MY FOUR-MINUTE DANCING CAREER A few years ago, I decided to pursue my dream of being a dancer. I was 37 years old and being a dancer was on my list of things to do before I die, so I thought I'd better get cracking before osteoporosis or some other age-related malady took hold of my body. My goal was not to become a Vegas showgirl or to star in the next Flash Dance, but to learn how to dance and perform on stage just once. I attended dance classes every week without fail for 10 months and hipped and hopped until I almost dropped. Soon June rolled around and my group was scheduled to perform in two year-end recitals. I tossed around the idea of quitting to avoid making a fool of myself on stage, but I had put myself into this situation for a reason. I sought out the support of friends who I knew would encourage me and not let me back out. They told me all of the things I needed to hear ... I was good, I had the moves, I could have been a professional! (Thank goodness for friends with a lot of hot air and big hearts!) Thanks to the encouragement of my friends and 13-year old niece who wanted to see "Auntie shake her groove thing," I went ahead with the commitment to perform on stage. Because I knew I was going to be on display for so many eyes, I turned up the volume on my practicing. I performed my routine over and over again on my back lawn, in my basement, in my garage, at work in my office. I couldn't remember more than two or three combos to save my life and wanted to back out. It was then the big guns had to be drawn. My husband stepped in. He assured me I was nervous and fearful and that failure was an illusion I had created for myself; that I was sabotaging my goal and blowing everything out of proportion. He reminded me that I took this on as a life-long dream and not to forget the fun and excitement of the experience. He brought me back to reality by putting everything into perspective. Once grounded, I released the significance I had created around the challenge and focused on the fun again. The steps came easier and I mastered the choreography. Thanks to the encouragement of my friends and husband, I realized my dream and I'm glad I followed through with it. I now have a lovely video I can look back on in the years ahead when I want to re-live my four-minute dancing career. :-) I know that if I did not go the whole nine yards and take the action required to create the experience, I would have short-changed myself and would regret it to this day. Not only am I regret free, but I have since taken on and accomplished other items on my "100 things to do in this lifetime" list and it feels great! Is there something you have always wanted to create, achieve or experience? Remember that when our time has come, it is usually not what we did that we regret, but what we didn't do. Do you want to learn to paint, turn your passion into a business, write a book, learn a new language, or reduce your golf handicap? There are so many things you can do in this lifetime, and we all have the same 24 hours in every day. It's up to you how you choose to use them and it's also up to you to believe in yourself. Everyone else can believe in you and push you forward, but if you don't believe in yourself, it's not worth a hill of beans! Remember You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however. Richard Bach It is never too late to be what you might have been. George Eliot |
