakers and my best fiends :) We did it!



After the finale pictures -- On October 27, 2012 - We Stand for HOPE!

The Orgin

When I'm in Roanoke - I'm usually with one of two people, Lori Ann Dowd, my best friend since fourth grade, or Lebron Johanna Parsell, the little girl I've babysat since she was just 3 months old. Those are my people. 

Where I Stand is big. It's a big event. It's a big idea. It's a big deal - and as much as I'm going to try to convince myself that it is not so "BIG" in the days to come to calm my nerves - let's face it - it is.

Have you ever wondered how it came to be? Well, reflecting back on it's very beginnings always reminds me who I am, where I am from, and definitely What I Stand For. 

I was fresh out of and intensive treatment program, taking time off of school, frustrated with my life and feeling misunderstood. My best friend Lori Ann and I were on our way to target - what we were buying I could not tell you, but in that 20 min car ride a movement began.

It began in a rant - we do this thing... if one of us is upset we just let the other talk and talk and talk - let out the poison, no judgement, no criticizing, and no bringing it up ever again. "Why does no one ever talk about anything real?" "Why do I feel this way?" "Why does everyone pretend to be fine"....

In treatment all you do is talk about who you are, what bothers you and what excites you, what went wrong and what helps you go right. The transition is hard, for anyone.

On my ipod "Here's Where I Stand" by Tiffany Taylor came on - and it hit me - that it was my choice to stand up and say what I need to say, or do what I needed to do, and the conversation turned.

We began talking about how one person inspires the next, and how thoughts and ideas spread - be it positive or negative - before we knew it, we had talked through Where I Stand.... and then it began.

Lori has been better than any best friend I could have hoped for. She's made it so I've never had to stand alone. We've always stood up and through various life trials and issues - together - be it family drama, school drama, relationships, moving places - or my eating disorder.

We stand for spreading hope through ideas and love through actions. 

Where We Stand.

Valley Dance Productions: What do you Stand For?

 

Leslie Arthur Studio Owner of Valley Dance Productions.

"I Stand for Kindness"

Over the past week Leslie Arthur - studio owner of Valley Dance Productions, asked some of her students "What Do you Stand For?" to reiterate the message of the event "Where I Stand" to her students. We encouraged them to fight for something they believe in, use their words to spread encouragement and love, and and be advocates for standing up for something that they believe in.

Here is what they said:

































On October 27th these ladies will dance for these very things - to help inspire others to stand up and believe in hope, in loving others and loving yourself..... Valley Dance Productions is ready to stand and dance. Are you?

Come Stand with these inspiring ladies:

Andrew Lewis Middle School, Auditorium

616 South College Avenue

Salem, Virginia

On:

Saturday October 27th 2012 @ 7pm and Stand!

Tickets $10

For more information email: whereistandtoday@gmail.com

Speaking at North Cross School

I am so thrilled to announce that I will be speaking at North Cross School in Roanoke Virginia on October 15th 2012. I will be speaking about eating disorder awareness, sharing my story, and encouraging the students of North Cross to Stand for HOPE! 

I cannot wait to meet the awesome students at North Cross :) Get excited - I know I am!!!