FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY...

I've immersed myself into a new community, surrounded myself with people I'd never met before. I've taken a step back from my old ways to try something new for myself. It's been four months now and so much has been learnt from my experiences within this new space, with this new group of people. It's been fun, so much fun, but there's been times that it's been challenging for this introverted being that is me. I've pushed myself when my body just wanted and needed to rest, I've said yes to everything I could possibly attend when I've been child free, I've spent less time with my other good friends to give myself the time and space to learn something I love, I've started conversations with people who are talkers and non-talkers, some who are open, some who are more guarded. I've sat patiently waiting to be asked to dance until I realised it's also up to me to ask. I've experienced acceptance and rejection and all for the greater good. I've had to speak up when something didn't feel right for me, which I found challenging with new people, I've seen where I've had to place boundaries for myself and with others. There have been many times my shyness rose high, My body wanting to get up and go home, yet my soul desiring to stay, enjoy and continue to learn. Theres been great learnings about connection, connections formed with many, some for the 3 minute dance, others continue off the dance floor where beautiful friendships have been formed. New friendships that I've never experienced in such a way before. I'm surrounded by beginners and long-time dancers and everything in between. I'm surrounded by many who know how to truly express themselves and my eyes grab hold of these moments to try and find it within myself to do the same. I watch them all, I learn from them all. From where it began to where I am now, so much has changed in such a short time. I feel like I've recalibrate to my new community, like it's just where I need to be, where I've been longing to be. I feel the difference within myself and I know there is so much more wanting to come out...if only I'd just let it. I feel the difference in my home as I've made changes to allow new music, new people, new conversations in. So much time has been given to this new way and I'm ready to blend it more with my life before dance began. Sometimes we need to step away from our old ways of being and doing to give ourselves the time and space to experience new ways. And as we learn these new ways we see all that we appreciate and admire from our old ways too. Then it's finding a way to grab the goodness from both and blend them together to bring more richness to your life. This is where I'm at right now, seeing how I can blend the two beautiful ways together more. It's not easy to step into a new community as a newbie, where relationship have already been formed. It takes time, it takes patience and it takes courage to stay in the times when it become uncomfortable, But staying with what you wish for, for your life is well worth every part of it. Where would you love to see yourself?