One of life’s greatest limitations is fear—of what others think, whether we have what it takes, or even the unknowns of the day.
But when I remember that regrets come more from what we do not do than from what we do, I find the courage to step into opportunities that make me nervous. Last spring, this meant saying yes to a fundraiser. I always tell my girls they can do hard things, and it was time for me to practice what I preach.
On April 18, 2025, the inaugural Dancing with the Eddy County Stars event was hosted by The United Way of Eddy County (UWEC). Like the television show, this event paired professional dancers with “stars” from Carlsbad and Artesia. In only four days of practice, each participant learned a dance to compete in three areas: Fundraising, Judges’ Vote, and Audience Vote. What started as a seemingly simple idea by the UWEC’s Executive Director, Kyle Marksteiner, developed into a community-wide effort. Hundreds of people brought his idea to life, from food and decorations to donations, dancers, emcees, judges, and the audience. As one of the eight “stars” who was crazy enough to say yes to this event, I had a front-row seat to the generosity of this community.
At the beginning of the process, I knew very little about the UWEC and even less about the people I would be dancing alongside. I felt like an outsider and wondered what in the world I was doing with a seat at this table. But as rehearsals got underway, many fears were overshadowed by courage from knowing others were experiencing the same emotions. Community is formed not only through having the same background or life experiences but through working (and sometimes dancing) side by side for a common goal.
In less than four hours of practice, I received a crash course in disco set to Cher’s “Believe.” I learned to follow without knowing the flow, to navigate the give-and-takes, and to embrace a step that felt more like a trust fall than a dance move. When the night of the performance arrived, the fear peaked, and I may or may not have contemplated just walking out. But once more, we found courage together and shared an exhilarating evening. The week was full of unique experiences at every turn.
This county-wide fundraiser was a tremendous success, not just in dollars, but in the friendships formed and the sense of community built from a shared goal. While not everyone brought the same talents (thankfully!), everyone had something important to contribute. Despite some differences, strengths and common ground were highlighted. Whether it was competing businesses who came together or finding fun in the long-standing Carlsbad-Artesia rivalry, I was reminded that there is more that unites us than divides us, and we can and should support those efforts.
We have opportunities every day in big and small ways to step through the fear and say yes; to join others who serve and in our own time of need, to accept a helping hand; to use our gifts for the common good, knowing it is not about us as individuals but what we can do together.
And sometimes, it is about putting on never-worn dancing shoes and moving to a rhythm you never knew was there.
Photos by Whaley Great Image
Utah Ballroom Dance Company
Article written by Allyson Joy and originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2025 Summer edition.
Allyson Joy
Allyson Joy is the Associate Publisher of Focus Magazines. She can be reached at allyson@focusnm.com.
