Taking Chances

There comes a time for all of us when we just have to bite the bullet so to speak, and just do SOMETHING.  Something different. Something that explores or lets out a side of us that we have kept hidden from the rest of the world for whatever reason.  Usually it is the old "what would the neighbors (boyfriend, husband, co-workers) think if they knew?"  Now I am not suggesting anything deviant, I am just saying something out of the norm for us.

Last year, after my father died, I went skydiving.  I figured that if I could jump out of a perfectly good airplane from 2 miles up, I could do anything.  That was a once in a lifetime experience for me.  Now a year later, I am once again facing more life changes, and I found that I needed to get out of the box that I had put myself in.  I decided to take up belly dancing.  

I did go through the whole "what would other people think" mode.  And I did get the wink and a nod reaction from some people, thinking that I was doing this as a way to seduce a man.  I patiently explained that I am having problems with my lower back and with my stress level. This is a wonderful way to provide physical therapy while getting out of the house and do something new.   

I am loving it!  I have even volunteered to dance in public for a Cancer Society event.  I have started stretching and doing core exercises at home as well as practicing in front of a mirror.  Unlike the picture that I selected, I will not be in a costume like that!  I will be covered up!  I have chosen a beautiful ghawzee coat, skirt, pantaloons, and dance bra from Anaya Tribal.  I can't wait until they come in so I can start practicing in them.

The chance that I am taking is to do something different, to step out of my comfort zone, to risk what my friends and co-workers think of me.  But more important, what I think of myself.