Who knew Pilates could help you hip hop dance?
Stepping Out Into New Opportunities
I think many people who know me personally know that I like to dance, and usually it's in a partner type dance like swing. Not many people know that I also like to do some hip hop. Seeing the original Step Up movie, and the ones after that, ignited a desire to dance. I even went and took some lessons, although I hadn’t been able to really get my body to move the way I wanted it to. So I probably just looked awkward.
Well, this has been a year of overcoming fear, worry, and what other people think. I've had multiple opportunities all year long to become an overcomer, and I’ve learned the value of taking the opportunities. It doesn't mean it has always been easy, but the courage to step out has strengthened.
Dancing at Weddings
Tonight, I was at some of my friends' super fun wedding. I did some partner dancing, but there were some fun opportunities for individual dancing. We made a couple of dance circles, and I hopped in there. Normally, I just wouldn’t go for it, but tonight I did. I threw in some super basic popping, locking, waving, tutting, and krump at various moments. I even got into a dance battle with one of the kids there. Just for fun, of course.
Did it look good? Who knows? It didn’t really matter. I was having fun. I was stepping out and moving past fear or people pleasing. I did it, and just went for it.
Wait, my body can move this way?
I was surprised that my body was able to move the way I wanted it to. Every once in a while at home, I’ll just break out in some moves, and ever since I started doing Pilates, I’ve been thinking, my body didn’t use to be able to do this. I think the Pilates every morning is making a difference in ways I wouldn’t have expected. It's really wild how we focus on each muscle group in the body and how that translates to being able to dance.
However, I wouldn’t have ever known it was possible to really just go for it if I hadn’t ever just gone for it. I think I've held myself back in some ways, and there is something freeing about saying no to fear. I know fear isn't the way the Lord wants us to walk in. It's been a wild year of learning to be courageous, but it's been worth it.
What about you?
If there are places in your life that you've been holding back in, begin to take steps to overcoming. Begin to renew your mind, strengthen your body, and grow in whatever you need to grow in to be an overcomer. Take the small steps, and when the opportunities come to step out, step out. It might not look pretty in the beginning. You'll make mistakes. But it'll be worth it.
Be blessed all!