About six months ago, I wrote a post about how the crappy days are more important. It was inspired by this quote of Georges St-Pierre:

“You don’t get better on the days when you feel like going. You get better on the days when you don’t want to go, but go anyway. If you can overcome the negative energy coming from your tired body or unmotivated mind, you will grow and become better. It won’t be the best workout you have, you won’t accomplish as much as what you usually do when you actually feel good, but that doesn’t matter. Growth is a long term game, and the crappy days are more important.” Georges St-Pierre, The Way of the Fight

I haven’t had a chance to get his book Way of the Fight yet, but it’s definitely on my list. I was thinking about this quote a lot in the last couple days because they’ve been pretty crappy.

I know it doesn’t make sense. I received AMAZING news on Friday regarding a second anonymous sponsor and what that meant for my competition goals. I attended an International Ballroom dance camp on Sunday that left me feeling tired, sore and INSPIRED. What do I have to feel crappy about?

Well, Monday came and it all just went downhill.

Nothing specific happened; I must have just had a serious case of the Mondays. They must have been pretty bad because they extended through Tuesday and are still plaguing me on Wednesday. I think part of the problem is my mood is dropping from a high and I don’t have much to catch me. Teacher is competing with students this week, so I don’t have a lesson until Friday. Then he’s out of town all of next week. Looking ahead at the lack of dancing left me feeling a little deflated. It’s that pro-am conundrum – you go to something like Sunday’s dance camp, leave feeling inspired and motivated to get to work right away on what you learned with your dance partner, but your partner is your teacher who has other students to take care of and can’t fit you into his schedule just because you’re feeling extra motivated.

I did go to the studio on Tuesday to practice on my own. I spent the whole day arguing with myself about it. I knew I should go, but I really really didn’t want to. I went anyway.

Artistic proof I was at the studio, even though I didn’t want to be

I spent about an hour doing exercises Teacher had given me and then working on my waltz routine. I didn’t feel great. I did figure out more of the end of the choreography; before I was just following Teacher. Something about shadow was messed up though, and I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. That’s where solo practice really frustrates me. I don’t have my partner to help me figure it out.

At the same time I’m feeling grumpy, I’m trying to focus on some positives. I WILL be able to afford to compete at Desert Classic in July. It’s finally getting closer to the point when I can start contacting people about rentals, so I can also figure out where I’ll be living in July. I’m also keeping Mr. St-Pierre in mind. The crappy days are important. If I’m having crappy days, they don’t have to be a loss. They are opportunities for growth.

So here’s to a week of growth!