Waiting on the Weight - holding ourselves back for "someday"

Seems about 75% of the time when I am chatting women up about what I do, their first reaction is "Oh, I would love to do that!" followed by "Maybe when I lose a few pounds I'll join up..." It may be even more than 75% of the time, I am being generous. I always tell them that joining a dance class is a great way to either lose those pounds OR learn to love yourself without needing to lose any weight. I give a brief elevator spiel about how in my classes, bellydance is about strength, empowerment, and confidence. You don't necessarily walk in with it, but my job is to make sure you walk out with it!

My yoga friends are well familiar with the similar phenomenon of "I can't take yoga. I'm not flexible!" Why is this sentiment so prevalent? Why do we set so many plans on the "some day" shelf, placing barriers between what we're doing now or where we are now, and what we want to do and where we want to be?

Just this week a friend posted a link to this article on seibellaboudoir.com, which explores this idea from her experience as a boudoir photographer.

"Women have a habit of putting their lives on hold because of their weight.  If they’re a size 16, they want to be a size 12.  If they’re a size 12, they want to be a size 8.  They promise themselves that they’ll have the courage to approach a guy at a bar, or wear a bikini to the beach, or finally wear that skimpy red dress that “doesn’t fit quite right”."

What do we perceive the benefit of this delay to be? In fact, the delay is only going to make reaching your goals that much more difficult. After all, if you started playing guitar a year ago, this year you would have a year of experience playing guitar! But if you keep saying you'll start next week...

So what are you waiting for? Have you always wanted to try a bellydance class? Then start TODAY!  If you're in Seattle, then I hope you will come try a class with me at Deep Roots Dance. But if you live in another city, guaranteed there is a class somewhere near you. Find it, and for goodness sake, stop waiting and GO!

Mm Mm Monday - Nawar Troupe Slovenia

These ladies SELL the sass. So joyful, so committed to their movement, their energy was completely infectious. All the way from Slovenia, I present to you: Nawar and their Saidi and Iraqi folk dance.

Fabulous Friday - Starlight in Her Hair

Ze Frank - Thoughts on the Creative Career

Ze Frank is some kinda genius, and you know I have linked up several of his videos on this blog in the past (um, even just this past Monday folks!). This video blog is about pursuing a creative career, and touches on some amazing points Ze says he wishes someone had said to him when he was starting out.

I love every little thing about this, but here were some particularly poignant parts I think students of the dance will appreciate and relate to, and hopefully Ze passes on to you (all of us!) that wisdom he so wished he had when he was at the start of his creative journey:

"(it helps) to realize that when I am in the beginning of learning something (and the beginning can last a couple years, by the way, not just a couple weeks or months), in that time you don't really have to worry about finding your own voice. In fact, that kind of gets in the way. You can copy people--sometimes that comes naturally when you just read someone, for example, you just start using their voice. Try reading Voorhees, for example, and not writing like him for the next two days.

Mm Mm Monday - Ze Frank

If you have not yet met Ze Frank, then let me introduce you and say "You are most welcome." He is equally skilled at delivering sidesplitting comedy as heart-wrenching truths. He is amazing.

If you have met him, I am sure you will enjoy this clip of him sharing wisdom that will bring a tear to your eye.

And if you have met him, and see this particular video already, I am sure the reminder is timely or needed or valuable someday...