Dance Your Boots Off

For three years now Alpha Xi Delta at the University of Central Oklahoma has been hosting Dance Your Boots Off.  It's a night where we invite the whole campus and surrounding community to come out and support/raise awareness for Autism Speaks while two-stepping in our driveway. This year we invited a DJ, had one of our sisters bring her sno cone stand and provided food and drinks for everyone. We also hosted a two-stepping competition and it was very entertaining. Everyone had a great time and we raised a ton of money for a great cause. We ended up raising $2,500 and I couldn't be more proud. Here is my favorite pic of the night with my exec team:

I am the VP of Programs for my sorority and this event just so happen to fall under my list of duties and I could not be more thankful that it did. My position and my sorority has changed me for the better. I never in a million years would have thought that I was capable of planning such an important event and actually making it work. I had nightmares for a whole month because I was afraid no one was going to show up and it was going to be a total bust. I like to look back on my high school self and think about all the growth I have done after venturing off to UCO and joining Alpha Xi Delta. My sorority sisters lift me up when I am at my lowest and push me to go even further when I am at my highest. It's like they know when I need encouragement without me having to say anything at all. Thats why Monday nights are my favorite. Mondays are when we have our weekly chapter meetings and I get to see every sister in my chapter. There is nothing more encouraging than starting my week off with some of the most inspirational women I know. On Monday, a sister who chooses to remain anonymous left me this...

At the time I didn't think much of it, but today as I was stressing out going through all the important dates in my planner, that note fell out of it and onto my lap. It couldn't have come at a more important time. I realized in that moment that there is no need to stress about everything I have going on because I really am a part of something bigger than myself. Not just with Alpha Xi Delta, but with everything I do in general. Think about it guys... All of the schooling I am going through right now is not only going to benefit me, but my future family, co workers and place of employment(hopefully). How cool is that? That what I am doing right now is going to affect me in future. Thats what I tell myself whenever I want to give up on school and become a stripper.. kidding.

The past few days I have really been thinking about my life and everything in it.
Here are a few things that I have learned:

1. My sorority and sisters seriously rock. 
2. Event coordinating is hard, but so worth it!
3. Choose sleep over Netflix (only in a perfect world would this happen). 

I think it's important for people to take a step back sometimes, especially when in stressful times, and truly realize everything we have in our lives. It's okay to be stressed out, but sometimes I think we can stress over silly things that really aren't going to matter in the future. God knows I am the worlds worst at this. Whenever I was planning Dance Your Boots Off and was about ready to jump off a cliff, all I needed to do was to take a step back and realize that all of my sisters supported me and would love me no matter the outcome of the event. 

So, some advice for whoever is reading this. Stop stressing and take things one day at a time. Also, realize how many great people you have in your life that would support you through thick or thin.. If none of your friends match this criteria.. Well, you need new friends. Finally, put whats important, and I mean ACTUALLY important first. Kinda like homework before Netflix..You will notice a completely different change of pace in your life and it will be for the better. 

Everything is going to be okay... I promise.