Quitting quitting

[Laura]

As I've said to a few friends already, I've un-quit dancing. I really didn't mean to -- but basically an old friend emailed me last week and convinced me to give it another try (the message went something like "NO QUITTING!!!!"). So now I'm taking lessons again. Just privates, no amateur partner now.

We're putting together routines, and so far have two walls in each of Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango. Things are going very quickly, and I suppose that's because I know what I'm doing most of the time. We're getting together again tomorrow and will probably start the quickstep. I really don't like quickstep all that much, but it's a kind of necessary evil that must be endured if one is going to dance Standard....

Dancing is a lot more fun now than it seemed before I went through the angst-ridden meltdown that I suffered in mid-February when I quit.

In other news, I passed my first ice skating test ("Pre-Alpha"), and am starting the next basic level ("Alpha") next week. There are five basic levels, my goal is to work my way through all of them and then decide if I want to continue and start studying freestyle. My new skates -- the first pair I've ever owned -- arrived last night. I wore them today for the first time and I love them but they need some more time to break in. In fact, I'm going to go to the gym and work out, and when I come home with hot sweaty feet I'll put my skates on and sit around for a while. The heat and the moisture helps them to mold to your foot.

[Alskling]

Glad to hear it, Laura. Have been enjoying your skating adventures also....somehow dancing is hard to quit; God knows I've tried and failed on several occasions! :-)

[Laura]

When I started considering un-quitting, the first person I thought of was you. I was tempted to email and ask you about your experience of being pulled back in. It's kind of like being in the mafia, I suppose, once you're in the family you can't get back out again!

[waltzgirl]

Laura, I'm so glad you've decided not to give up dancing totally! Will you be doing pro-am, or is competing still not attractive?

[Alskling]

When I started considering un-quitting, the first person I thought of was you. I was tempted to email and ask you about your experience of being pulled back in. It's kind of like being in the mafia, I suppose, once you're in the family you can't get back out again!

My usual analogy is malaria, or some other nasty recurring disease! ;) My attitude towards dancing in recent years has definitely been love/hate. Fortunately the love side is winning at the moment (much to my partner's relief; I was NOT easy to be around last year when the opposite was true, and chronic pain from an injury that turned out to be fairly severe didn't help).

[Laura]

Will you be doing pro-am, or is competing still not attractive?
I'll probably end up having the opportunity to do either, or both, if I want. And I keep thinking of pretty dresses, so there's an extremely strong chance of me competing again.

I don't know why I'm doing this, I'm still facing all the same crap that was bothering me before.

But when I dance I feel all happy and excited. As I said to my friend, I still think there's a lot of good dancing left in me, I just need to get it out.

[mamboqueen]

you already know how I feel ;)

[SPratt74]

I love ice skating! I still have the first pair of skates that I've ever owned from years ago. They still work too! We used to have an ice park when I was little that us kids used to go to. It was fun. Also, I'm glad that you decided not to quit. I've decided to just relax a bit, but I will never quit dancing lol. I'm much to addicted for that to happen!

[twnkltoz]

Brother and I have decided to give up on competing and look for performance opportunities so we can get paid instead of paying through the nose for stickers! Still get to do fun routines, still get to wear pretty dresses. :)

Welcome back. :)

[Ithink]

All I have to say is: YEAY!!!:)

[pygmalion]

It's kind of like being in the mafia, I suppose, once you're in the family you can't get back out again!

:lol:

Glad to hear you're feeling happier, Laura. :D

[RhumbaWaltz]

But when I dance I feel all happy and excited. As I said to my friend, I still think there's a lot of good dancing left in me, I just need to get it out.

Hi Laura,
I am happy you've decided to dance again. Good luck!! :)
RW

[latingal]

Welcome back! I hope you will find this next experience in dancing to be a good one....it sounds like you've found the passion and happiness in dance once again!

[fascination]

it just gets in your blood...happy for you

[PasoDancer]

One word: "WHEW!"

[Laura]

You all are really tripping me out. Thanks for the support!

HUGS to all!

[cl5814]

Hope your new experience with dancing is what you would like it to be.

[MacMoto]

But when I dance I feel all happy and excited. As I said to my friend, I still think there's a lot of good dancing left in me, I just need to get it out.

Great to hear you are enjoying it again. I'm so happy for you.:)

[Joe]

I had a feeling this would happen.

[redhead]

whoo hoo

[Twilight_Elena]

I had a feeling this would happen.

Me too. I think dancing brings out many inward demons and so it can bring you to the point of wanting to quit.

T_E

[wooh]

Good for you! It sounds like maybe the ice skating is bringing a little balance to things? I know things that I enjoy tend to get too serious (for lack of a better word) when I get too focused on it. Once I have a few baskets of eggs, none of the baskets get too heavy.

[cl5814]

Good for you! It sounds like maybe the ice skating is bringing a little balance to things? I know things that I enjoy tend to get too serious (for lack of a better word) when I get too focused on it. Once I have a few baskets of eggs, none of the baskets get too heavy.

I have found that lately too. Of course, lots of pressure from my 3 different activity instructors and 1 dance related activity to make their activity super important and use all my time for it. So, pressure there will be. Just have to counter that with attention to your other activities. I am a variety person. Knew that all along..... the activities all support one another. Ice skating and dancing is probably complimentary as well.

[skwiggy]

Welcome back, Laura. I'm glad to know you're enjoying dancing again!

[alemana]

laura's like the godfather to me. she tries to get out, but we pull her back in.

[mamboqueen]

You know, we think alike...I was trying to remember that line the guy used on Saturday Night Live when he was imitating Pacino saying that...."they keep pulling me back"!

[LXC]

I had a feeling this would happen.

Me too:)

Glad you're enjoying it, Laura. As you know, it will get frustrating again at times, but we'll get through them one way or another and find the joy in dancing.

[Laura]

Got two walls of quickstep today, and it didn't suck :) I'm looking forward to next week.

[latingal]

Got two walls of quickstep today, and it didn't suck :) I'm looking forward to next week.

You go girl!!! :D

[PasoDancer]

Does anybody keep dance blogs? This story would be interesting to follow, and you know there are others out there, too, who could write out their pent-up frustrations with various dances or parts of dances...

[Laura]

I've tried blogging, about travel, about ice skating, but it's difficult for me to keep up with. It's yet another web site to go to and remember to post to. This thread is kind of a blog.

[fascination]

my blog would have too many profanities so no dice on that one paso

[Medira]

I've considered it, just for review purposes. It's also yet another place for me to re-write what I've covered in my lessons... I doubt that it would be of interest to anybody but me though.

[fascination]

never know...sometimes its really good to see how others struggle

[standardgirl]

never know...sometimes its really good to see how others struggle

yep, totally agree, especially since most people have common problems. It's always nice to know that I am not the only *stupid* person out there not getting this thing. ;) Always nice to be able to relate to someone else.

[Purr]

I'm glad you decided not to quit. :)

[Sania]

I had a feeling this would happen.

I HOPED it would happen.

Laura, I'm so happy for you. I've been working a lot of overtime, so I hadn't yet gotten to writing you about my concern and support, but now I get to write my congratulations instead!

Maybe dancing for all of us can be a little more balanced between experientially oriented (enjoying the process) and goal oriented. I know I'm happier when I focus on enjoying dancing in the moment.