Last night I attended my oldest niece's dance recital. This is the second year she's taken ballet and tap, and the second recital...what a difference a year makes. She's only 6 by-the-way. She did a great job and even had to be front and center as a leader (of sorts) and did really well! I, along with the rest of the family, was very proud of her!
Before it started, I told my mom and sister that I'd rather be backstage getting ready to perform. That's what I'm used to...what I'm more comfortable doing instead of sitting in the audience watching. It's what I did from as far back as I can remember...dance. I obviously don't remember any of my earliest dances, just memories from old pictures. And then after we moved to Texas and I started taking dance lessons down here...it was just different. I even started initial training for the Garland Ballet. I remember my first lesson in toe shoes and one of the senior instructors telling me I had strong ankles which was good. Just a side note, in the last year or so I've read that Aquarians are supposed to have strong ankles. It's part of their physical sign and personality.
Once I started training, I felt burnt out on dance and I was ready to take a break. So, I did. I didn't dance during my middle school days and started again in high school. I joined the Junior Varsity Drill Team at school, which you didn't have to try out for...it was an elective. But, I did have to try out for Varsity Drill Team. So, I started training and dancing again! Drill team was more than dance, though. You had to know how to do high kicks, the splits...moreso, jump splits, and move in synchronicity with 60+ other girls. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was more than just the dance, it was the discipline of being on a team with all the rules and traditions, along with summer camps, competitions, fundraisers, and the social aspects of it all. It was more than I could've imagined, but I honestly couldn't have imagined doing anything else in high school!
Yes, I miss just the simple happiness of dancing...doing it for the pure enjoyment of it. That's what I hope my niece is experiencing now because it changes fast...into competition, into creating perfect dancers, and it starts younger and younger these days. My sister just wanted her to have fun and smile last night. She had fun, but didn't quite smile which is totally fine. She did an awesome job and I could tell she was proud of herself afterwards, too! That's all that matters!
Whatever brings you pure joy...and you may have to think back to your childhood...hold onto it, recapture it, revive it, and find a way to incorporate it into your life. You won't regret it. Sometimes we just need a good reminder.
May memories of pure joy bless your week ahead and may you renew your intentions to find that joy again!!
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