So remember when I said I'd do good deeds...

Turns out good deeds are hard to do. Not only do you have to find a noble way to do them, but then you have to be willing to write about them. Seeing that I primarily write to myself on here I didn't think it would be that difficult when I started this short lived journey of good deeding. So over the past few weeks of my absence I will say good deeds have been done... but they will not be talked about. Due to personal conflict or lack of luster they will be locked in the vault of silence.

On that note I will say there is one worthy of mentioning. As I sat pondering my thoughts at T.C. Ellis one morning a man walked in. He made a comment about not having money but quickly disputed my look of fear by saying he was not asking for money. See, when people ask for money at TCE (oh yeah, I shorten the name of the boutique to feel cool. NBD.) I want to help them but I don't know how.

This man I could help, kind of. All he wanted was some of the free candy we have at the front desk. I gladly told him he could take as much as he wanted. Selectively running his hand through the jars he explained that he had never been in this position before, he went to church every Sunday, and didn't even like candy but wasn't going to be picky.

As he walked away, pocket full of unsatisfying snickers, I thought to myself: how great would it be if next time he came in I could slip something else in the jar.

Honestly Shelby? How would you ever pull that off?

I wouldn't know he was coming, so what? Tell him to close his eyes and put something else in the jar while he stood there? Good try crazy but your good deeds are not working out! And on top of that I couldn't get him out of my mind. It's like he was that person sent here for me to help and I chicken out. Good going idiot!

And then I was reminded of second chances.

Walking into The Overton to have a lavish drink with some good friends that night I was distracted by a familiar looking jacket.

Eureka! It was him! My candy guy! Or so I thought... It looked like him. He was sitting on a chair in the lobby and didn't seem to be waiting for anyone. This. Was. My. Chance.

Being the Overton goer that I am I knew there was a small nook where they sold little snack items over by the bar. I plopped my purse down, snatched up my brand new Tory Burch wallet (I couldn't get any more cliche) and pounced off.

Rushing to the front desk I was to declare I wanted to buy the WHOLE mass of food in that nook!

Too bad the worker was on the phone.............. Forever.

Eureka times two! My wonderful childhood friend Ryan worked in the restaurant, and thanksto my creepy tendencies I knew he did not get off Christmas so he was there. Proud of my new discovery I turned on my heels, checking quickly that my candy man was still around, and bounced to the dinning room.

There he was! All blacked out and vacuuming.

"Ryan! I need you to do something for me!"

He looked confused.

"I need to buy the things in that nook and have you give it to the homeless man."

There was only cereal. He did it, even though I was unsure if it was the right person. And then Ryan was gone. And then the guy was gone. And that was it. There is no big ending to good deeds. You do it to help someone else after all, not to make yourself feel better or show off. I'm still not even sure it he was homeless. Or if he likes cereal.

First good deed of the day

Bet you thought I was bailing on this good deed thing already. Don't worry, I wasn't. I've actually been immersed in my good deed for days.

Being my first good deed after dishing for the cause of a mission trip, and factoring in that I am broke as a joke, I decided to take this one for the team and do something for myself. I want these deeds to mean something and be big, even if it is only big in my eyes.

For two and a half years now I have liked this boy. He is a wonderful boy. The kind of guy who is always there when you need him. He says the perfect things, and even enjoys gawking over books. The good kind like Ayn Rand's The Fountain Head. And for two and a half years I let myself think he was too good for me. I watched as he dated other people, and I dated other people. We took in each others problems, and all the time I wondered what I didn't have?

This weekend I changed my mind. He came to visit me and I knew it needed to be done. For once I had to ignore the fear, that fear we all have that stops us from being happy. See, I have always been scared of relationships, and wanting to let someone in. It's really scary to know that people are going to hurt you. And that is just the thing. We all know. 

Or at least we think we know. What if we didn't? What if for once we acted like it wasn't going to happen? We were finally going to have that connection that wasn't balancing on the worlds oldest see-saw. There would be no problems, no worries, nothing but bliss.

So as we got monogrammed wine bottles, read silently with one another, danced to the over zealous music from across the street, and smiled at everything, I realized. This. Was. Right. It's as if when you finally let go of all those bad memories, all the broken pieces, it falls perfectly into place.

That boy who called back just to say he didn't like you any more, the one who left you down town, remember the one who took your car to "help someone move" more like move another girl to the movies on a date when he never even brought you to one? The one you thought you could change into liking you, And the guy who said you were not good enough after you gave him everything. Those guys stop mattering. All of the sudden you are laughing at the thought of them meaning something. Anything. 

Because in those moments you and this guy, the one who has your stomach turning and your heart pounding, you two know everything is amazing. As amazing as it can be. And anything else you do, it will be just as amazing, if not more. 

I know what you are thinking, this doesn't last. Forget that frat boy party music, this is what's over zealous! I thought that too. And I won't be shocked if the thought crosses my mind again. But that is when I have to stop myself and remember, this is different. 

I don't believe in that "can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over- the-fence, World Series kind of stuff." But I do believe in finding your best friend.And not your some-of-the-time friend. Not that guy who is awesome to go out with, pays for your meals, and kisses you goodnight like a gentleman. A best friend is the person who looks at you with content. They stick around, and when they stray they come back. You laugh more than you kiss, and you kiss a lot. He holds your hand, and remembers small details even you have forgotten. He sits at your office because you are addicted to work and couldn't miss one day. Find the person who does all of that. Find your best friend and you have found the world. 

Happy adult turkey day?

I knew this day would come, I knew it getting into this field of work. Happy holiday alone! Not that I am really alone, I will be at work and was invited to the news team orphan brunch. Yay for all of us being alone together! But even after all the prep work I had done to get myself ready to be alone on my first holiday, walking around the house in silence and working on my cute crying face, I just didn't know it would be this hard. 

So as I do on every other Thanksgiving I got up early, got breakfast, and plopped down for the parade (PJ's on and all). Did you ever notice how sad the Macy's Day Parade is? It's like the reason I am doing this is staring me in the face, and they are not with their families on Thanksgiving either! And that commercial with the solider getting off the plane? Obviously I feel his pain. The story of the football player who was taken in by his ex girlfriends family when his mom died and is now in the NFL? All the sudden he is my son and I'm crying over his accomplishments. By the way Today Show... when did you get so sentimental with your content?

Sitting at home alone I started to think, maybe this doesn't have to be so sad. Until I got on Facebook and saw my grandpa's comment on my page... who knew he could even use the thing??

But really, I don't need to be sad. See, there are a lot of things to be thankful for. Like having a job. I am thankful that I have a job in which I can make money on Thanksgiving to save up for flights home when it is not Thanksgiving. 

And I am thankful for the wonderful message I received this morning from a man who is thankful for me. I hope he knows how thankful I am for him too. Oh, and that I get to see said man in eight days!

Most of all, I am thankful that I can be thankful. That I can look back and know I had 20 years of wonderful Thanksgivings where I was surrounded by family. Where I woke up early to my mom making the salad with the water chestnuts that my uncle hates. I got to sit with my father in front of the TV and gawk at the wonderful floats and beautiful views of New York.

And I am thankful that my whole family gets to spend the day at my grandparents house where my grandpa cuts the huge turkey and my grandma sets a wonderful table. And my cousins get to fight over who is not sitting by who, and my nephew wont sit down at all only making things even more enjoyable. That I am not judged (too much) for sitting at that wonderful table hours before the food is done. 

I am thankful that my grandpa delays us eating by taking what seems like a million pictures where we all look like we are contemplating eat the camera itself. And that no one touches the fruit salad but it is there every single year because it wouldn't be a complete meal without it. And passing around the rolls, you know everyone is going to take two, except my cousin Jay... we will take 10. My sister and him will only eat three things at the table, and my uncle will fill his plate twice. 

Then after the meal my silly aunt tries to find the one and only store open in town to go shopping, not just because she loves shopping but, because she doesn't want to do dishes. And that tupperware full of leftovers we all snack on all day even though we declared none of us would ever eat again. Oh, and I am thankful for those pies my grandma makes in which we try to devour before someone else can get to them.  

See, I may be alone this Thanksgiving but there are so many more Thanksgivings I have gotten to be a part of that many people never do. And I couldn't be more thankful. 

Time for a change

Ever heard of the book Same Kind of Different as Me? I'm here to tell you if you have not... you need to educate yourself right now. 

As I turned all 237 pages of this novel I had an experience I'm not sure will ever be met. At first I was un amused. A novel where the main character wasn't a wizard? Or going to turn the good girl bad with his charm and lump sums of unnoticed money? PLEASE! A book without teens is not a book for me. 

Boy was I wrong. 

I should have known. I should have known right there my life was about to change. Of course a book was going to change my life! Every book does that. 

But this one. It was so different. 

Now, I'm going to spoil a lot for you, but it was spoiled for me too, and it still is worth every letter on every line on every page to read it. 

This novel is about a high class art dealer and a streetwalking ex-slave. Their paths cross when the art dealers more than godly wife decided he had to help at a soup kitchen because she had a calling and a dream in which one of the men (unknown at the time) changes the face of Dallas forever. BOY DID THEY!

For 200 of the 237 pages I cried. My heart wrenched as this once cheating husband helped his frail and fragile wife battle cancer. He was never a religious man, but she was. And together they prayed. They begged and pleaded for her healthy recovery, all while helping out these people who had even less than them. 

Her battle was lost, and for that night so was mine. I was torn. My tears turned into sobs, my sobs into that awful heaving sound people make when they have gotten to the point where they can no longer remember why they were crying in the first place. This woman was a saint and all because she wanted someone else to be. She had courage and strength, even when it was all taken from her. Even when there was nothing left. 

I turned the back cover over the last page and immediately began to think of all the ways I had to change the world. It obviously had to be big, and it obviously had to happen right away. 

YURIKA!! 

One of my friends who I had lost touch with over the past year was going on a mission trip and they were looking for help with the cost. Clearly I would pay it all. Let me get my check book I declared to my finally calming mind.

That piece of paper caught fire faster than a bad Harry Potter spell. My bank account was not enjoying my new  want to help the world. Really bank account? Isn't there some rule that when you are doing good no amount of money should matter?

So I settled on a little less and made peace with my first attribution to this place of help. 

But it wasn't my last one. I have now decided on a new project. From this week on I will do one gesture each seven day period. May it be sending money to an organization (that will be few and far in between... sorry heavens about but a kind of-journalist just doesn't roll in dough) or be it something to help myself, perhaps a fear I need to overcome or someone I need to forgive. Either way I will do it all over this blog. The very few people that read it will have to put up with weeks of me trying new things and I'm sure failing some, if not all, of them. I won't leave out any details and I wont tell you anything the way it did not happen.

Here goes nothing. 

You mean it doesn't have to be right now?

So here I was watching the full 40 minutes Katie Couric interview with Taylor Swift (obviously since the release of her new album her media tour has been my most searched topic) and it hit me. It was nothing that Taylor Swift said, though she did say some great things. It wasn't some epic moment where Katie asked the right question and my entire journalism career made sense. It was actually the very first thing out of Katie's mouth:

"When I was 22 I was working as a waitress..."

WHAT?? You mean to tell me you were not a well known journalist with her own show and great credentials at the age of 22? You mean to tell me Kate, may I call you Kate? That you were not flying around the world asking questions to the most well known stars and influential people? You mean your life wasn't completely figured out with every last "I" in the details singed and dotted?

And then I thought, of course it wasn't! So why do I think mine needs to be? 

See, ever sense I graduated in August I have been so focused on why my life hasn't worked itself out yet, but honestly why would it have? I'm 21 for heavens sake! I'm young and not prepared for the real world. I'm still on my parents insurance. I don't know how to wash clothes, can my red socks go with my white rug? And why do I have red socks? And I live by the motto that you NEED every article of clothing, you just have to decide which ones you want. So why if the hot mess express has broken down at platform Shelby and half a maturity level do I think my career should be that of a fabulous 45 year old?

Though this problem of trying to grow up too fast is something I think many struggle with. We spend our entire childhood trying to be bigger. We want to reach the cookie jar without any help, we want to watch the PG-13 movies at the age of 10. It is human nature to try and advance yourself before you are ready. But why?

Why are we so provoked to read the end of a book before we start the beginning? Then race through the pages like we are at the olympic track? We already know the end!

I have been very sure of a few things in my life. I know I want to be a journalist, a great one. And I know I don't ever, EVER, want to get married. But in thinking these things so surely I have begun to learn other things. 

Like, wanting to be a journalist is great, but it wont happen over night. I knew there would be years of paying dues and that they would amount to triple my student loans (if I'm lucky that will be it). But all along I have assumed it would have happened by now. Silly me. Silly all of us. I am not the only one who wants so badly to be at their ending destination. Rushing there is only going to cause us to miss the parts that truly matter though. The in between. I hate more than anyone when people say "Just enjoy the right now," please people, I want to enjoy the good times not the debt bearing sloppy days. But perhaps the good times are what we make of it.

The perfect example I can think of is a kid wanting a toy. I brought my nephew to a toy store a few weekends ago to pick out his birthday present. Here is a little insight to my nephew, he doesn't really want to have anything to do with me. He is four after all, and I am the aunt he never sees. Except this week. All week he was telling my sister and mom "I got to the toy store!" And when asked who is your best friend "Mommy, Daddy, Poncho, Aunt B." Thats right people! I'm after his smelly pug as 4th best friend! Can't beat that. 

And nothing could beat the look on his face when he was in the store. There were gum balls and cars. Rocks and guns ( which he already had two of). It was the best hour of his day... and then we left. He would hardly show my dad the toys when we got home, and I was no longer his best friend. Brayden is four, but he might be smarter than any of us. He knew that going to the toy store was not to get the toy. Lets be honest, no one wants the toy. Once you get it there is nothing left to look forward to. But when you are wanting it, when you are spending your days talking about it, planning for it, preparing yourself, gosh that toy is the ONLY thing worth living for. 

So why do we rush? Why do we not take the time to stop and smell the roses? 

I've told everyone and their mothers I didn't ever want to get married. I never wanted to be serious with someone. But what if one day I do? What if maybe I think it could be right? Well, then I get crazy. Then I KNOW it is right. I KNOW where it is heading. Right to that isle of wonderful white dresses and happily ever after. Okay, kidding. But honestly from a girls point of view this is what we do. We either know no man will love us or we are ready for those vows. Some share it less than others, or some chose to share only one side as I did for so long saying I would just take the avocado tree on my one bedroom apartment table. We have to have whatever we want right then and there.

But that is the problem. We are hot or we are cold we are never just enjoying. What if for once we just let life takes its toll? What if we waited for that toy? How much happier would we be knowing there is no end goal in sight because the end goal is to live life.

If I could do it all again

After my wonderful experience at the movies alone yesterday I have been thinking a lot about my own high school days. Looking back I remember a lot of good times, and a few bad as well. The further into my memory I got the more things I began to reconsider. I have to be honest, there are a lot of things I would have changed about those four years. Not like I wouldn't have worn that terrible stripped and polkadotted shirt. We all have those thoughts. But change as in what I did and didn't do. Who I tried to be.

Just think about it. I'm sure everyone has these things they would have done differently.

Like when it was cool to dress hoochy for themed parties and Halloween. If I could go back I wouldn't have worn that Harry Potter dress, or those bloomers and bra. I'd be that girl who wore the long skirt and oversized buttondown jacket. Instead I was the girl in the photo, minus the jacket and boobs, plus 40 pounds. It wasn't a good look. And frankly I hated dressing up like that. But lets be honest, when you are in high school and everyone is doing it you are not going to be the girl who doesn't.

And I would have stopped trying so hard to fit in where I didn't. I was always in the popular crowd but frankly, I wasn't popular. The invites were never sent to my door, instead I tagged along with friends. I was never picked to play on the drunk sand vollyball teams, I just sat and watched. When we would go to bonfires I was always the girl in the corner watching. Not in a creepy way, but kind of in a creepy way... Not that I blame the popular kids. No way, they knew how to talk and have fun, they were cool. Hence the popular title. Honestly I'm just not cut out for that. But high school isn't a place to admit it.

If I could go back I would have quit the cheer team when I had the chance. Crazy thing, but after high school no one really cares that you were senior cheer captain. Most people can't even believe I was. And who knew that professional cheerleader isn't an actual full time job. At least not one that could pay my rent and student loans. Try and tell me that in 2009 I would have thrown a fit. But it makes sense now. I can see past the pom-pom's and spirit stick. Back then that was my claim to fame, now it is just a scrapbook in my closet.

Oh, and that boy I was in love with, Ben King, I would have told him. For sure. Not that anything would have come of it, there was no way he would have been seen with me. But I would feel so much less creepy now knowing I just told him instead of memorizing every song he liked... Oh yeah... that did happened. Kings of Leon's lyrics will forever be bruned in my head, along with his yellow and orange plad shirt. He wore it with a brown puffer vest. Yeah, I'm a freak. You were warned. But in high school you crush, you don't make moves. You wish the guys would talk to you and beat yourself up inside about how un perfect you are.

That is the thing about high school, you really just aren't yourself. You don't want to stand out, and those who do are really trying to fit in too. I hate to dumb down the outcast group, I truly wish you all were the ones who marked the path. The halls would shine so much brighter. But everyone in high school is just the same. You are all fighting to fit in by standing out. If you want to be the best football player, or the darkest goth, the nerdiest nerd, or the prettiest cheerleader. In the end you are all striving for the same thing. If I could do it over though, I'd strive for my own thing.

Movie date with none other than me!

Today I went to the movies... all alone! This has been something I have wanted to do for some time now. The anticipation grew every time I would think about going through with it.

'Okay Shelby, this time you will do it. Just drive to the theater, walk up to the line, order a ticket, and you are done.'

But it never worked out. I never could go through with it. Until today.

This anticipation had been building in me since I realized Perks of Being a Wallflower was showing in Lubbock a mere 36 hours ago. I knew then, that it was the right time. This WAS the perfect movie. See, I just finished reading the book, and falling in love.

I have a habit of being taken away by the pages of a novel and this was no different. Charlie is the misfit-fit in that I can correlate with. And who doesn't love a good high school story? I know I do!

So back to the movies. This experience was going to be one I never forget. I told myself this as I drove up to the theater an hour early. Don't think I was taking this opportunity to be different. No no, I wanted to be my true self, which includes getting everywhere early. For the theater it was a bit too early.

They were closed... awkward.

I waited. Finally getting my ticket I mad a pit stop for the restroom (knowing I wouldn't be interrupting this experience) and found my seat. By the way, movies at 1:30 have maybe five people in them. Glorious.

The next two hours were spent in a frenzy of self-loving, self-loathing, and self-respect. For the first time ever I was experiencing a movie alone. It was thrilling! Every scene was captivating, the movie as a whole was all I had to worry about.

You don't realize how much you try to impress other when seeing a movie. Am I sitting up straight so my date thinks I'm cute? Why won't he hold my hand? Should I laugh right now or will my friends think I'm dumb? My hand... if I put it closer to the cup holder will he hold it? Should I pee or wait so no one has to move? Jesus! Just hold my hand!

All these thoughts are demolished when alone. I laughed, I cried, I crossed and uncrossed my legs with ease. It was a beautiful thing!

Though this experience would have never been the same if not for the movie I saw. Let me tell you something, Perks of Being a Wallflower may be one of my top five films of all time. And frankly, I don't watch movies so that is a big thing to say. It's captivating message carries you back to a time where you can relate. I had heard the novel brought people out of depression, acted like a friend, but I didn't understand the full effect until comparing both. It was simply a beautiful thing.

I sauntered out of the movie fresh and a bit sad. Sad the experience was over, sad that I can no longer say I will see my first movie alone, and frankly sad by the movies message. But that was a good sad.

This time last year

Ever had that moment where you think to yourself "Wow this time last year,"?

Today was one of those days for me.

I was just sitting on my computer in Starbucks typing away when I decided to see what was going on in the wonderful world of Facebook. There it was, smack dab in my face. A status wishing those Kona goers luck. 

This time last year I was diving face first into my first article. I was spending every night and all day making the lead perfect. Being told no over and over by my wonderful professor Patrick, and collaborating with Laura about making this story perfect. 

This time last year I was also balancing an internship and school. Nothing compared to the events that would follow. The months I had ahead would test my patience, skills, and sleeping regime. But not this time. This time I was working on my first article to run in the school newspaper. 

That time last year I thought this was a really really big deal. And It is. It will forever be my first article. But it wont be my last. 

Now I understand that you need time to breathe. That big things will happen when they should in my career. I was doing a lot back then. I still do. But at this time this year I see the need for a break. And I see the need not to break. To give yourself some room to grow and move. The problem with putting so much structure in your life even taking time for a breath will put your plans off track.

This time last year I still enjoyed a drink. I would go out with my friends. Though not as often, I still made the trek out with that scary looking fake I.D. I wanted to be a journalist, but I wanted to be a college student still too. Now I don't. Now I am not. This time last year I was still a youth, still able to mess up and go to my parents. Still allowed to make mistakes that did not curse my future.

And on this very day last year I was running into my house screaming that I had met the man of my dreams. So this time last year my roommates thought I was crazy. Because I was crazy. "Guys!" I gushed. "I have met the only guy I will consider marrying. He is engaged... but that is okay. Now I know why I will forever be alone." I still am crazy. But this was the day I began my journey to find out what feelings are. 

There I walked into the bike shop to meet the subject of my story. I looked up to see it. I say it because at that very moment I didn't know what to call him. I didn't know his name. And frankly he was really tall, like a long lanky attractive limb.

This time last year I was falling. funny thing is, this time this year I'm falling again. On this day this year I'm thinking of someone so wonderful. I'm thinking not seeing because he is far away. Someone who I sat on the phone with for hours last night. He is helping me find myself and the great person I can become. He is someone who I count the days to see. Someone so great again I am left with no words. 

It is funny how a year will change you. This time last year I thought I had it all figured out. This time this year I know I do, but I love the mess I'm in and the journey I am taking.

Home

I went home last weekend. Want to know something they don't tell you when filling out college applications and getting ready to run wild on your own journey? You are going to miss home. Maybe not right at the beginning. Maybe not even until you are out of school and on your own. But one day, you will miss home. 

You will miss the smells. Every house has one. You will miss your parents. They really do get greater in time. Or maybe you get a little wiser and realize how great they have always been. Shoot, I even missed the horrible Austin traffic. Listen people... there is no way you are getting to work by 9 (or even noon) if you leave at 8. Austin has gotten so packed! But I miss it none the less.

I miss my old hang outs. I miss knowing things were secure. I could mess up and someone would be there to help me. Or better yet, someone would be there to take blame with me. 

Home is such a wonderful place and I took advantage of it for so long. 

We all do though. That is the point of home. It is where no one can judge you. And when they do it is all in good fun. Home is where your family is. It is where your first friends were made. Where your grandparents go to rest. Home is the place you can't change, and you shouldn't want too. 

As I travel further away from my home I see more and more how wonderful it is. Knowing you can't just go home, pick up for the weekend because that math test was hard. Or decide you don't want to spend fall break drinking so you jump on the next flight your parents bought you. When you can't go home you want to go home even more. 

It wasn't clear how much I truly missed home until this time. Grasping for every last second I realized there was nothing I could do. I am now on the journey of making my own home. But in my own home my mom doesn't fold all my clothes for me. Or search Whole Foods high and low for those vegan brownies. My grandparents don't slip me money as I walk out the door. And I don't get to sit on their couch listening to them debate politics. When you make your own home it isn't filled with your fathers loud voice, or your sisters crazy antics. Your own home is different because it is yours. 

But I don't want my own home. I want to go back to the old one. I want to lay on my couch when I'm sick with the softest pillow in the house. We know it is the softest because we tested them all. And I want to be told I'm staying out too late. I love that my mom will be sitting up waiting for me when I get home from that party. 

So there I was, an hour into a 30 minutes drive to the airport and I was freaking out. Mainly because I don't like being late. And showing up to the airport an our and 30 minutes before a flight is late by my standards. But also because I knew I would make it. And most of me didn't want too. I didn't want to leave. The more times I leave home the longer it will be before I'm back again. 

And I just really miss home. 

DAY SIX: Pick the one who will dance

It is day six, and in the most cliche of ways I have saved the best for last. There was great reason for doing this. You will understand as I explain.

Girls are hopeless romantics. I don't care how you twist it, or what you say. Even I, the greatest of all believers that you can be happy alone, deep down in a crevice of my dusty unused sole love romance. I do cry at sappy love stories (just not where people can see me), and some time... HOLD YOUR BREATH... think the idea of having an unconditional love would be the best thing ever.

Friends, please don't die. I know this is a shock to all. Frankly it was a shock to me too. But recently I have learned something about feelings. Once you have them there is nothing much you can do about it. 

But here is the thing with being a hopeless romantic. We often times settle in order to make ourselves feel that joy. News flash ladies, that isn't the joy you want to feel. 

I hate to bring this conversation to an MTV show. But never have I been more sure of something than on the last episode of Awkward. Clearly I watch the show, my life motto is the title after all. 

So there Jenna is sitting on her new found hotties lap. She ask him to dance and he says he doesn't dance. How ironic she looks at her former flame to see him having a blast with her best friend on the dance floor. And of course, because it is TV, her mom had earlier told her to always choose the one who dances. 

As goofy as it is, this is such a true statement. Why would you ever choose something differently? 

I have found a dance partner. Really though, he said he can't wait to dance with me. Poor guy doesn't know what a horrible dancer I am. Though giggling to myself while reading that message I felt like dancing with him wont be as embarrassing. With him every day is a dance. 

It is so easy to settle and make excuses for someone else. "He is so sweet, yeah he doesn't act like I exist, but does that really matter?" Or "He may ditch me 9 times out of 10, but that one time we do see each other, it is so special."

I hate to break it to you, but that isn't special. There is someone out there who is special. He will send you flowers from Spain in hand written letters. He will defy odds with others to see you, even before you know he cares. He will listen to your every fear, doubt, and happy thought. And he will love them all. Just him being himself will show you the reason you settled for so many others in the past. It was simply to know everything you wanted, and to see them in him so clearly. 

Now, don't think I'm saying this will be some cake walk. Every song changes tempo. But when you find that guy who makes the dance worth dancing, even the hard times will feel bearable. 

There have been many of nights I've cried over boys. Thanks dad for reminding me that you in fact did not take Kevin O'connell hunting before he shattered my 10th grade heart (you have always been good at consoling girls). But those are nights you are crying for yourself and your loss. I'm not saying you wont cry, you will. But crying for someone else, for something they are going through, or something y'all face together is nothing short of beautiful. For once you are not crying alone. 

I would like to make it clear that this is not someone you find with the snap of a finger. Not at all. you always hear stories that once you give up on the wrong one the right one just comes along. I'm sure this happens. But not always. It took me two years to realize my dance was right in front of me. And it took him just as long. Though two years really isn't that long when you don't have to fear someone leaving you in the middle of a song. Two years is nothing when you finally see how perfect someone can be. Not to the whole world, but to you. 

There is someone who you will never make an excuse for. You will never need to tell your roommates he couldn't come because he was busy, when really he wasn't at your graduation because he didn't care. There is someone who spends his days enjoying your talks, not someone you quadruple text just to get an "Okay" out of. There is someone who will guide you every step of the way, he won't leave you guessing the next move. 

He is out there. He is someone I am seeing in 2 days. He is my someone who will dance.

DAY FIVE: Always find the best in yourself

I am one to say, finding the best in yourself is hard. As humans we tend to lean away from the things we are good at. We want others to say we are good only to deny it. We want to be noticed but feel awkward when we are.

This is something I encourage you to break free of. Know your strengths and go with them.

There are two very prominent moments in my life that have shaped who I am in this aspect.

1) That day after cheer practice.

One day after cheer practice at Cheer Station I was having a mental break down. I can't remember exactly what it was but I know I was upset and I kept saying I wasn't good enough. Shocker, this is the theme song of my life. But this time it was different. This time my mom looked at me and said "Shelby, you know those moms at the gym? They tell me every day how lucky their daughters are to be around you. They look up to you." Now she is my mom, so she was probably being a bit exuberant. None the less I realized something that day. I was good at being a protector. It is my thing. I protect those I love, and I do it intensely. I'm not one to speak out, but when I had to watch my poor baby Freshmen cheerleaders cry in high school I took note and changed things. And when I know my roommates are in danger of an un-locked door, I make sure it is fixed. I'm not the coolest friend, I'm not the smartest, but if I care for you, you can guarantee you are in safe hands.

2) That day my teacher said I can write.

When I was in 3rd grade my favorite teacher of all times (Mrs. Lumbrano) had her second baby. It was right during TAKS Testing. She had always told us, "You take all the time in the world to do a test. No one is worth rushing for." That year I made sure to be the very last one in all of Wells Branch Elementary to finish. And boy did it pay off. I got a 100, and in return she came to the class just to tell me. She pulled me aside and said "You are a great writer Shelby, you will do wonderful things." I have had a lot of negative motivation in my life. Sure it would be great for some of those people who said I couldn't do it turn on their TV to my face and see that I did. But there is nothing more satisfying than living a dream someone said you could. Mrs. Lumbrano fueled my fire. She made me want to succeed. She cared when no one really needed too. She read my every word to every Harry Potter book when she knew I couldn't. She made me see my talent, and for her I will go far.

Everyone has a greatness, everyone is good at something. Find your greatness and be the best at it. Play to your strengths in a world that is so prompt to tell you your faults. Understand a compliment means something, take them with gratitude. And be the best you can be. It really isn't that hard once you realize it is just you being you.

DAY FOUR: Be good and bring good

There will come a time in life where you realize all you really need to do is be good (says the 21 year old who has it all figured out...) You need to be good for yourself, for those around you, for those you love, and those you hate. You need to be good because being good will get you far. 

I try very hard to be good in all aspects of my life. I want to surround myself with good people. Eat good. Do good work. And just be good. 

But being good is hard. No one is perfect, I can vouch for that. The more I try to be good the less I really am. Over my own journey to enhance these traits I have begun to understand that all it boils down to is why be something else if you can just be good?

Like when I eat a sweet. I could have just eaten an apple. But that browny sounded so much better. Until I ate it. I could have easily said no thank you. Stepped away and done some crunches, but instead I ate the browny only to stew in anger about it after. I hate eating brownies. Their tasty flaky top layer just thin enough to make you want the soft inner filling. And don't even get my started on the edges. If I could eat the edges of every browny pan in the world... Well, I would not fit into any of my jeans and my cholesterol would be high as a kite. Which is why I HATE eating sweets. 

This battle of self control is painful, and frustrating. The payoff is worth it though. And there are things that can help. 

By being good for myself I seem to attract others who can be good for me too. People who make me feel great, and do kind things, speak kind words. These people are good. It was hard to let them be good at first. Trust me, I'd do everything by myself if I could. Some times though, you have to find good in someone else to remember the good in yourself. There are people that want to help. People that truly care. Those people are good.

When I work good I feel good. It is so accomplishing to hear someone say you have produced a good story. Not too long ago someone was speaking of one of my stories without knowing it was me. This feeling will never leave me. I sat in silence loving the feeling it gave me. Loving that I knew just one person had learned from what I said. It may have been about boat safety, but I bet he wont wade the water next time I brings that jet ski out. 

And when I eat good, and do good for my body, I look good. The confidence you get from giving your body a healthy chance, and the results. There is a saying "Nothing taste as good as skinny feels," I hate to give in to this motto, but it is true. Not that you need to starve yourself. Not at all. But doing good for your body feels so nice. You have more energy. you are confident in your clothing choices. Everything seems to be good when you know you are making good choices. 

So here is my ramble of the day. Be good. Do good. Feel good.

DAY THREE: Don't be afraid to say no

This word no is something I still have quite the trouble with. Saying no is really hard, but saying yes all the time can define you. 

I used to be in a place of yes. Yes I will take on another class in which I will be unable to juggle the assignments, yes I will work 7 days a week for no pay even though I can't keep my eyes open, yes I will go out to that party/bar/club in which I will feel awkward. I said yes because it is so much easier than saying no.

But the more I said these three letters the more I felt lost. No sleep will do that to you. And so will doing things you don't want too. 

Ever get that feeling where you are in the middle of doing something and you just don't want to be there any more? Kind of like when you drink, there is always that moment where you no longer want to be drunk, too late! Your hair is a mess, your breath reeks of beer, and that cute outfit you put on hours ago... it isn't so cute with those wet stains down the front. Vodka doesn't clean well.

See, I began to realize I was having a lot of these moments. I would be at a party and really want to be home. I would be running around from class to class and job to job wishing for a physical break down so I wouldn't have to face my next task. 

I really wanted to be in a place where I could hear the person I was talking to, and share a real experience, not a drunken talk. 

When you are in college however, this is hard to come by. It is socially acceptable to go out, it is not socially acceptable to sit around in underwear and a tank with a good book... unless you are drunk and being the life of a party. Then it is a great idea. Just be aware of the photos the next day.

For me not going out came with finding someone who didn't either. He was very into triathlons so drinking and staying out late only interfered with his training. For me this was perfect. And I held onto it for a long time in part because I felt safe in knowing my weekend plans were made. And waking up the next day to the sun rise is so much better than waking up to a headache and a fuzzy memory of the bar tops you danced on.

When it was over, I had to learn how to be different on my own. It was hard, and I still some times feel awkward. Obviously when you say no to the bar over and over people are going to get the hint. Driving down the road after a long day at work only to see it full of drunk people does make me think maybe I should give it another try. But I am quickly reminded of how nervous I am in those situations. And frankly, alcohol taste horrible. Some times I even think I'm allergic. 

Okay, so probably not, but it seems like a good excuse. 

I'm not saying this is for everyone, nor am I saying you need to stop going out. Some people are meant to be social butterflies, and they excel at it! What I am saying is don't be nervous to say no if you don't want to do something. Don't fear you will lose friends, or be worried about which frat-attack wont see you out. You don't need to impress those people, you need to impress yourself. 

It is so easy to place ourselves in these awkward situations just to impress someone else. People will give you a hard time, but in the end, if someone wont talk to you because you wont hit up the bar they probably don't need to be going to the bar anyways. 

DAY TWO: Friends are the family you find

There is this thing called friends, and frankly they are a life line. But it is really hard to find the right ones, and even more difficult to let go of the wrong. 

I have been lucky enough to have two amazing sets of friends in my time. Those who I had when I was younger, and those I have now. These friends didn't come easy, but I can say with confidence they wont leave easily either.

I'm really good at shutting people out. I'm one of those who, the moment you burn me in any way you are out. I don't give second changes, and I don't care to hear an excuse. I'll be your biggest fan, and try my hardest to understand and listen to every problem you have, but once you cross that line. I'm over it.

This hasn't always been the case. No no, I used to try very hard to be a great friend to everyone. I wanted nothing more than for everyone to like me. I had to be the one people called, I wanted to be invited to every party. 

The thing is, that gets you no where. When you try your best to be the best you end up all alone. Which is why now I come off cold on this matter. It isn't out of lacking feelings, it's simply lacking need.

See, once you get older you start to understand it is in your best interest to find a few people who would give the world for you instead of giving your world to everyone else. 

Don't get me wrong. I am completely open to meeting new people. I would love to invite others in. But in most cases people are only curious, they don't truly care. Me included. Everyone knows the kind. There are the people who are great to go out with, but if you don't go out you aren't on their mind. Those who call when they need something. This is a great thing to be that go to girl, but it isn't because they consider you a true friend its because you are good with words. And then there are the infamous fren-emies, lets be honest, we all know they aren't true anythings. 

It is hard to find people who really would lay down their time for you, so why do we spend so much of ours trying to get to know these people? I'm not saying to walk around town like you own the place. Don't be the prick who refuses to speak to anyone (no body likes that girl). At the same time though, don't give your all to those who wont give anything to you. 

Finding true friends takes time. And it takes being a true friend as well. But there are people out there who will help you brush your teeth after throwing up on your 21st birthday so you have good breath at the bar. They will tell a boy no to a date so they can watch movies with you all weekend long. Blow up your inbox, email and facebook with stupid Pintertest pins, because to y'all the aren't stupid they are real life. And they will be there when you cry, sit up all night listening to your problems, then lay down on the floor next to you when you are too weak to stand on your own. 

These are the people you make fun of to their face. These are the people you call bad names because you know they wont leave. These are the girls who's clothes you put on then send the "Borrowing this" text. These are true friends, the most rare gift a girl can be given.

Six rules I live by

Ladies a gentlemen, boys and girls of respectable ages, get ready... its about to be a blog fest in here! Over the next six days I will be telling you the six rules I live by. This was inspired by a book I recently read. A PR goddess Kelly Cutrone explained that she was approached to write the 10 commandments but turned it down. 

Honestly she is way too cool for something like that. But I'm not. And hearing it made me think of my own commandments. So for the next six days (I chose six since I will be leaving for home next Saturday! And I don't have 10) I will be sharing the things that help me get through this crazy world, and explain how they have come about.

DAY ONE: You can't until you can

Something I have found very prominent in life is turning your cant's into cans and your dreams into plans. 

As a child I was very stern. "Mom I HAVE to be a singer. I was meant to be a singer. If I'm not a singer I will be nothing." and "Dad I need a dog, I will die without a dog. My life will end. Just end I tell you!"

Everything was something big. Everything was a dream. And everything was the most important thing.

But then everything became hard. All my life I have been told I can't. You can't be a singer, you can't have a dog (except that one time when I did get a dog) but the list goes on. You can't be a writer, you can't even spell. You can't be enough for me. News? You can't be in new with those looks. 

Life is full of cant's, and it is also full of dreams. Sure, when you are five and want to be an astronaut you aren't really thinking about the plausibility. But that is just it. Why should anything have to be plausible?

See, over the years I have learned that the only thing stopping us from achieving our goals and overcoming our cant's is us. You are the only problem. You have the choice. 

A few days ago I was asked to spell a word out loud. This is something I just can't do. Not that I don't think I can, but mentally with my dyslexia words form incorrectly in my head. Writing them down works fine, people like me are the reason spell check was invented, it is just out loud where I have trouble. So here I am, sitting in a room full of people, mortified to spell a word. 

And this is when it hit me. "Shelby," I told myself, "Just spell the word." And I did. And, it was right. Before I would have died. Tears would have flown down my face right then and there. But not this time. Nope. This time I knew I could do it. Because when I know I can it works. 

When you start to eliminate can't you start to initiate your dreams into actions. That is the difference in your childhood dreams and your adult ones. When you are an adult you have the option to do something to achieve them. Try as I did, nothing was going to get my on a plane/train/bus to Nashville to be the next Taylor Swift before there was Taylor Swift. My parents were not budging from their Austin home, and my sister so frequently reminded me of my awkward dance moves. I couldn't shake it like Britney Spears if I couldn't even shake it like a robot. 

But these problems occurred because being a singer wasn't actually my dream.

This is where I think we let a lot of negative in. When you are trying for a dream that isn't yours then of course those cant's will get in the way. I get nervous sining in front of people. And I'm not that good. Never did I really want to live a life being gawked by people. I avoid eye contact with everyone, and honestly, I don't even like my friends to hug me. Clearly having strangers grab after me would have been one mental breakdown after another. (Oh, and if you didn't know by now I wasn't just going to be a singer, I was going to be the best singer.)

My true dream was Journalism. I truly love the camera work that goes into it. I truly love to write, un dig a story, understand someones life one-on-one. Large crowds make me nervous, but meeting a single individual wanting to tell their side of things has the upmost appeal. I was lucky enough to lose a significant amount of weight after high school, thank you universe for saying I can be on film. 

And above all else I know that this is where I want to be. Not even the dirty deeds and so called "b**** work" get me down when on the job. Sure, I get lost EVERY single time I have to drive the cars. And sure, I get emails saying I spelled another thing wrong on the web. Though no matter how many times someone tells me I can't, I now know I can. Never do I regret the decision I have made to turn my cant's into cans and my dreams into plans.