I lost my footing last year.
I’ve always been a planner, a goal-setter, a person who gets things done. But after a series of personal upheavals, I found myself without any anchors to ground me. Gone were the daily commitments and crazy hours that peppered my calendar. I was free … and adrift.
Dear friends had all sorts of suggestions for me. They gave me books to read, podcasts to listen to, and a lot of fantastic advice — including urging me to go back to the activities that had brought me joy in the past.
I decided to listen to these wise people. But what did I really enjoy? What had fallen by the wayside? I had also found pleasure in gardening and breadmaking, but I needed something more. I wasn’t quite sure what that more was but I kept my eyes open and my senses tuned in.
And then I remembered: I used to love dancing.
I’ve always been an enthusiastic dancer; I would not call me an accomplished dancer, but the love for it is there. I spent a good part of my life avoiding the dance floor, unfortunately. My former husband didn’t enjoy it, and I didn’t enjoy forcing it, so the opportunities to spin around the floor were few and far between.
I took my first ballroom dance lessons after my divorce. But like so many hobbies and
pastimes I enjoyed, I let my time on the floor dwindle while my business ramped up and my volunteer duties multiplied. Suddenly, dance wasn’t essential. It was something that made me happy, but I kept it on the back burner, like so many other things.
But now? Now, I had more time.
When I stepped back on the floor, all of my enthusiasm came rushing back. After a year of health issues, I was amazed at the resilience of my body and its response to graceful movement. I know dance has plenty of positive health benefits, but I felt something even more intangible — a lift in my spirits.
Everything about dance moves me: The close, coordinated movements between two people, the unspoken communication, the beauty of a group of dancers moving in sync to a waltz. I took comfort in the rigid rules of ballroom dancing. Each dance has its own rhythm, its own set of prescribed steps, its own Do’s and Don’ts.
Now, after many months of dance lessons, I have rediscovered more than how to rumba or foxtrot. I’ve found a new community and something to genuinely look forward to. I’ve rediscovered my faith in my body. And I’ve had enormous amounts of fun.
I’ve regained my footing, one step at a time.
If you feel like you’re not quite on stable ground, please reach out and schedule a free consultation. I know from experience how invaluable it is to have a guide and sounding board during periods of personal instability, and I’d love to help!