Ain't goin' be stopped by nobody

For a long time I used to let people decide my sociality. With many social activities, I used to go or not go depending on whether or not my friends went to those social events. I remember times when I was so excited to go to a dance and then I learned that none of my close friends were going to go anymore. Crushed, I usually ended up settling for a mediocre movie rather than go to a dance that I looked forward to for weeks. Essentially I let others determine my sociality, not myself.

Well out with the old and in with the new. Since I've been in college, I have been much better about doing things that I want to do. However, I still felt held back to a degree until this past year. Suddenly I realized that I have interests that not all of my friends share; but I still wanted to do them. Now if I want to do something that is not agreeable by the masses, I still go. It's not easy by any means, but I am proud to say that every time I end up doing something that I really enjoy, I am ALWAYS happy that I did it and that I didn't let anyone stop me from doing it.

Tonight my ward had a Valentine's Day party (yes, one week late). I had planned on going for a few weeks. Well, today we went to Gettysburg and I knew I would be tired. I figured that many of my roommates wouldn't want to go because of the long day. I knew I had a choice: I could not go and stay with the roomies and fall into a homebody slumber or I could do what I originally wanted--go to the ward party.

I went to the party and it was a blast. I made new friends, enriched acquaintances, and danced the night away. I have a renewed testimony that I am the one that determines my happiness and my sociality.

No one is going to stop me from doing what I want to do; the only person who will stop me from doing what I want is myself.

Amen.