The Internal Effects of Dancing

Dancing can be a wonderful thing for the body, but what exactly are the internal effects of dancing? In this post I will explore some immediate effects that I've encountered so far in my three lessons in Middle Eastern bellydancing.

Self-esteem
Each session I become progressively more in tune with my body and more awed by the grace in my movements (sounds narcissistic, no?). I'll tell you one thing though. It's a great self-esteem booster when you've been having a bad day.

Multi-tasking
Your feet are moving at a different tempo than your hands are. Does your hair look good? Are you smiling? Is your belt on tight? Don't bend the wrists -- it's bad form.

Knowledge of Other Cultures
My class is taught by a professional bellydancer who models traditional clothing of bellydancers around the world, and educates us about stylistic differences between cultures (e.g., Persian hand and head movements).

Great Observation Skills
Learning choreography is hard. It's especially hard when you're unfamiliar with the movements that are characteristic of the dance. But it's great practice. It's also very complex due to the nature of it all. I mean, you've got to mimic the movements of another person, in a way that transfers well with the composition and physical range of your body. However once mastered, the art is seductive. It's transforming. It's sublime.

Positive Affect
Last session I went into the class feeling drained of all my energy. I came out feeling refreshed and renewed. I don't know how expending energy was able to perk me up, but it did and I'm mystified.

And there you have it. A short list of wonderful (but not physical) effects of dancing.

What Volunteering Accomplishes

I spent some time this past weekend volunteering for Earth Day.

After sacrificing the warmth of indoors for baby tree recovery, one tends to feel pretty good about having volunteered. There is one caveat to the whole volunteering process that I feel like isn't mentioned a whole lot, and that's inflation.

I'm not talking about the kind of inflation that lowers the value of a dollar, but rather the kind that causes egos to rise (self-inflation).

When I hear of people who've volunteered, I tend to see that directly linked to a dusting-off of hands and the allowance of a whole year to pass by before the next session of volunteerism. We seem to think that once is enough and volunteering is only for special occasions. Some say that there is no time to complete much more than a once-yearly deal. Well here's a reality check: We make time for what we want. What is it that you want? If there's truly a change that you want to see in the world, you must take that initiative.

On another note, it's important to reflect upon service as well. Because without that reflection, there is no way to gauge the effect you've had on the community nor the impact that can be had.

Hope to see you all out on the field.

The Spark

An important adult in my life recently suggested that I do something I've never considered -- to take the initiative.

It seems simple, and yet the thought didn't occur to me on my own. Have you ever caught yourself wishing for a situation to become better, only to realize that you could be the very spark that creates that ideal future? It's intoxicating. And empowering.

After I warmed up to the idea of taking the responsibility for the events in my life as well as the life of my organization, it became clear to me that I hold power -- much more than I had imagined.

Writing and Drama: Do They Go Hand in Hand?

Must one have drama in her life in order to become an intense and passionate writer? I say -- to some extent -- yes. However, the magnitude of that drama need not be high.

When authors of fiction sit down to write, their heads brew conflict and turmoil, for those are the fundamental pieces of any story. I feel it's near impossible to create a world of rabid bunnies for your novel if all you've ever experienced are gentle, rolling hills and sunshine.

But what about for expository pieces? Those writers must have had at least some experience in the field of their art. My argument is that it doesn't take previous drama to write an amazing piece, but it does take some know-how of others' drama, and the ability to expound that into the simplest of situations.

Good writers make small things seem big.

The True Source of Meaningful Interaction

I've learned so much today from random interaction with familiar people and strangers. Topics of culture, education, career advice, adult-child interactions, peer-pressure, and volunteerism came up. The catch to these conversations is that these people did not immediately share the knowledge that I found to be most useful and engaging. In fact, the use of guiding questions is what had the most impact on my ability to connect with them.

I asked these people their favorite blank, why they like blank, and how they got started with blank. Forming a genuine conversation is not hard, but you need to be just that -- genuine. It always brightens my day to have communicated with someone in a deep way. So I'd like to pose this question: What have you asked about today?

Bonding Moments

I had a bonding moment today with a girl that I always see but have literally never talked to.

It happened like this: two boys raced down the hallway of our dorm and nearly knocked her over as we were both exiting the bathroom. We looked each other in the eye and immediately had the same thought -- that those boys were being ridiculous.

Each interaction with another person may seem unique at first, but upon further examination it's interesting to note that relationships have patterns. The natural progression of relationships (specifically friendships and romances) has been effectively categorized into steps by scholars such as Julia Wood. She explains that bonding over commonalities is a prevalent factor in strengthening relationships. When you're put into similar situations and/or must endure a situation together, you're more likely to form a connection with the other person. To reflect on this pattern, just think about how many close-knit friendships do you have that began from an initial spark of simple bonding through commonality?

Education's Pitfalls

As someone who works firsthand in a preschool classroom, I observe serious issues with the way that the education system works. Because of the way we are set up, the children who think and act outside of the box are punished. How will we create a generation of leaders when all we're doing is teaching children to follow?

Students should never be afraid of their teachers. In fact, I believe that students should actively seek teachers that they are most comfortable with to provide the learning environment most conducive to productivity and engagement. Anything less is a cheap trick. We need to recognize that the institutions that we're sending our children to for the better part of their day are not necessarily beneficial to their development as innovators. We need help.

Get That Laid Back Vibe

I've been doing some reassessing of my own life, and have found that many pressing issues that I face everyday don't merit my time and consideration. The source of my stress is the result of me convincing myself that all tasks assigned to me are necessary. Let me let you in on a little secret: they're not.

Homework was one of the first things I reevaluated and then crossed off my list as a "top priority." I complete tons less homework everyday and as a result I have less to worry about, more free time to spend with family and friends, and the opportunity to concentrate my efforts on learning about topics that legitimately interest me. I've been utilizing my homework time with maximum efficiency and less attention to detail so that I can experiment with other ventures with my new found free time. There is so much more to learning than what you'll find in a textbook or in the classroom.

The one question I'll leave you with is: Are you stressing about something that doesn't deserve to evoke such negative emotions from you?

The Very Beginning

I have made a choice. A bold choice that states that I will: Write often in this blog to improve and observe the evolution of my writing quality.

Before committing to this choice, I was motivated by the relentless dedication of Seth Godin, a man who releases his ideas to the public on a daily basis.

I say that it's a bold move because we often delude ourselves into thinking that we haven't the time to commit to personal growth. Like so many that have come before me, and some that have yet to come, I will honestly make the effort to write consistently (and update you in the process).