Blessings Blog

Today I'm so grateful to those who revitalized my love for dance;
Who were there for me to come out of my shell more in college, and who provided the opportunities for me to learn to try to follow without falling on my face in ballroom dance, as well as let out a little sass with Latin and hip-hop;
Who encouraged me through the process of wanting to find a way to keep dance in my life post-graduation;
Who said "Go for it!" when I threw out the idea of getting my Zumba instructor license to teach part-time (I'm going to get paid to dance and work out instead of figuring out how to pay for a gym membership? Yes please!);
Who let me use them or their classes as guinea pigs to test out choreography and just dancing in front of people this fall;
Who nudged me to cultivate my idea to hold a free Zumba class at my church to spread the Zumba love and to get a feel for teaching a full session. So many pieces fell into place today. Sound equipment worked. People came, on Thanksgiving weekend. And it seemed people enjoyed themselves! Which is the point - ignore the fact that you're trying to work out and dance party it up! Also, they put up with (and even enjoyed?) my ridiculous facial expressions. Awesome. And I'm seriously grateful for people who don't judge me when I'm wearing athletic clothes or dripping with sweat at church.

My church was instrumental in encouraging dance and creative expression when I was younger, but then I went through a really long self-conscious phase. I have always been weird and awkward, but now I'm comfortable enough in my own being to know and understand I am still weird, but I can let my weirdness and silliness show around more human beings! Long story short, it was only about two and a half years ago, in the end of my sophomore year at Carleton, that I realized I have so been missing this whole dance thing. And now silly-dancing with my friends is pretty much the best thing ever. I understand this is not true for everyone, but now, for me dancing is pure joy.

And I just thank God for accepting my respectable ridiculousness (as I've termed it) and for helping me prepare my heart to do something I love, dance, in front of others and even use it for good, to spread my love of Latin dance and encourage others to work out, get fit, and love the bodies and spirits God has given them too. Two years ago, I never would have thought I would find myself in the front of a classroom, much less dancing in front of people. But today, Zumba instructing is not petrifying, but merely a great challenge, requiring my love and strength, and worthy of my time and energy.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to see Mason Jennings in concert again, this time with Kevin Kling, phenomenal and hilarious story teller. A great mix of earthy and silly, adventurous and homey.

I'm thankful for just how much the neighborhood deli's chicken wild rice casserole can warm my whole body from the inside-out, especially since I'm having a hard time believing whatever frigid setting my house is at right now is actually an option on the thermostat.

I'm thankful my fingernails haven't broken off yet like they have every winter as the dropping temperatures typically turn them brittle. (My fingernails are not scary-long, if you are wondering. I keep them decently long for both beauty and functionality, and I love when they are strong and healthy).

And as I continue to get asked questions about my job situation and my future, as my beloved Carleton has sent me out into the world full of possibilities and paths for an International Relations major, the song that has kept me down-to-earth today reminds me of my call to serve others and repeats, "I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul." I am in a place in my life where I am trying to find the best balance between working for others and paying the bills, and I am so blessed to not have to choose between the two, but find a sustainable mix. I am so fortunate that there are so many possible directions out there, but I must be conscientious of not getting caught up working more (more than my sanity can take, that is) or taking a certain job just so that I can be more materially comfortable. In whatever I do, whether it be part-time jobs, travels, grad school, or career, I want it to be tied to my values and ethics. Learning from others. Encouraging others. Serving others. Working in solidarity for justice. This process is daunting but exciting. I crave to spend my time doing good. Tackling issues of social justice is so challenging and rewarding, but at times it feels like swimming upstream. So I must also remember that spending time with people I love, devoting time to music and art, and feeling called to dance also keep me grounded and nourish me in ways that overflow to every other aspect of my life and help me be a better listener, worker, and follower.