Life is short...so dance.

As I sit here in my little room in my little apartment, I am overwhelmed by the fact of how life has flown by. I recently received my engagement photos. They turned out wonderful and captured by an even more wonderful friend. I can't help but think, where did the time go? I feel as if I was just a little girl and now I am getting married. Time flies!

I sit here and think upon how blessed I have been. My entire life, I have been able to express myself creatively through dancing. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew this is what I have always wanted to do. I am so overwhelmed that I have had the privilege of teaching the students that I have. It sounds so cliche, but it truly has brought me more joy then you will ever know. I truly truly miss teaching. Those who I have worked with in the past, your beautiful spirits have meant so much to my journey as a dance teacher. Although I am now pursuing ballroom dancing, contemporary dance will always have my heart. There is so much freedom. Even now, I am listening to music and just can't help but dance in my head and long to choreograph to different pieces.

I miss teaching classes. I miss working with those who I got so close with. I miss working with my precious sister and being able to witness her understanding of concepts I give to her. There is something so beautiful about working with her, that I absolutely miss. I miss dancing contemporary. I know this isn't the end. Although I pursue just ballroom dancing right now, I know contemporary is also in my future. My hope and prayer is to truly bring people joy when I dance. I am laughing at myself so much right now because I sound like a walking cliche. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing someone smile when you dance. Not to mention the feeling I get when I can move and dance through time and space and let everything else go.

I remember the days I was competing like it was yesterday. They are so incredibly special. I have had a crazy journey through competition days and into the whole professional dance world. When I was younger I let myself get far to into the results of competitions. At times it took the joy away. The pressure and expectations I put on myself became too much to handle. It is my absolute prayer that I can encourage others to never let that happen. To enjoy every possible minute of dance. Even if you don't go on to pursue dance when you are older, it will always be with you. It will always have served a purpose. I am so grateful for mine. I am so grateful I never gave up. I won't give up. I won't let results take joy away. Not from me, not from others. Life is absolutely too short to not enjoy the present.

I am actually unsure of why I am writing this post, or to whom I am writing it to, maybe its just for myself. But needless to say, I will continue pursuing dance. I will keep pressing in to my gifts. I will continue to reach out to others and pushing students to reach new levels. I will continue to inspire my sister with the undeniable potential she has. I will continue to strive to push myself outside of my own limits. I will continue to strive to provide choreography that is special and unique to the dancer to whom it is given. I will always dance. Life is too short not to.