One Grateful ArtistDancerPerson

Wow.  Words cannot adequately express how unspeakably glorious that super-hot shower felt after rehearsal tonight.  Truly. Thank you.

Which gets me to thinking about all there is to be grateful for with my dancing/life/art.  After straining various body parts in almost comic sequence in the last 24 hours and not knowing how I'd ever be able to drive to rehearsal today, let alone rehearse, I nonetheless found myself driving down the highway this afternoon.  Getting pumped up listening and singing to favorite tunes that eased me on down the road.

Lo and behold, several hours of rehearsal later, I found myself back in the car, somewhat sore but nothing for a dancer to speak of.  Chuckling to myself about some funny moments with the delightful choreographer and fellow dancers. Inspired! Challenged! Stoked!

And grateful. Yes, grateful for another wonderful opportunity to make art with warm, lovely, cool folks.

Then, after I was almost crying in gratitude in the shower for the soothing liquid heat pouring over my muscles, I remembered that I need to take the time and make the effort to focus on being grateful.  I started riffing on my gratitude list for tonight.

Herewith:

1.  Thank you for the opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself, for the "flow" moments of optimal experience, the transcendence possible with dance and family and art.

2.  Thank you for the physical and mental ability to create and perform athletic, complex dance, especially at my age.  Thank you for the joy.

3.  Thank you for providing other people on this rollercoaster ride who are inspiring, beautiful, courageous, talented and generous. Who make me laugh while they spur me on to be better, more.  Dancers and nondancers alike.

4. Thank you for hot showers and jacuzzis, heated and ventilated studio space with decent floors, healthy, tasty food and drinking water that make it possible for me and my body to perform--and recover.

5.  Thank you for challenges, everything from movement and concepts that are difficult, to traveling to new places to dance.  Pushing me to be sharper, more flexible and bigger than I thought I could be.

6. Thank you for beauty and fresh ideas that inspire me to want to contribute my own.  Including others' art and creativity that keep me going and catapult me to new heights.  Everything from the music that adds sparkle to my day to my children's boundless creativity.  From my dance colleagues' art to fellow bloggers' generosity of spirit to everyone who's making anything or contemplating doing so, contributing to the creative energy in the ether.

7.  Thank you for the love and support of all who have helped make my dreams come alive, especially the love of my life, my beautiful husband.

I hope I do right by all of these blessings. I wish you an abundance of inspiration and support on your path. Sweet dreams.