Yes, it's a Ballet post

So here's the thing...

I really, really, REALLY love ballet!!!

Yeah, I know...none of you have figured that out yet, have you?? ;-)

There was a time when I made dancing my entire life. It was all I wanted to focus on. It was all I wanted.  Up until now, I've always thought that my dreams of being a ballet dancer were completely stripped away from me.  Very recently ((meaning, just within the past couple of weeks)), I have found myself feeling a lot of anger towards no longer being able to dance the way I "was before"...before I had my spine operated on.  

I've missed having the good muscle memory to pick up combinations quickly and remember them. 

I've missed the high extensions and flexibility.

I've missed having the muscle strength to be able to do things like lift my leg straight up and hold it there.

I've missed having the core strength to dance en pointe.

I've missed being able to turn a triple pirouette.

i've missed a lot of things about my sweet passion, ballet.

God placed the desire in my heart to dance from day one.

He hasn't taken that away. My passion is just as strong as it has always been.

And before today, I always just assumed I would never be good again after having such a major surgery.

But I took a look at the list of things that I miss from ballet...and I realized that all of these things are things that I can get back. It would take A LOT of hard work, and absolutely full commitment to the process...

but it can be done :)

This thought makes me so thrilled.

Oh don't get me wrong, I know that I shouldn't get my hopes up so high that I might have a chance at dancing at the level I am aiming for. I am fully aware that it might not happen at all. The limitations in my upper back from surgery may very well be too much.

Don't worry I know all of these things.

But having said that, now I won't be setting myself up for disappointment if I don't accomplish what I'm hoping for. And if I find that I can't do it, I know that I can still dance for fun, and still dance just because I love it!

So, instead of getting discouraged in class...I will look to my teachers for help and encouragement on how to improve.

Instead of giving up when I don't get something right the first time...I will fight for it, learn from my mistakes, and work hard to get it right the next time.

Instead of allowing myself to get lazy on technique just because I don't think I will ever get it back again...I will keep my focus on every technical aspect possible until it becomes total muscle memory again and I do it completely naturally.

Instead of sitting around during my free time like I usually do...I will put on a show or movie and work to tone my muscles && core.

I can't wait to get started!!