As I step into this season of growth and opportunity, I’ve been taking time to reflect—usually during a walk or a hike. These moments help me remind myself to stay grateful and not get overwhelmed by new challenges that come my way. No matter our age, we should always embrace challenges, big or small. Whether it’s mastering a new style of dance, advancing to a higher level, opening a dance studio, or stepping into the role of an organizer… these challenges are what push us to grow.
In the world of dance, it’s easy to look at all the incredible, successful individuals and feel inspired, but also intimidated. It’s natural to compare ourselves and think, “I could never be like them.” Or, “I’ll never look like that.” And I’m here to tell you...
YOU’RE RIGHT!
You will never be them. But guess what? That’s the point! The only person you need to be is the best version of yourself, right where you are in life. Comparing yourself to others is just a distraction. It takes away time and energy that could be better spent on YOU—the most important person in your life. Growth is all about self-discovery. It’s about letting go of who you think you are and shifting your mindset to become who you want to be. The goal isn’t to imitate someone else—it’s to stay true to your own authentic self.
DAN VS WILD
Speaking of challenges, I have a favorite movie that captures the essence of confronting adversity head-on. It’s called The Edge, starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin. In the film, three men survive a plane crash in the remote Alaskan wilderness and are left stranded with no rescue in sight. They face the terrifying realization that they have to make a tough decision: do they stay put and hope for rescue, or do they attempt the perilous journey to find safety? Their situation becomes even more intense when they are stalked by a massive grizzly bear.
No matter what they do, the bear keeps coming. They can’t outrun it, they can’t hide from it. The only way they’ll survive is if they confront it—if they shift their mindset and fight back. One of the men, played by Hopkins, convinces his friend that they need to take the fight to the bear. He says to him, “What one man can do, another can do.” He repeats it again, and again—louder each time. “WHAT ONE MAN CAN DO, ANOTHER CAN DO!”
Now, after he says, “What one man can do, another can do,” he looks his friend in the eye and declares, “We’re going to kill the bear.” He then asks his friend to repeat it. First, a little uncertain, his friend echoes the words. Then louder, more determined. And again, even louder! They shout it together: “WE’RE GOING TO KILL THE BEAR!”
Now, in their hearts and minds, they are ready. They’ve made the mental shift. They’ve embraced the challenge, and with that shift in mindset, they are up for the fight. The fear no longer controls them. They are prepared to face the impossible and conquer it.
My point is this: We all have the same physical bodies, right? Everyone has 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 eyes, 1 nose, 2 ears... The basic functions we all share: walk, run, climb, jump, and of course, dance. But while we share this basic framework, we each have unique qualities from birth. Some dancers are blessed with long legs, which give them the ability to take longer strides and create beautiful, sweeping lines. Others are shorter, and their build allows for faster, sharper turns. Some have a natural sense of musicality and impeccable timing, while others struggle to catch the rhythm. Some can pick things up quickly, while others need to put in hours of focused practice.
And that’s okay.
You get my point—each of us is a unique individual with different strengths, and that’s exactly where the magic happens. Your job is to discover what makes you you and build on those strengths. Don’t waste your time trying to be someone else. Play in your own ballpark.
When it comes to choreography, don’t just pick something because it looks easy or familiar. Choose something that challenges you, that stretches you, but also fits you. There are different approaches to dancing, different ways to move, and the key is to find the one that makes you the best version of yourself.
So as you step into this new season of Spring, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself, “What challenge am I facing? What’s my bear, and how am I going to conquer it?”
You’ve got a choice: You can either be chased and consumed by your fears, or you can step up, face the challenge head-on, and kill the bear.
The choice is yours. What will you do?
Best Always
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