It’s funny how wrapped up in life you can get. Sometimes
responsibilities just take control, and tunnel vision takes over. All you can
think about is accomplishing whatever happens to be on your “to do” list at the
time. “I don’t have time for that” or “I’m too tired” is your response to most
things that are “luxury” – a leisurely phone call with a friend, attending a
birthday party, fill-in-the-blank.
The funny thing is – when I’m in the middle of a big project,
all I can think about is how I can’t wait until its over, how much less
stressed I’ll be when it’s over. I don’t even really take time to enjoy the
moment or the project I’m working on. It’s just one more thing to be flicked
off my piled-full plate. I realized that about myself just about a month ago –
during the busiest time of my year. To top it off, in the midst of a packed
scheduled of fall performances, competitions and practices, and getting ready
for my studio’s annual Showcase, I got the hair-brained idea to take my three
teams, Little Switzerland, Sundance Express, and Rhythmic Alliance, to a joint
audition for America’s Got Talent in Richmond, Virginia.
It was hectic. The audition was announced two weeks prior to
the audition date. As it turned out, there was only one day within that two week
time span that I could get all of my teams together to figure out exactly what
our minute-and-thirty-second audition would entail. Just one three-hour
practice was all we had to prepare for this possible once-in-a-lifetime
audition. I reminded myself not to stress. “You have awesome dancers,” I told
myself. “They’ll get it no problem.” And they did, of course. I just reminded
myself to enjoy their talent and their determination as they worked hard to
make sure all their moves, turns, and steps were as sharp as they could be. A
friend and fellow dancer on one of my teams texted me the night before the
audition and told me not to be nervous. “I’m not,” I stresslessly replied with
a smilie face. “I have great dancers.”
 |
| Not being stressed while waiting for our AGT audition |
The day of the audition was hectic, too. Here I was leading
25 dancers around Richmond , trying
to find dancers amidst the crazy traffic and crowds. Again, I didn’t need to
worry. Everyone was right where they should’ve been. Not only that, but
everyone had all their audition paperwork ready to go. Even right up until the
last holding room that led us into our audition, I wasn’t nervous. I guess I
should’ve been, but I wasn’t. “Whatever will be, will be,” I thought. “If they
like us, they like us. If they don’t, they don’t. All I know and need to know
is my dancers are awesome.” I enjoyed the practices we had in the holding
rooms. I enjoyed taking goofy pre-audition pictures, and I definitely enjoyed
the funny antics that ensued at our post-audition/celebratory Olive Garden
meal. Forget about the America ’s
Got Talent audition! All three of my clogging families just performed together.
THAT was the coolest part. It was the first time they performed a routine
together, and I sure hope it wasn’t the last. Who knows? Maybe America ’s
Got Talent liked what they saw? We shall see, I suppose.
This blog post is kind of two-fold. The other downfall to
being so busy is forgetting those you love. Not just family, but those friends
that you don’t see on a regular basis. Or the friends you used to see
and talk to on a regular basis but don’t anymore because you’re so wrapped up
in your own life. It’s hard – trying to fulfill all the responsibilities you’re
supposed to doesn’t always leave enough time for a social life. That’s
something I realized I greatly missed whenever my performance season ended just
this past weekend with my studio’s Showcase.
The biggest (and last!) performance of the year was over. I
finally had time to breathe and realize things I’d missed. Other than thinking
“I just want to collapse on the couch for a week,” I thought “I miss my
friends.” I need to catch up with that writer friend of mine that lives in New
York . I miss visiting with my best friend over a cup
of her delicious hot chocolate or listening to her play guitar. I miss leisurely
watching movies with another friend of having stupid religious or political
debates. I wanted to set in stone that girl’s night out my girlfriends and I
had been trying to plan for months. I started looking forward to the annual
Christmas shopping trip I took with my sister – the Christmas shopping trip
that would make up for the Birthday shopping trip in August that I was too busy
to go on…. I even accepted an invite from a friend to an acquaintance’s baby
shower. Yeah, me… the socially awkward girl who’s scared of babies. It seems my
social side wants to get out a little bit. Most importantly, I just desired to
reconnect with my friends and family. Maybe it’s the holiday season coming up.
I love Christmas and the joyful spirit it brings, so that may be it. Or maybe
my unsocial butterfly personality is finally getting over itself. Either way, I
have a feeling I’m going to be doing a lot more hanging out with friends and
family during this off-season.
So back to my original point: I think its just crazy that we
(or at least, I) can’t remember or have time to be a caring human during my
most hectic season, which runs from March to November. So am I telling myself
that I have to be a non-communicating, stressed ball of nerves for nine out of
twelve months of the year? That’s just ridiculous! Nothing is THAT important! It
seems as though I need to re-examine my priorities… Starting now!!
No comments:
Post a Comment