I have to confess that I had, for years, trouble understanding why women loved shopping.  It seemed frustrating, exhausting, and most often disappointing.  I also felt I was missing out on something.

Since I started dancing, though, I have done a complete 180.  Seriously, I think that the womanly, sensuous style of dance we do releases estrogen or something.  I really feel like a girl.

As I savor these moments of joy and delight at being a girl and all the fun things that come with it I feel a pang of grief for all the years that were void of that joy and a sigh of relief for my new perspective.

I headed over to Bartell Drugs today for wrapping paper.  It’s always clean and quiet in this particular store.  As I walked in the entire world outside just disappeared.  Suddenly I was transported into a world of colors, textures and smells.   I was in the moment.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, “this is why we love shopping”.  Sure, we like a good deal and the glee that comes with purchasing something new, but it is the experience of the moment that really delivers.  I feel calm when I am in the moment.  It’s a tiny island oasis or that bite of chocolate.  It’s what I learned from dance.

I love the feeling I get when I am putting the key into the door of the studio.  I feel a sense of relief as I step through the door, and into the world of music and dance, knowing that soon I will feel the warm glow of dim lights and the slow, sweet wave of music washing through me.  I know that in those moments where I listen, follow and obey I will be pulled into the  moment and in that moment be restored and invigorated.