I put out the intention that 2018 was going to be a big year, full of big moves. Apparently, the Universe heard me loud and clear and responded with “why wait?”
Tag: ambition
Drowning in a Pool of My Own Ambition
I know the title is a little dramatic, but I just liked the sound of it so much when it popped into my head. A neutral alternative title could be “One Thing at a Time.”
I think I got a little overexcited about 2017. 2016 was full of change and delays and detours; I was laser-focused on getting back on track and making up for lost time. We’re one month in and my laser focus has turned into a light show with beams shooting every which way. It’s getting hard to see where I’m going.
Inspiration -> Fear -> Why Not
I’ve been reading Patrice Tanaka’s Becoming Ginger Rogers. It’s a memoir and in it, Patrice shares her journey into ballroom dancing and how it changed her life. Sound familiar?
I never get tired of “life changed by ballroom” stories. Her story has so many familiar elements; it’s like reading a letter from a friend. While I was sitting in the shade by my apartment complex’s pool on Monday, she related the story of her first ballroom competition. I was, of course, instantly transported back to my own competition experiences and was struck very hard by a strong desire to be in that world again. Like right now.
A Sense of Direction
As is typical, after a few generally positive days, my mood has sunk a little. I have been spoiled this week with extra lessons and I recruited some new guys to Teacher’s group class, but once I was home awhile after all of that positivity, I still felt a little…unfulfilled, I guess?
The Klutzy Ballroom Dancer (Write31Days Day 10)
I put Looney Tunes on this morning as background while I worked on today’s post. Sometimes I really miss the old classic Saturday morning cartoons. Looney Tunes were the best! Yes, incredibly violent, but also brilliant! What led me to Looney Tunes was noting the number of bruises I’m currently sporting on my legs: one on my left knee, one on my right shin, one on my left ankle, and two on my right ankle. I’m like a slapstick character, get it?
Express Yourself! In the Studio Vs. the Club (Write31Days Day 4)
It’s funny, I made a list of topics for this 31-day challenge, but have yet to actually follow that list. One post just leads me to another post. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that things aren’t going as planned. When do they ever?
Last year, I started a series on my first blog, The Uphill Factor, titled “Express Yourself!” Teacher was starting to bring up the need for more emotional expression from me while I was dancing, and naturally, I wrote about my struggles:
Express Yourself!
Express Yourself! Part 2 – Tango Curses
Express Yourself! Part 3 – Butt and Boobs
Express Yourself! Part 4: No, Really, Express Yourself!
Partnering in Ballroom and a Free eBook!
I have two fun and exciting announcements!
First!
An article of mine on partnering in ballroom was just published on danceadvantage.net! You can read it here: http://www.danceadvantage.net/partnering-in-ballroom/
Second!
I have published my first eBook! And I’m offering it for FREE! It’s a compilation of my How to Cope with Loss series. I wanted to make it available to anyone who might need or want it, without requiring a search through old blog posts. Go to the Other Resources page and click on the image to download it.
In other news, just a few more days until the 31 Day Writing Challenge! I made a list of topic ideas, but I only got up to 28. Hopefully inspiration will strike on those three remaining days. I’m curious to see if making myself write every single day for a month will cause me to burn out on blogging or reach a whole new level of creative flow. We’ll see! I’m going to do my very best to bring you quality posts each day in October, so hopefully you don’t burn out on my blog either!
The Evolution of a Dancer
Every once in awhile, I like to reflect on where I am versus where I was. I have changed and grown so much in the past few years, and I think it is important to pause and acknowledge that growth. It’s a good thing to practice, especially when you feel like you’re stuck in your current situation. Think of this as a more in-depth follow-up to When Taking Ballroom, Side Effects May Include…
So how has the Girl evolved?
Cha-cha-changes
You may or may not have noticed, but the services page has been removed from thegirlwiththetreetattoo.com. I’ve stopped accepting contributions through my Patreon page as well. But it’s all to make way for new and exciting changes!
Continue reading
Countdown to USDC – 21 Days: Team Match and a Silver Debut
I’ve lucked out twice now with my studio holding a team match shortly before I’m to go to a big competition. Team matches are great to use as rehearsals for the “real thing” because you get the structure of a competition without the stress. Or in my case, with less stress (it never leaves me entirely). This one was especially important because it allowed me to try out my new silver routines!
Before the team match, I had never done a complete round of all four silver routines with Teacher, causing me just a little anxiety (ok, a LOT of anxiety). Adding to that stress was the uncomfortable feeling of being unprepared because I still didn’t know all of my silver choreography. I could follow Teacher, but I had no idea what we were doing. To me, it was like starring in a play and not knowing all of my lines. I would have Teacher essentially feeding me lines during the performance, but that meant I had to direct more thought power to what the next line was instead of how I was going to deliver it. It also almost feels like half-assing it, like I didn’t bother studying for a test because I was going to be able to take it with a partner. I’m just not that kind of student. Plus, as the article about introverts that I shared stated, I need to feel prepared.
So how did the team match go?
The Girl with the Tree Tattoo 