14 Blisters later and I feel great!

Well quite a few many things have happened since my last post and though I've been meaning to share my great experiences and revelations, I've grown worried of what the people that read this will think. Which then brought me on to a not so new thought that never fully gets through my semi-thick skull- The only way to gain acceptance, is to be completely comfortable in your own skin.
These last few weeks have been amazing. I have started creating my footprint on Boston and it's dance scene. In this short time, I've danced my first gigs in the city, taken a flamenco workshop with the great Omayra Amaya, participated in my first jam sessions, and have met several fabulous dancers that I hope to see much more of in the future.
For each of these incredible opportunities, I felt a great deal of gratitude and excitement, but also fear. Fear that I wouldn't get the steps down in time for the show, or that I would be the obvious Irish dancer amongst the crowd of experienced Flamenco dancers, or I would just look like a complete idiot in front my new possible friends.
When I was on the bus this past weekend to New York City for a jam session, there was this "rational" voice in my head that kept saying "What the hell are you doing, Siobhan? Who does this?? You're driving all this way just to dance with some guys you don't even know. You should just get a return ticket and go home." And even as I stepped off the bus and onto the busy sidewalk of Chinatown, my hands were shaking with nerves. Whether it was from the hustle and bustle of New York or from only getting a few hours of sleep the night before from said fear, I don't know. It wasn't until I finally got up and danced that everything went away. It didn't matter that I was alone in a strange city, or that I messed up the timing on some steps and probably looked a bit foolish, I was dancing with brilliant dancers from all over the world and I had a great time.
I suppose, in short, what I'm trying to say is too often do we miss out on great experiences simply because of rational, fear based behavior. I wouldn't have had any of these things happen to me if I had believed that voice in my head. Dancing is my passion, so what does it matter if a random person thinks it's something irresponsible or a waste of time?
I am learning to face my fears and to stop caring what other people think of my actions or behaviors. I am Siobhan- Spontaneous, unconventional, and often a little crazy, but that's ok.


Until next time!
Much love,
Siobhan :)