“Are you a dancer? You have great moves.”
“Thanks,” I replied, “no, not really.”
This actually happened twice within two weeks. I gave the same response both times.
What the ?!@#$
So if you don’t know me, I began dancing at a young age, ballet, jazz, even a little tap (that’s me and my pal Beth before one of our recitals). I was a cheerleader from middle school through college, and though it was more gymnastics, dancing was always involved. I performed in and choreographed musicals for over a decade. I became a Jazzercise instructor, a DANCE fitness program, which I have been teaching for 28 years. I couldn’t even begin to calculate the number of classes I’ve taught.
Yet, when someone asked me if i was a dancer, I said no.
They weren’t asking if I was currently on tour with the NYC Ballet, and I doubt they expected I was taking a morning off from my current run on the Broadway stage.
Seriously? Isn’t it time we own our gifts?
Do you like to ski? Yes
Were you in the last Olympics? No
Are you a skier? YES!
Do you love to journal or blog? Yes
Are you on the NY Times Bestseller list? No
Are you a writer? YES!
Granted, this was an innocent exchange, but with interesting and important consequences.
When we dismiss our talents and gifts in small ways, it can grow and seep into other more important ways in which we show up in our lives
Don’t minimized your gits. OWN them and shine your light BRIGHTLY. The world needs your radiance.
Now, off to hit the dance floor.
I am, after all, a dancer.