The Journey Together
08.04.09

As each of us gets involved in learning about dancing, we go through phases. The initial glow of dance and lessons gives way to the efforts that practice requires to improve and the frustration of not getting where you think you should be fast enough. Many people simply give up because they were looking for a magic pill or some other quick fix that would propel them to world championship levels...
 
The reality is that all good things come with some work. We just don't have those magic elixers for anything that is truly worthwhile in life. Even if we did, we would miss out on the most important aspect of the process...the journey!
 
Learning to dance is a process. We are not ready for the technical aspects of dance when we start and we all learn at different paces and in so many different ways. As an instructor, I've had the benefit of great mentors and a wife that has been a top flight teacher for many years. A number of people consider me to be a great instructor, but I am the result of a lot of effort by those around me.
 
That's really where this little story is heading. We are all the result of interactions with those around us. Great people tend to find each other in life and move in the same direction. They share and compare the experiences of the learning process. They all become richer because each has something to add that others may not have caught. The result is a higher level of value for all. Don't take shortcuts. The time spent with your peers is time well spent and you will find a much higher level of fulfillment in the long run.