A Beautiful Ending

It's done. I performed for the very last time....ever....tonight.  My dance career has been a long one, filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears, sweat and blood, and it will always be part of who I am. However, I am completely confident in my decision to change paths. My passion has morphed and I no longer feel the emotion movement used to bring me; it's time to move on.

With that said, tonight was beautiful. Warming up as a collective group on stage for the last time, hearing people encourage each other backstage for the last time, hugging the people in my cast for the last time, feeling the lights begin to glow on my face for the last time, listening to the audience quiet and invested in the piece's movement for the last time, making eye contact with my friends on stage for the last time, feeling the audience's pleasure and intrigue while they applaud for the last time, and being told "you were beautiful" for the last time, were all moments I will never forget. The cast of "Wavefront" was a truly incredible cast that made my last concert so stunningly memorable.

With all the emotion of performing for the last time and ending an extremely stressful and overwhelming week, my favorite part of the night was not the ending, when it was all said and finished, when a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could finally say I was headed in a new direction. My favorite part of the night was embracing a friend battling with evil. Laying my head on her shoulder and letting her cry on mine. Praying for her inner strength. Telling her how wonderful and amazing she is. A truly talented and artistic young women with a pure soul. Feeling her energy connected with mine, building up strength in both of us, exchanging very different yet very real emotions, and being utterly honest with each other was absolutely beautiful. This was one of those rare moments, so fragile, so delicate, that will resonate with me forever.

I am so thankful for the incredible support I have from my friends and family, because with their support, I have the strength to support the people that I love and care about. I feel Christ so presently in my life and I can only hope that it is through raw moments like these that others can also feel Christ's love for them.

Thank you to my parents, thank you to my friends in Cat's piece, thank you to Cat, thank you to my gorgeous running buddy, and thank you to the Lord for His perfect timing and grace.