moving
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have everything you need?
I never feel adequately prepared for the things I encounter in my life. I always feel like I could’ve really used an extra hour.
When I used to get ready in the morning, I would allot time to get ready and then add an hour onto it so I wasn’t rushing. The worst thing you can do with anything is rush it. If I accidentally overslept or ran into traffic, it would dampen my plans even if I tried to give myself another hour.
Eventually, I learned that you will never be fully prepared. You will never feel ready. You will always feel like there’s more you could do to set yourself up for success. But life doesn’t work like that.
Life doesn’t give you a checklist.
I am working with two siblings in dance lessons every week. Last week, we spoke about how their retention was improving and I no longer wanted us to focus on that. I said “I think your memory is fine. I think we need to focus on our recovery”.
Teaching dance, I believe perfection is impossible. Even the most professional advanced dancer will make a mistake or have a wrench thrown into the equation. What if you have to mirror the choreography? What if you have to help the artist with an outfit malfunction? What if your shoe breaks in the middle of the song? All those things now make a choreography hiccup seem insignificant.
It’s not about a mistake we make or an obstacle we face.
It’s about how quickly, effectively, and calmly we bounce back.
How to do that:
#1. Assess the Situation. Understand as soon as you can what went wrong and how you need to make it right. Did you miss a leg? Did a piece of your costume rip? Did you forget the new transition? Did someone else drop a prop?
#2. Keep Moving. Don’t freeze like a deer in headlights. Move forward and start problem solving. Figure out how to jump back in rather than dwelling on the mistake.
#3. Be Confident. Carry yourself like the mistake never happened. No one in the audience really knows what you’re supposed to be doing. Who would know except for the people onstage with you? Own your hiccup! The show must go on!
If I were to apply this to normal human being mistakes I’d say this:
#1. Assess the Situation. Understand what went wrong and how you can make it right. Figure out what was in your control, what wasn’t, and how, ultimately, everything is in God’s hands.
#2. Keep Moving. Don’t freeze and stay stuck. Living in your mistake and carrying your shame will only weigh you down especially when we are already forgiven. God meets us exactly where we are, mistakes galore, so that we can continue to move forward.
#3. Be Confident. Carry yourself like the person you are: a child loved by God. You are important. You have God on your side and He already knows your heart. He takes our burdens so we can enjoy life and share our light with others.
To answer my own questions… I am ready. I am prepared. For what? I have no idea.
But there’s a sense of freedom in being okay with that.
One I am happy to have because I know who has control of my life.
In other more worldly news, I am nearing the end of my time here in Atlanta. I’m not sure what or where the next chapter holds exactly but it’s been a fun time! I’ll always carry this city with me wherever I end up.
Thanks for following along.
I can’t wait to see where life takes us next.
Perlizbeth
