I Am Thankful For...

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I feel like doing an update sort of post instead all photo challenges (though I am thankful that it's almost done. haha) I want to do tie in the holiday to how I feel about dance. But first, an update!

My transfer ban is over in 13 days! It's hard to believe that it's almost over. Back in June it seemed so far away. That means the O'shea Chaplin Feis is in 17 days (you know, give or take some hours). I'm so thrilled to be competing again and now that I'm in & overs I will have so many more opportunities to compete. I read about someone recently who went from Novice to Prelim in six months. I'd be happy to get to Prizewinner in six months but if I've learned anything so far on this journey is that it's important to go into a competition with low expectations. While I feel really prepared and confident (except when I have a random brain fart) I don't want to assume that I'm going to sweep because if I don't...it's my first feis post transfer and I'll have plenty more. Still, it's pretty fun to imagine dancing my best and getting rewarded for it. I'll do another post on how I feel readiness wise in about a week.

Other than that, the schedule has been crazy between Oireachtas and Thanksgiving, Christmas fairs next week and my husband's birthday and our anniversary. I had dance last night and I'm going again tonight. I'll only be dancing once next week. Pretty sure I'm dancing three days the week of the feis, but I'll keep you updated.

Okay, back to business. I am thankful for... The Irish Dance Version.

I am thankful for my TC. I am no long the number 24 or 25 or 26, in a class being told to do things without the proper technique. I no longer feel crazy that I want to become an open champion. I feel that my dancing has improved so much in six months and I've had opportunities I would have never had at my old school. When she tells you your slip jig is beautiful it's pretty awesome too.

I am thankful for warm ups, stretching, and conditioning. I'm sure that most of you are like "yeah...that seems pretty fake..." but I mean it. If it weren't for those things, I wouldn't be going to a feis in two weeks, I'd be sitting home with shin splints. That and I've toned up a lot!

I'm thankful for all the wonderful people I've met through dance. Especially those you that are over the age of 18. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has this crazy passion/borderline addiction. Sometimes adult life is tough (and I don't even have kids yet) and dance is such a relief and outlet for me. We are a great little group, sometimes described as warriors with skirts, and I can't wait to see what we are capable of.

I am thankful for being in the New England Region. Say what you want about us, that we're disorganized, that the board is secretive. Hell all I have to do is give you the initials of a dance school and the voy boards are up in arms. (Honestly, I should be more offended I guess, because the whole situation just proves how subjective dance can truly be. I just want to go to their feis so I can get that much closer to my goal!) Anyway, the point is I live in a region where if I wanted to feis every weekend (which I cannot afford) I could. If there isn't a feis in New England, than I can drive an hour or two and be in New York, New Jersey etc. It's great to have options as I know some people in other regions only get to feis half a dozen times a year unless they drive or fly ridiculous distances. As I said previously, it's nice to have the opportunities that I have.

I'm thankful for Rising Star, Camilla Rose, Rutherford, Helen Doyle, sparkly poodle socks and all the other things that make Irish Dance fabulous! I'm not thankful for how much you all cost. But I can't wait to get to opens so I can get that dress I've been dreaming about.

Okay, five is enough. I'm also thankful for my family, my friends, the fact that I have a job that is pretty good most of the time, and I have a house. Last year I was injured and thinking about moving in with my in laws so that's a serious improvement.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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