The Gifts We're Given

This is the first year I'm not teaching a class so I started focusing on hosting/attending dance workshops in our studio. I started these workshops two years ago simply to let loose. I love teaching my class but I wanted something that less structured and focused on having fun. As a teacher, I have to show up as the authority, fix technique, rhythm, and get the routine down to a T. With these workshops, I show up more of a guide and as a peer where it feels like a reunion on the dance floor. I want everyone who attends to walk away with the feeling of “Damn, that was fun. I haven’t danced like that in awhile.” 

After the workshop, one of the girls reached out to me and said “Nina, I loved what you said about how we’re lucky to have something that we love to do and to keep up with it”. When I was saying it, I didn’t know it would resonate so much, so the fact that she reached out just to tell me this, warmed my heart. 

At the end of the workshop, while we were winding down, I thanked everyone for coming and told them how grateful we should be for knowing what we love to do (dance) and to keep that gift alive. So many people in this world live their whole lives going with what the next day brings. We are all equipped with different gifts and talents but because it’s so natural to us, we don’t see how special it is. We don’t give it a second thought. Crazy right? How is it that we can go years, or even a lifetime with something unique to us, that we love to do and not tap into it? 

I’m a firm believer that our gifts are not of our own. Our gifts are from God and it’s our responsibility to do something with them. And this doesn't necessarily need to be grand. If you love to dance, you don’t have to open up a dance studio. If you love to sing, you don’t have to be on American Idol. If you love to cook, you don’t have to be the next Bobby Flay. If you love to write, you don’t need to be a NY best selling author. 

But you also shouldn’t be hiding it from the world.

There’s an in between these two areas that is aligned with you and your purpose. You should be sharing and experiencing it with family, friends and even publicly if you so choose. As long as you’re not putting it away on a shelf to be forgotten. Have fun with your gifts, experience them, relish in them. 

Whatever your gift is, it’s not small. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Share it with your circle, make it known to those around you. If Covid has taught us anything, it’s that tomorrow is unpredictable and we should be joyful in what we do have. That includes the gifts we have. Own it and shine it bright.