One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard is: "Only take advice from people who are where you want to be." It's a great compliment that Willo trusts you to be a beacon to her while she feels her way through the darkness.
I went to an art high school for three years and it was the one place I could truly express myself back then. I'm guessing your dance class felt the same to many students. So many people never experience the feeling of being themselves. They spend a lifetime trying to fit molds already pre-made for them. They know when things feel wrong, but they have no "right" feeling as a reference or comparison. They have no touchstone of what feels real.
Whether you hear from all your students or just Willo, you probably did more than you know to provide them with an internal touchstone to help steer their lives.
I agree, never ever take advice from those who are where you want to be. So many of my students had no way of understanding who they were or where they wanted to go. I truly loved teaching teenagers because they were in such an important transition in life that most adults brush off.
I truly thought that being a dance teacher was going to be a fun, easy-breezy career choice and it ended up being the biggest learning experience of my life so far. I honestly felt like they were the teachers and I was the student. It was such a beautiful and heartbreaking era in my life to learn so much about so many.
What an inspiring story! Your students were (and continue to be) lucky to have someone like you in their lives.
I think we all know, on some level deep down, what our true nature is. But we're often so haunted by "what ifs" that we silence the voice of intuition, even when it's screaming at us. I believe that, eventually, we all find our "true north" , but the way there is usually paved with a lot of heartache, disappointment and confusion.
I am always surprised by life and the impact of the connections we make. The people who inspire us and shape our world-view can come in the most unexpected ways.
I agree that we all truly know what our intuition is asking of us, but I'm not sure that everyone finds their True North, I think only the seekers are granted access to the compass.
I've known many folks in my own family who stayed committed to heartache, disappointment and confusion until death (isn't that the saddest??). Growth and learning to trust your intuition takes major courage and many people are afraid of change and the shame that comes with owning their own "failures."
Or maybe they did as much as they could to expand, but didn't have access to the information and knowledge we have today. Maybe what I saw as a commitment to not-growing was their version of expansion. It's such a fascinating concept to try to understand why people do what they do! Thanks for your comment, I always love hearing what you have to say!
Yes, that's true. You can only find it if you seek it, and you can't seek it if you let fear freaze you in place. Indeed, it's sad to see people die with their dreams still inside of them.
I'm not speaking from the "top of the hill", I personally haven't found my True North either, but I'm well commited to the cause. :)
Beautiful!
Thank you!
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard is: "Only take advice from people who are where you want to be." It's a great compliment that Willo trusts you to be a beacon to her while she feels her way through the darkness.
I went to an art high school for three years and it was the one place I could truly express myself back then. I'm guessing your dance class felt the same to many students. So many people never experience the feeling of being themselves. They spend a lifetime trying to fit molds already pre-made for them. They know when things feel wrong, but they have no "right" feeling as a reference or comparison. They have no touchstone of what feels real.
Whether you hear from all your students or just Willo, you probably did more than you know to provide them with an internal touchstone to help steer their lives.
I agree, never ever take advice from those who are where you want to be. So many of my students had no way of understanding who they were or where they wanted to go. I truly loved teaching teenagers because they were in such an important transition in life that most adults brush off.
I truly thought that being a dance teacher was going to be a fun, easy-breezy career choice and it ended up being the biggest learning experience of my life so far. I honestly felt like they were the teachers and I was the student. It was such a beautiful and heartbreaking era in my life to learn so much about so many.
I think you meant to say. "I agree, never ever take advice from those who areN'T where you want to be." :-)
I envy your ability to dance. I could never even do a aerobics class without looking like I was in a body I had just rented for the day!
Haha, yes, that's what I meant. If it makes you feel better, dance doesn't come natural to most people :)
What an inspiring story! Your students were (and continue to be) lucky to have someone like you in their lives.
I think we all know, on some level deep down, what our true nature is. But we're often so haunted by "what ifs" that we silence the voice of intuition, even when it's screaming at us. I believe that, eventually, we all find our "true north" , but the way there is usually paved with a lot of heartache, disappointment and confusion.
I am always surprised by life and the impact of the connections we make. The people who inspire us and shape our world-view can come in the most unexpected ways.
I agree that we all truly know what our intuition is asking of us, but I'm not sure that everyone finds their True North, I think only the seekers are granted access to the compass.
I've known many folks in my own family who stayed committed to heartache, disappointment and confusion until death (isn't that the saddest??). Growth and learning to trust your intuition takes major courage and many people are afraid of change and the shame that comes with owning their own "failures."
Or maybe they did as much as they could to expand, but didn't have access to the information and knowledge we have today. Maybe what I saw as a commitment to not-growing was their version of expansion. It's such a fascinating concept to try to understand why people do what they do! Thanks for your comment, I always love hearing what you have to say!
Yes, that's true. You can only find it if you seek it, and you can't seek it if you let fear freaze you in place. Indeed, it's sad to see people die with their dreams still inside of them.
I'm not speaking from the "top of the hill", I personally haven't found my True North either, but I'm well commited to the cause. :)
Same girl, same :)