It’s been quite the week. I started my fall courses at UW-Green Bay. It will be an interesting semester trying to balance both jobs and my courses, though I’m certain I can do it. I also broke off a long-term relationship and signed a lease to my own apartment. It definitely hurts, but it’s for the best. The lease signing and the break-up all officially happened on Monday. Boy, was I glad that my hoop class was on Monday too!
Back at it! They consider me a Senior now, but I still have about 2 years left, as I just declared a new major (Comm)!
I came into hoop class full of emotions and ready to be distracted. The class progressed like any other, though this day felt particularly challenging. I kept trying and trying, but I had to step out for a minute. I thought, “On such a sad and frustrating day for me, can’t something go right?” I was so angry that I wasn’t understanding the moves or able to perform them at all. I took a drink of water, splashed some on my face, and looked into the mirror. It was only my second hoop class ever. I also entered near the end of the term, and the curriculum has been building for the last 8 weeks. I took a deep breath or two, walked back to the studio and hopped into the hoop. The rest of the class still didn’t go as well as I would like, but my experience reminded me of an important lesson I learned when I started taking pole classes.
I mentioned in my introduction post that I take some time to learn new moves. It just so happens that I tend to be surrounded by women who are aerial rock stars. It’s difficult not to be upset or defeated when all of your classmates are doing the move and you are still struggling to get in it. This happens to me regularly in pole class and I have to remind myself it’s OK. I might not get the move right away, but I need to try as hard as I can to learn and master it. While some of my classmates could learn it in a few turns, I had to come in to practice for a few weeks and ask for help. I’ve been told that’s totally normal. So, if you find yourself like me, struggling, it’s OK. I promise, you’ll get it!
Just hangin’ out… not a care in the world….. 🙂
For educational purposes, here’s what it looks like from the back…
This was the only move, at the end of class, that I felt I could manage to do well enough for a photo. I look happy because I am happy! You’ve got to celebrate the small victories and the little steps forward. Be proud of yourself! There are people out there who didn’t even try!
It’s been a long week, but it’s going to get better. I celebrate the little victories in my aerial work, and I have to remember to celebrate the little (and the big) victories in life. Don’t forget to reward yourself too!