Learning to Lead

I mentioned earlier I was invited to join an all-women Salsa performance group. Practices have started and yours truly was picked to be a lead. HA! My friend and I both started at the same time which made it a little less intimidating to join a group of ladies (even though they are very friendly, warm and understanding) who already know the routine. We have a few practices under our belt now and let me tell you blog family leading is NOT easy!

Since learning to dance Salsa I have wanted to learn to lead because there are always an abundance of women at the dance venues. Before joining the performance group, my friends and I vowed to learn to lead because we thought it would be fun. It is fun but very different than following. Parallel life comparison, right?

When you learn to follow it is about leaving your arms loose for the man to...well...do what he wants to do with you! Your job as a follower is to keep your feet (left, right, left. right, left, right...at least in Casino style Salsa) and not stop dancing.

When you learn to lead it is all about timing. Knowing where your partner is in relation to other people on the floor. Keeping them safe so they will not bump into anyone or get stepped on. Have an idea of what you want your partner to do so the dance is not boring. It is your job to keep your partners steps smooth, know where she is and make her movements flow. Even in a choreographed routine it is about timing, steps and flair in the turns. Taking great care to make your partner look good. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

Similar to life off the dance floor hardwoods leading and following is a difficult challenge to master. It takes a very open-minded individual to go from being a follower to a leader and be able to successfully flip that from a leader to a follower in the next dance. Now that I am learning to lead, I have to make a conscience effort to follow. My instinct is to immediately take the guys hand instead of giving him my own.

I need to make sure in learning to lead I have not forgotten how (and when) to follow.

On and off the dance floor...



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...(Nothing Like It)

There is nothing like looking into the eyes of someone who sees you, gets you and still wants to spend time with you.

The first day the temperature goes above 65 degrees and the sun is shining after a cold winter. There is nothing like that first long walk.

There is nothing like seeing a photo of you knowing you were having a great time and had no clue someone snapped a photo of you.

There is nothing like the first compliment, the first hug or the first kiss of someone you really want to stick around for a while.

There is nothing like that I can't breathe laugh with a group of great friends.

There is nothing in the world like being undressed by someone who knows how to do it.

There is nothing like good memories of a loved one you've lost after the pain is gone.

There is nothing listening to that song on the radio and smiling at the flood of memories that come with it.

There is nothing like knowing it did not work and it was not your fault.

There is nothing like the peace you feel when you wake up in the morning with the sun shining, the birds singing and joy in your heart.

There is nothing like a rainy day, being curled up in the corner of my sofa with a good book and a great cup of something hot.

There is nothing like knowing I have accomplished so much more than the generation before me and knowing my niece will accomplish so much more than I ever could.

There is NOTHING like that feeling...



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Can't Keep Running Away

I am spoiled. I realized in just a short amount of time that a certain someone has spoiled me beyond belief. They can talk to me about anything without being afraid of me running away and I now expect the same from everyone else.

I expect to be able to put it out there and have it put out there in return. Instead, I got the same old games and it is extremely dissapointing. I do not like certain aspects of my life right now. There are a few things I would change and the level of communication I experience is definitely one of them. Surely it is possible to have wonderful verbal communication as well as physical? You don't have to settle for one or the other, right?

Seriously, after a certain age both men and women should be able to plainly ask for what they want, ask for what they need and what they are looking for? They should be able to express how they feel in plain terms without belittling or malicously hurting the other person. Seriously...

At what point, at what age, at what life experience do you realize...you can't keep running away?


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...