Essentials

EARLIER TODAY--- I heard one of the most inspiring messages about self advocacy and didn't ever think it was gonna strike such a chord with me. I truly loved how confident and poised the speaker was-- during their entire presentation (especially since it was being recorded online to two hundred self advocates with disabilities-- just literally amazed me in more ways than I can explain.) It was definitely something that I needed to really hear not only because I have done self advocacy work for three years, but realizing I can easily do so much more to get my voice out there. It legitimately brought tears to my eyes as I focused on what the presenter was sharing with all of us and feeling such an unconditional love for who every single one of those self advocates are!!! 

LONG STORY SHORT--- This legislative training was definitely one of the hardest at times for me, only because I missed being around my friends so much. I genuinely wanted so much to see their smiling faces and feeling of their contagious energy felt a hole in my heart--but knowing they were all quietly listening to the messages being shared was definitely a reminder to me, that I want to continue being an even more better self advocate than I am right now!!! 

Future Self Advocate:

I definitely want to continue making an impact on this world in some way... but I also want to leave a very deep imprint on the hearts of people with disabilities. I also want to do the same for every single staff person that I have worked with and have gotten me to where I am today. I may not be an expert with a lot of things in my life (let alone in regards with the legislative process) but I do appreciate the chances that I can get to learn things when those opportunities come up. 

Mini Events

 Night To Shine 2021

Due to the ongoing health epidemic, this event will be taking place at my best friend Danielle's home and looking forward to spending the night with my friends!!! I am not necessarily certain what they will have in store for us-- but I am confident it will be a night to remember if not one to be talked about non stop for the rest of this year!!! This is still very much in the works and cannot wait to see all unfold within the next week or so... but I am excited to celebrate an event where God's love assures me of who I am. 

Presentation (Tomorrow Afternoon)

I am definitely nervous and thrilled to be presenting on developmental disabilities to a group of people who continuously keep us safe on a regular basis. I am grateful to be doing this alongside two friends-- that I know are gonna do an incredible job making sure our message is clearly shared across to everyone who will be on our Zoom call. It is truly such an absolute privilege getting to do stuff like this and make one of the most amazing impacts ever, but who knows??! Stay tuned for updates to come... if I ever think of anything that I want to share with people. 

Special Announcement (Unofficial News)

I'm not necessarily gonna mention what this is exactly for the time being and hope to get a clarification for it tomorrow!!! I am certain there will be more to share down this road and cannot wait to convey all of my excitement about this once I have the green light to spread the word. I am grateful for the chance this will give me to stretch myself in ways that I never imagined could have been possible and just can only hope for the best to come!!! 

Personal Goals

Here are some of the main goals that I'd like to focus on throughout this new year in 2021, Plz check them out here below!!! I can only hope for the best in whatever happens and see if there is anything out there in this world for me to accomplish down the road. I apologize for not just being a little bit slow when it came to blogging about all of this...but I hope to do better in the distant future.

Self Care/Awareness:

Unless I can easily get this off my mind in the last several hours--- I am not gonna have any much luck with trying to pretend like this is not anything important. I also need to work on keeping my emotional sides in a decent place without getting out of control and making an effort to do a self check with own legitimate self everyday. I am hopeful trying to rekindle this goal of mine in the distant future will be a very successful one for me and not assuming it sounds like a good idea, without following through any thing to feel like I accomplished something. 

Dance It Out

This has always been one of the most reliving things for me as I dance my little heart out, with no one there to watch in the audience. I have always loved being able to express how my feelings are through movement without having to use any kind of words whatsoever, but if you must know--- I have danced when people have noticed me and I never speak a word to them about it. I'm always curious to know if they can even fathom that a person like me can dance like they do when nobody is paying attention. It's such an absolute escape for me to be somewhere else for awhile and not worry about the struggles that continuously lie themselves in front of me!!! 

Untitled Post

 Legislative Training (Virtual Event)

I have legitimately tried to avoid writing up about this event and because it is once again something that has become a virtual thing is another story. I am grateful for the chance to listen and observe on what the legislative process is like and trying to keep my mouth quiet on just about everything I have no idea with what to explain. I usually look forward to being around my friends and getting an opportunity to catch up on life with each other and thanks to the exhausting restrictions of the epidemic, I am not sure when it can ever happen in person after this next year. I will be more than relieved to step away from this event if I do feel inclined to take a little bit of a break with how treacherously long it can be to stare at a computer for the next four hours!!! I am hopeful that it will allow me to have a chance with refocusing on myself just some more without any reason to believe I am not gonna be able to handle it.

NINJA Alumni Calls (Zoom)

These have been one of the hardest and most unforgettable things ever throughout this past year in 2020 as well into right now. I definitely struggled with my anxiety and emotions in trying to keep it together when all of my friends know how unfathomably hard 2020 was for me since the epidemic started. I know it isn't necessarily what I had in mind to keep in touch with them at first-- but I do know it has given me such an absolute escape to laugh whenever I need to and not worry about things for a period of time. I am grateful for the chance I have gotten to see my all time favorite people and bunny Curtis who I still have not gotten any opportunity of meeting in person yet--but only time can tell when that is ever gonna happen. I truly do hope that I can figure out some way to keep myself together whenever I am on any of these calls-- but this will take some a little bit of extra time. 

Active Re-Entry (Zoom Activities)

These have definitely been such a highlight for me as I enter into the new year and look forward to just being friends with so many other self advocates in our state. I have really liked getting to learn as well as be inspired by them whenever we have zoom classes or activities together. I really liked watching a few legitimate movies throughout the year in 2020 and getting to feel like I was on cloud nine is such an absolute dream come true!!! I am so looking forward to the new activities and things I'll learn from each of them as we continue to see the light at the end of this tunnel. 

(End Of Part Two)

New Year

 

As we are about to enter into a new year this week, I am hopeful things will start to look up a little bit more and we can officially start over on a high note. I have long awaited for this new year to make it's arrival and remind us that we have so many more experiences to learn as well as grow from. I am truly grateful for the support of friends who have given me advice that I know is going to help me become a much more confident person. 

I really hope that once everything settles down in our lives and we can remember the lessons we took away from this past year. Are we going to continue remembering all of the times, we could have just simply handled things better?? I wished things in 2020 could not have been what it became and yet it leaves me with a desire to what to never take what I have for granted. 

Post 294

I wasn't originally going to continue to write more after reaching my goal of 279 posts. I felt like unless I could make an effort to write up through the holiday season, that I would need to do whatever it would take to make it happen. I have written up so much about this difficult year and the good experiences that have come along with it, but I can honestly admit it has not been easy for me to keep a brave face. It has given me a lot of reasons to feel grateful for what I have in my life everyday, but I also have struggled-- with my anxiety more than I can admit. Nothing about 2020 has turned out like I would have wanted it to, but I can only hope for a much different outcome in the new year that is around the corner. 

Last Week Of 2020:

I'm so grateful this is the final week of what has been such an emotional roller coaster ride and I am so anxious for it to come to an end!! It has definitely reminded me of so many things that I know will just continue to help me become who I need to be down the road and can truly hope for the best in anything that happens next. I am grateful for the serenity that I have gotten from being out in nature, talking with my friends online, spending virtual time with them on my computer, etc. I may never know of any other year in my life that has put my faith to the test than 2020 (actually other than an experience I had a little over two years ago). It has strengthened me in ways that I never would have imagined it to and yet I am grateful for the hand of my Savior, Jesus Christ throughout this entire year and where he continues to do for me on a regular basis. 

Early Present

LAST NIGHT-- My family and I drove up to Salt Lake City, Utah to attend David Archuleta's Christmas concert at the Maverick center. It was so inspiring to hear him talk about the true meaning of this holiday season and being focused on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This was my fourth time seeing David perform here in Utah and doing Christmas songs, which if you ask me is nothing short of a treat. I loved being able to feel so much peace come over me as I sat there in my seat and listened to music that could easily light up a person's mood or just simply give them a reason to smile. I truly loved being able to feel and understand a little bit more about this time of year, when we all celebrate what is more important than any wrapped gift could ever do justice. 

All of the songs he performed last night were my favorites and not one I didn't recognize or had not ever heard before. I am so grateful for the way he shared his powerful testimony of what the Savior means to him and it really touched my heart knowing that he does not forget who he stands for. It was so amazing getting a chance to feel inspired by each song that was arranged so beautifully and giving me a complete new perspective on how I need to look at my own life. 

David Archuleta,

Thank you so much for making a stop in Utah this year and putting on a wonderful concert to ring off the holiday season!! It was definitely something I needed after the unpredictable year of events all of us have had to put up with and I am so grateful you were able to bring some peace into our world. You are truly one of the best singers ever and can only hope you have more success in the future!!!

Favorite Songs:

- Melodies Of Christmas

- The First Noel

- He is Born

- My Little Prayer

- Silent Night

- Christmas Every Day

Rewind

 

February 2020:

Night To Shine was yet another unforgettable prom night experience and it was filled with endless laughs, smiles and friendships that I am certain will not end any time soon. We had such an amazing time getting to dance the night away and be reassured of God's love for us as we got to be in the spotlight, walk down a red carpet with paparazzi cheering for us, being crowned queens of the prom, riding up and back in a limo, etc. It was truly a night that I know is never gonna be forgotten!!! 

July 2020:

Virtual NINJA Conference took place online this year due to the ongoing pandemic and I definitely got so much more out of it than I ever have before. It was truly incredible to see something that everyone would've loved to see happen in person, be taken the next level and still be an experience that we would not ever soon forget. I loved being one of the youth mentors again this year and getting to help all of the youth participants who were either brand new or have been a lifelong participant come on and join with us. I really appreciated the chance to make some new friendships with the best youth ever and our staff did not cease to amaze me with their willingness to go beyond our expectations for every part of the event itself. 

October 2020:

Celebrated one of my best friend's birthdays at their house and spent all day laughing, telling endless stories, watching a movie, making friendship necklaces, etc. We enjoyed getting to be with each other and making more memories that I know will be cherished forever. We never have a dull moment when it comes to having a good time and trying to help each other smile as much as we can possible. I am so grateful for my friends who continue to make me feel good about life everyday and not ever take it too seriously because it is never bad idea to have fun (even during an unexpected/difficult year!!)

NINJA Alumni Calls:

These were definitely one of the most heartwarming and difficult moments for me. It was definitely an incredible experience for me to see the faces of people I know and love so much--but also spending lots of virtual time together made me feel not quite so sad--but it was tough not getting to give them one of my big hugs. It has been such a comfort for me to know that I am not alone and whenever there's a time for me to talk to a friend, they will always be there to help me out. I am grateful for their kindness to me and always making an effort to check in on each other, because I know my life would not be as fun if I didn't have them to cheer me on. We have participated in various activities and mostly just wanted time to catch up with each other, because after this year is over-- I will be so grateful to see them in person & not have to keep my distance at six feet anymore!!