Dance has always been a part of my life, from being a tiny ballerina to dancing in front of my mirror as a tween to late night clubbing through college, to randomly breaking into dance as an adult. I took classes off and on, ballet, tap and jazz from the time I was 4- I even performed several times - and then in my mid twenties, a Lyrical Jazz class I was taking in Boulder intimidated me and I stopped. This decision is also what lead me to find Iyengar Yoga, which I will be forever grateful for. Twelve years in, I plan to do yoga as long as I am alive.
But...I knew I always wanted to make a return to dance. {As was evidenced by the fact that even with my multiple bouts of de-cluttering and organzing, I could never let go of my ballet and jazz shoes.} If you live in L.A., a city filled with professional dancers, now we're talking intimidation. You know how it is with some classes. There's a lot of attitude from the other dancers, and sometimes even from the teachers. With any class you have to be willing to find the one that is the right fit for you. And don't be afraid to make a change if it isn't.
Also, while it felt like forever that I put off taking dance again - sometimes in life we can only take on one scary thing at a time. For a good several year chunk of my thirties building an art business from scratch was all I had the energy and bravery for. While this post is ultimately in service of encouraging you to do those things that have been scaring you, it's important to note that we don't have to do everything all at once and being gentle with ourselves when we are already being brave in one area of life is a nice thing to do.
I think leaving my class in Boulder was really all in my head. I let myself get intimidated. Nobody did it to me. My teacher was excellent, a former Denver Bronco's cheerleader, she lead a class full of young competition students. Class was inspiring and pushed me to become better. I think if I remember correctly my teacher even asked me if I was going to audition for the team? But I ignored that, instead spending most classes feeling like I was nowhere as good as everyone else. Oh and in class, I felt kind of old at 26. Hindsight. Seriously, why do we start doing that age thing to ourselves so early?
Not anymore. I realized that this fear I've had - time for it to go. Several months before my 40th birthday I decided no more waiting. If you get one thing when you turn 40 and you're an entrpreneur , it's that there's just no more room for intimidation. Whey spend one more day of my life worrying about what others think, especially in a dance class.
So I did it. I joined a beginning ballet class to rebuild my dance foundation and in the ten months I've been been back, I've also added on a contemporary jazz class. It feels so good to be back. I'm now going 3-4 times a week.
I'm really happy with my classes and my studio. I found one here in L.A. that is all about the love of dance. The dominant attitude of the teachers is supportive. What I also think is great is the range of ages and sexes of the students who come to class. Yes, there are professionals there and even in a beginning class I'm still surrounded by great students {who continue to make me want to be better} but this time I'm ok, especially with being a beginner again. When I'm the last one, the end of the line traveling across the floor and that old feeling of self judgment creeps up I remember that it doesn't exist in my life anymore. I let it go and I have fun. And not to mention I'm getting in some serious excercise - always good for the body and the overall mental state.
I wanted to share this with you here, because a while back when I instagram-ed these photos I had several people telling me they too wanted to make the return to dance. All I want to add is this: to any of you on the fence about making a return to or being a beginner again {at whatever you love or want to explore} - DO IT!!
At the beginning of this year ~ I said I wanted to travel more. And travel I have. It's nice when you realize that you are actually doing what you say you want to do with your life.
This past weekend we jetted off to Colorado, visiting friends and old haunts in Boulder as well as spending a couple of nights at a cabin in Keystone. Oh and! the leaves were turning. There's nothing lik the sound of aspen leaves rustling in the wind. And there's nothing like the color they turn in the follow.
I always wonder if it's worth the hassle of going somewhere far, flying and then driving, when you have just a few days to experience everything and no real time to truly unwind. And I'd say: yes! It's always worth it.
You just decide to see what you can and squeeze in as much unwinding as possible. With a view like the one above, sitting in 2 comfy chairs in front of a roaring fireplace while a sharing an awesome bottle of red wine, unwinding in 24 hrs is indeed possible.
The truth is the shift in perspective you get on your own life when traveling even for just a few days is so worth it. You know how it is? The daily routine ruts that start to happen when you've been home too long. We really recognized this when we took our six week trip abroad a couple of years ago. Still angling for another long trip like our one to Paris. 2013 it's going to happen. In the meantime, the traveling this year, even for just a few days at a time I've been especially happy to come home, and appreciating my daily routine so much more.
And now back to work again in preparation for another quick trip to Fall Quilt Market. I see lots of sewing on the horizon. And hey I have a book coming out!!!!!
Tonight! In honor of Susannah and her beautiful new book.
I've also had too much fun whipping up some party decor for the occassion ~ that might also be a sneak peek to something new that I'll be adding to the shop {soon}.
At the moment Sean's teaching schedule is packed, which makes it challenging for us to get away for even two days at a time. But this does not mean we're not going to get away! oh no.
Because I've said it 100 times before, getting a change of scenery even if it is a whirlwind change of scenerey is so, SO good to do.
It helps when you have great friends you like to visit too, who also happen to live in beautiful, serene locations surrounded by vineyards.
That's our friend John. He's standing on a blue square {waiting for a blue car to drive by} of a game that he developed, designed and painted with his wife Kim that is now on a sidewalk in Culver City.
For those of you not familiar with L.A., it is a big city and by big, I mean wide. It covers a large expanse, and for this reason much of the city is broken down into what I like to call "digestible" neighborhoods, each with it's own personality or vibe. Culver City is one of those neighborhoods, originally famous for its film studios, that in the last decade has been through quite a bit of re-gentrification and is now extra hip and happenin' {also one of my favorite L.A. neighborhoods ~ umm, hello Tender Greens = one of my favorite restaurants}
On a *side note* please don't quote me on my history of L.A. or Culver City, and John and Kim {because we know you did most of the work} I hope I have the facts right about how this game evolved, {but I am also guilty of having margaritas during the time you explained more of the details as to how this project came to you, or how you found it?}
Funded by an arts grant from the city of Culver City, John applied and won. Seriously, how great is that? a} that there are grants available for this type of creativity and b} John won. In his regular life, he is a writer, mostly television, a surfing friend of Sean's {first} and then me via osmosis of me dating Sean.
I'm going to be honest and say that while a certain childlike quality exists in me, insert my art here, I tend to shy away from game playing. What is that anyway? Is that called becoming an adult? Because I used to love games. In fact I could play them for hours at a time. You know I think it's really because as adults we very rarely get to play games the way we used to as kids...unless there's money involved and then your in Vegas.
A game that asks you to move ahead a space at a time when a certain color car drives by in a certain direction, here's what playing Culverland did for me: It brought me right into the moment. Since being "in the moment" is not only a catch phrase for our time but something I'm trying to do more of in my life {because it calms me down, keeps me grounded and appreciative of what I already have} I was pretty excited to find myself there....for a moment. Well, probably at least ten minutes.
It was crazy fun. All of us played together, Sean, I, John, Kim and their son Ian who is 5. What's the message of this story. Play more games. Be in the moment. Oh and have the best margarita{s} ever on a Friday afternoon with your friends at Kay N Dave's ;)
Now if that doesn't make you want to run out and play Culverland? Do it soon! It's only up through November 1, 2010.
This is what I've been sitting on for weeks now. A total leap of faith. A dream we are no longer content to wait on anymore. We decided now is the time.
We're living in Paris for a month.
I've been sitting on this, because it still doesn't quite seem real, and so many things have had to come together for this to become real, things that are still coming together quite honestly ~ but I knew when I blogged about it I would be committing to the reality of this dream even more.
So here goes. Years in the making, another dream about to happen.
Sean and I have had a dream of living part-time in Europe pretty much since we met. It's a dream we shared that bonded us right away.
The dream began for me as a little girl. My mom is from Germany and our family is there. Fortunate to visit it every year as a child, the time never felt like enough. Europe has felt like a second home to me and I've always imagined going for a longer time, maybe even living there part time.
Somewhere in my ultimate dream and plan for my life I envisioned the freedom to travel the world, to live in new places, to explore any time I want to. This little business of mine I've been building has had that intent in mind. Another reason it has all worked out perfectly, I can now work anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
I am FREE.
I emphasize living and not vacationing for this trip, as we will be experiencing this city as a resident. This will be a working trip for Sean and I as we are also launching a new e-course this Thursday, inspired by this adventure, that we will teach from Paris! Come with us!!!
you rock my world!
{quote from, and inspired by, one of my long time favorite movie "Singles"}
{We're celebrating a special birthday over here today, be back soon}
