There is a saying people say, "I have no regrets in life" and for me, I feel that those who say that, are full of it. I feel as if those same people are the ones that end up regretting the most in life. If you think about it, you go through life with several regrets. I am not saying it is a bad thing to not have regrets but it is not a good thing either. I feel you learn from your regrets when you notice them. For me, regrets are a beautiful thing because they mark who I am becoming and why I do the things I do. I have many regrets in my life. I am not going to sit here and type every little regret in my head,
but I will tell you one of them. . .
I regret quitting dance.
As a little girl, my mother placed me in ballet classes. After a few years of ballet, I decided it was too boring for my ambiguous personality. Because of that, I switched to Ballroom. I fell in love with Ballroom becauseof the many genres and characters you can be. I started Ballroom dance right after I quit Ballet in fourth grade. My Elementary school offered Ballroom classes after school everyday for a few hours. After a few months my teacher, Julie Peterson, came up to me and expressed how it shocked her that I could pick up the dance steps so naturally. She then asked if I would like to dance in her academy and take classes there. I of course accepted her offer. I then danced and performed at her academy called UBA
(Utah Ballroom Academy) for the next 4 years traveling around and competing.
I fell in love with dance but unfortunately,
It became too expensive for me and my parents liking.
My parents asked me if I wanted to pursue myself in dance and could really see myself dancing down the road. I took great thought about it and because I was an athlete and was good at several different sports, I decided to switch into more of the other sports I was also getting into (Basketball and Tennis). So that next year, I quit danced and decided to work harder in my other passions.
Within that same year, a girl from my Junior High named Tori Schmanksi (whom I looked up to in dance) was in a serious car accident that left her brain damaged and unable to dance anymore. I personally was not a close friend to her but I had several of my own friends who were. Several hearts were broken and several tears were shed that Summer. I remember the sadness that lurked around the entire school and city that Summer and how desperately everyone worked to try and raise money, support and care for Tori Schmanksi's family. But despite the horrific tragedy, I remember everyday, I would go on to the Pray4Tori website and read story after story of the inspiration that Tori and her dancing was and still is to several people.
we dance for laughter,
we dance for tears,
we dance for madness,
we dance for fears,
we dance for hopes,
we dance for screams,
we are the dancers,
we create the dreams
Even though within that same year of me quitting dance and Tori's accident, it helped me realize my love and passion for dance. I wish so badly I was able to really push myself to get back into dance, but what's done is done. Deep inside, I still consider myself a dancer at heart and catch myself lurking on to YouTube dance videos, other inspirational stories through dance and my old dance photos. Everything happens for a reason and God has better things in store for you, even if you have to give up a dream.
But thank you Tori Schmanksi for helping me re-live my dream through your story. You will forever be in our hearts. And as for dance, who knows.... maybe I will start it up again. I am only twenty years old and that is still young. I have my whole life ahead of me so we will see what it has to offer.
For your eyes if you wish to see:
Here are a few dances that have inspired me over the years...
I feel yeah.. I regret it everyday!
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