If you’re not having fun, stop pushing yourself or forcing the fun to happen. Take a step back. Take a breather. Take. Your. Time.
Me? I had to put boundaries in. I would dance with any and everyone even if I’m not having fun and you know what happened? I broke. I started to feel disappointed/angry/resentment. It wasn’t fun, it wasn’t making me happy. Take a step back. You’re only human. The joy will come back. Your love for it never left.
Love when friends from outta town come to MO’s on Mondays! Had so much fun @caityco . Shoutout @stricklinryan21 for that smoooooth steal👀👌🏾 #dance #texas #htx #westcoastswingdance #hiphop
What does “burnout” mean to you? What exactly are you burnt out from? Do you know specifically or are you letting a negative piece take over as a whole?
I used to say I was burnt out on dancing. “I’m tired of it” I don’t want to dance anymore” I was wrong. I’m not tired of dancing, I’m tired of other people’s expectations that I put on myself to make sure everything is perfect… for them. To be better, for them. To not mess up, for them.
What about me?
Dance is suppose to be fun. Yes it comes with a competitive side and you’ll always be your harshest critic. But socially? It’s not a competition, you shouldn’t be one upping anyone on that social floor.
Remember the first time you did a move that you never thought you could? You didn’t do that for someone else, you did that for your self.
Recently, I’ve had several individuals come up and tell me that I intimidate them. ME?! How? What on earth could you find intimidating about me?
“You dance so carefree.” It’s so effortless and natural”
Honey, nothing about the way I dance is effortless. It has taken me way too long to remember and to remind myself that dance is fun. It’s whimsical. It’s being in your room with the music blasting and dancing like nobody’s watching.
Remember that?
Don’t get me wrong, I tear myself down constantly. Because when I mess up, the first person I look at is my lead. Did they notice? Maybe. Did I react larger than my fail? 100% So then why not own the mistake as if if were a cool new move? What’re you going to remember more, your mistake? Or the belly laugh from realizing shit happens and you can’t do anything about it once it happens. If you’re going to dance, commit to the whole dance. Fails and all.
#fail #progressnotperfection #dancing #laugh #texas
For the life of me I could never figure out why any follow would want to dance with me as their lead. I know barely a handful of moves. Then it hit me. I had been saying it over and over again to new leads when they ask for feedback back. We want quality. A dance where we feel safe, have fun, no pressure to be perfect or worry about being yanked around. We want to have FUN. Quantity and quality can coexist as long as you make us feel safe. But please, don’t yank us around while you’re figuring it out. Slow down, ease us into it just as you are learning it yourself.
Thank you to all the follows that dance with me. You’re all talented and help me learn to be a better lead for you. 💛
Healing isn’t linear. It isn’t perfect. It has no time frame. 2 years ago I made a quick decision to Irish goodbye an entire city. To leave a “home” where if I stayed my mental health would never have recovered and to be perfectly honest, I don’t think I would still be here.
2 years of having to learn how to be on my own. 2 years of relearning how to take care of myself- mentally, emotionally, physically. I’m no where near where I want to be & I am no where near who I was when I got here.
I wouldn’t recognize myself if I met her today & I would be intimidated meeting myself back then.
Keep healing from whatever it is that terrifies you. Your future self will respect you for it. 🫶🏽
Ever wanted to know what an anxiety attack looks like while dancing? (For me at least)
Exhibit: my face.
I have panic and anxiety attacks pretty frequently. Which, as a dancer, with all the stress related to travel, overstimulation, new people, crowds, I can’t really help when they happen. Normally, I try to regulate when I feel myself starting to have one. Unfortunately, when I travel to places I’ve never been to before they can creep up quicker than I can catch it. Or I’ll ignore it if I’m having fun.
This was such a fun steals dance that started with me asking my friend to vibe with me because I felt overwhelmed and it turned into a first dance with a new friend and back to another familiar face. 🫶🏽
I love dancing and will never stop, though I do need to be kinder to myself and remember to take breaks to get myself down when the anxiety is high. The important thing is to listen to your body, I didn’t and ended up needing to sit outside for a hot minute to calm down.
