One of the greatest life lessons was learned in dance class. No, I wasn't one of those cute little five year olds in dance class, I was a chunky seventeen year old! Classified by two of those cute little things as 'an old lady,' at 17!
Dance class...seemed impossible. But together with my sister and two of her friends I braved the class. My overweight body clad in unattractive tights and a leotard, the view was... well use your imagination! Picture Rosie O'Donnell in tights (or don't, it might freak you out!). But that was me. Round, out of shape, and obviously not the top candidate for doing plies and splits. And certainly not surrounded by walls of mirrors!
But it was a challenge. And never one to back down from a challenge I signed up and kept on going. As the teacher urged us on to kick higher, jump higher, and try new things, she's rap out 'IF YOU FALL, FALL REACHING!'
I can no longer do those jumps or plies, but I did learn a life lesson from her. Her mantra 'If you fall, fall reaching' has carried me through times I thought I just couldn't do it! It was just too hard.
So if you're facing what feels like an insurmountable problem, remember the mantra--IF YOU FALL, FALL REACHING!--Better to have tried and fallen than never to have tried at all. We learn from both our successes in life and our failures. I may not have turned into a great dancer but I did learn the power of perseverance in anything I attempt. It is the journey, not the destination that counts. And if the journey stretches you, it's a journey worth taking.
That's a terrific mantra and an even better life lesson.
ReplyDeleteThe things I've learned from 'odd' sources... I never thought all that sweat and sore muscles and poor coordination (you do not want to see me do plies!) would have been such a helpful life lesson. Not to mention I love a good quote when I can apply it to my life.
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