When I was asked to be one of the “Stars” in Charlotte’s Dancing With the Stars, my first instinct was, “You’ve got the wrong guy! I’d never danced before, and the thought of performing in front of a crowd was terrifying. But then I thought about the cause—teen mental health and families battling breast cancer—and most of all, I thought, “Why not?” I stepped way outside my comfort zone, laced up my dance shoes, and trained with a pro. Six months and 80 lessons later, I was the leadoff act in front of 1,200 people who paid $150 a ticket. Each step, stumble, and spin reminded me that fear doesn’t get to make the decisions—courage does. Carson’s motto rang through my head more than once on this journey… Why not, indeed. I raised over $50,000 for two charities that mean the world to me, conquered a major fear, made some lifelong friends, inspired a few people, and found a little joy along the way.
- Matt Matone
