Yo, Fly Girl
When I was a kid, I used to dream of being a Fly Girl. For those who don't know, Fly Girls were the dancers on the sketch comedy show In Living Color, which aired in the early '90s. I was in awe of their moves and their style, and I desperately wanted to be one of them.
Of course, I was never very limber. I could barely touch my toes, let alone do splits or backflips. But I thought I could dance. I took some classes and practiced at home, and I even auditioned for a local dance troupe once. But I never quite made the cut.
Fast forward a few decades, and I still love dancing. I love watching movies like Magic Mike and Step Up and everything in the dancing genre vibe. But I have to be honest with myself: I'm not exactly a Fly Girl anymore. I move more like someone in their forties than someone in their twenties.
But you know what? That's okay. Because even though I may never be a professional dancer or even a particularly skilled one, dancing still brings me joy.
I've learned that it's not about being the best or the most flexible or the most graceful. It's about moving your body and feeling the music and expressing yourself. It's about letting go of your inhibitions and just having fun.
These days, I still take dance classes when I can, but I don't put as much pressure on myself to be perfect. I also love to dance around my living room to my favorite songs, and sometimes I feel like I'm dancing with the stars in my shower. Even though I know I'm not the greatest dancer, I always feel happy and energized when I do.
Looking back on my Fly Girl dreams, I realize that they weren't really about being a professional dancer. They were about feeling confident and free and powerful. And in a way, I've achieved that anyway. Because even if I can't do a split, I can still dance like nobody's watching. And that's a pretty great feeling.
So to anyone who shares my love of dancing but may feel discouraged by their skills or their age or anything else: don't give up. Keep dancing. Keep moving. And most importantly, keep enjoying yourself. Because that's what it's all about.