Top of the Mornin' to You

Well, Good Morning! I hope your week went really, really well.  And if it didn't, then Praise the Lord, IT'S OVER!!

I am enjoying coffee in the backyard this morning and wanted to jot a note before the days starts.

Guess what I'm doing this morning....

[drumroll, please]

ADULT BEGINNER BALLET CLASS

you got it!!

I'm a little nervous because last Saturday was the actual first day of the class so I hope that

a.) I can find the class
b.) I haven't missed out on learning the basicy basics

c.) I'm also nervous about being HUGE in the class.

I don't know how much you know about ballet, but ballerina sorta people are very thin.  (If you are reading this and have no idea what I look like...I am NOT thin.)

I went last night to the official Capezio dance store located in the heart of the theatre district to purchase my apparel: tights, leotard, chiffon skirt (of course) and ballet slippers.  It was pretty overwhelming.  My head was just saying "ohmygosh, you are huge, what are people thinking?!!"  my mind was being so bad.

As you know I'm shy sometimes, so I was standing in there thinking "aw shucks, I didn't watch and read the how-to videos to tell me WHAT to wear!"  What kind of tights to get (transitional, footed, footless, etc.) and can I wear the tights in the slippers, what kind of slipper to get, how do I wear this skirt exactly, etc.  lots of questions.

While I was standing there with a leotard in hand, staring at the tight options, I got on my phone for some answers.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4500676_dress-adult-ballet-class.html

this helped a little.

Then I thought, well, I must try this stuff on, I need something I can wear that is comfortable and if I get out of here and the tights and leotard don't fit me tomorrow that will be a problem.

So I made eye contact with an overweight staffer, who clearly wouldn't judge me ;-), and she hooked a sister up with a fitting room.  Mind you, there were lots of younger girls there with their moms, obviously little ballerinas.  There was a teenage skinny minny ballerina there trying on point-shoes.  The whole thing made me really uncomfortable.

I tried on my stuff, and fortunately, the leotard fit, and the tights were workin' harder than any tights in the store ever had!!

then to the shoes, the last part.  there was lots of people being helped before, and that part was super intimidating to sit there and ask for shoes for ME, but, danget, I need shoes and they have to fit and I have no idea.  there are several different kinds.  

Finally, this nice boy helped me.  He was so kind to explain to me the differences.  I had no idea, some of the shoes come with the elastics undone (as in you can't just wear them undone) you must either tie them underneath your foot (not so professional) or stitch them into the shoe exactly how you need them.

I will be reading this later ...

http://www.wikihow.com/Sew-an-Elastic-Strap-on-a-Ballet-Slipper

they will be tied to begin.  also, there is an elastic bow at the front, and those too, the guy told me that he just double knots them, and then cuts them, as opposed to what I would have thought to do which is to tie them into a bow.

You know this whole experience so far is interesting.  I almost decided against taking this class because I just feel fat.  I have some l-b's to get off from the past year and could stand to lose 15 lbs.  I feel like how those super overweight people don't even feel comfortable going into a gym, that's what I liken it to (not that I don't think I can go to a gym, just ballet class).  but you know, I just can't let anything in life, what I do or don't do, be managed by fear.  I just can't.  I go if I want to go, I can't stay back scared, because that certainly isn't going to help me get any healthier.

Sometimes I think I'm fearless, but, this shows me that sometimes I may do or not do things out of fear of what others will think.  Here's to a first step in breaking being fearful.  I have nothing to fear and I don't want to make any choices based on being fearful.

okay, so i better change and hurry off. let's hope this doesn't go like my first step class at the YMCA where they were "hello-fast" and i left.

let's talk soon.