True, Everlasting Love with Julianne Hough

Before you say anything, let me tell the story.

It was senior year and I was still “VL.” For those of you not raised in the suburban streets of Sandy, Utah, that means “virgin lips.”

We didn’t know where she came from, but we all knew she was there. Julianne Hough, yep, that one. She was exactly like the “high schoolers” on every Netflix series, a sexy twenty-five year old cast as a seventeen year old. She could sing, she was smart, she was fun, and she was kind. She was a world-champion, professional dancer. You’ve seen her, so just imagine what she did to all those high school hormones. Off. The. Charts.

I had been in Sandy since birth–in the same house and the same public schools as my three older siblings. I spent my evenings at debate tournaments and playing Risk with a small group of friends. I was a soccer player, good enough to be on the field…when we were winning. I was kind to everyone. Luckily the early 00’s look worked well for me, come back crunchy, gelled spikes!

We were a perfect match. Well, okay, maybe not perfect, but we certainly hit it off.

When she asked me (yep, you read that right) to the Halloween Dance, you could see me from space. I heard from someone, who heard from someone else that she said I was “mysterious.” Looking back, she was right. It took me six months to hold my middle school crush’s hand. I had received a kiss on the cheek sophomore year and never gave one, to anyone. On Valentine’s Day of my junior year I was in the warm rain outside after exchanging Valentine’s Day gifts with a beautiful girl, and barely gave her a hug. You get the idea.

Here is our love story, McKinley Withers and Julianne Hough.

One night, shortly after she’d asked me to the dance, I got a text from Julianne. She invited me over to her house. Since I didn’t have any Risk games to settle, I hurried over.

When I got there she was home alone. It was surprisingly dark inside and she invited me in. She asked if I wanted to watch a movie. We went into her basement to look through the DVD’s. She was closer to me than I was used to, but I didn’t mind. We finally settled on “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?” One of my all-time favorites.

After turning on the movie, she sat right next to me on the couch. I scooted over to make some space between us. She moved with me and now our knees were touching. It was steamy…because of the sweat evaporating from my armpits, forehead, and palms.

We talked, a lot. About everything. She was so easy to talk to. She had so many deep, generous beliefs and views.

We both realized we weren’t really watching the movie so she stood up, turned the movie off, and came back to the couch. Closer now than before.

Now it was just us, in an empty house, in the dark, facing each other.

We talked on the couch for what felt like hours. Unfortunately many people underestimate someone like Julianne Hough. She was so much more than a “hot girl.”

She offered me something that night I have never forgotten. She shared her belief that God gave her the gifts of dancing, singing, and acting to make this world more beautiful. She actually believed in herself. She willingly and confidently shared those gifts, and it was beautiful every time.

After a few hours together, I looked at my flip phone and saw the time–Whoops! It was a school night, so I told her I had to leave. She stood up with me and gave me a long hug, which I welcomed. Then she walked me to the front door and hugged me again. “She must really like hugs,” I thought. Then she walked me to my car and we hugged…again!

I said goodbye, got in my car, and headed home; blissfully content spending a beautiful night with a beautiful person.

Oh yeah, and we made love…I had to see if you were still reading. It would be more clear if I said we “exchanged” love.

We offered our ideas, our beliefs, our attention, and our time to each other. We connected, distraction free. Not even a favorite movie could keep us from sharing our attention.

That’s true, everlasting love. Everlasting because there isn’t a clear difference between once and forever.

The belief in oneself unlocks all of our gifts. Generosity hiding behind doubts. A great contribution, which is actually small and right in front of us, hiding behind fear and lies.

I have gifts. I am capable. I am worthy. I am whole. I have wrestled with believing these truths for all thirty-four of my years.

So here I am, finally having the confidence to share my writing with the fifteen people who are willing to read my shit. I’m so glad you read this love story. I hope that you too will find a way to share your unique gifts with a few people.

That’s how this world can heal from our division and pain. It’s up to each of us, every day, in every moment, to make an offering. To offer our time and attention, distraction free, to those right in front of us. To love ourselves and believe in ourselves. To intentionally make everything more beautiful.

It’s a love story that’s happening everywhere, in every moment, in everyone. It’s our story. I can’t wait to hear yours.