Planned FIFA & Surprising Swing
Topics: Self Care, FIFA, Mental Health, Limited Opportunities, Broken Hearts, Networking, Sponteneuity, Opportunity, Appreciation, Bravery, Serendipity, Set Up Success
This is a HODGE PODGE of how crazy and cool this week has been… these past few days, my goal was to get out of a slump and carry on as if everything was wonderful. Because, so much of life is complicated - and even more than that - it’s MENTAL! Literally. Life is all about perception. And how can things get better from being bummed out on your couch? It’s limited how much situations can improve in that scenario. But going out - living life (giving ‘life’ a chance to surprise you), and learning/discovering all that surrounds you that you’d like to join, pursue, and help —- that is the key.
Why Attend: I attended my second event about FIFA, though this one has a LOT of before - and even more “AFTER”. Cause, “life” really surprised me with this one - FOR REAL. Not only did I get a lot of work done, have some nice meetings… then I randomly found this FIFA event (which was so-so TBH). But upon leaving, I ended up stumbling upon a West Coast Swing Dancing event!!! 😂. On top of that I wanna add, a check-in with Climate Week, which OH YEAH. I’m helping with - and OH YEAH - I’ve hardly written A THING about in here. hahahah. So… I’ll give everyone here an update on that below. This blog is covering a lot… so, if this is your first time ever reading this 😂😂😂. But… can we kick it? Duh! You wanna write a blog - go for it!! You make the rules. And the glossary, ok? :)
Overall Event Ratings: (I’m rating like a mix of everything into one 🧘♀️) —— Venue (4/5), Food (2/5), Speaker Content (2/5 AND 5/5), Networking (2/5 AND 4.5/5), Likeliness to Return (5/5)
Notes from the Event:
So, I stayed at a hostel downtown to add to the fun/break my mood a bit. It’s affordable, insanely amazing location, and they had both free dinner AND BREAKFAST while I was there. I like how it is near some amazing parks - and my favorite restaurant, Michou. And I have said this before… my life would be cheaper downtown probably. Or same price. Just cause it’s all right there, simple… and I love just enjoying sunshine, street shows, all sorts of things. Not THAT much cheaper, but probably still cheaper. And better. So, that’s kinda my goal. To move downtown eventually. But, for now, it’s a fun place to visit. Right? You kinda think you should keep it that way?? Or… just go full fledge? idk.
But the hostel is really nice to stay at (I worked on my content creation super focused in that environment) - though it was fun and nice to go work outside at the parks and in the pedestrian streets as well.
I eventually made my way to the event, which reminded me of the last event this group hosted. It was also in a low-ceiling, shiny wooden room with lots of columns and many chairs - but not enough, and spread out. It is funny I remember this, and I wonder if they notice this.
The speaker spoke, I’ll put the notes below, but, you’ll see… part of me felt like I was waiting the entire time for the talk to get started. It was a lot of informercials and then an interesting talk. You know, though, this is for a focused group. Women in sports and events. (Which is KINDA me…) but I was surprised by the crowds reactions at some points. Like at the end of the infomercials, cause they were impressed. So… it made me realize, oh yeah - this is not exactly “my crowd”/”my speaker” you know… like, this event wasn’t so much for guests - it was way more for “members” - as like an update/member meeting + open to the public.
So… I attended that, again notes below. AND THEN walking home, I stumbled upon a public dancing event!! I went and sat down and watched it… and then got invited to dance! And it was crazy cause I was wearing really my most perfect dress possible to dance in for sometihng lik ethis. So randomly.
And they’re having many more dancing events all summer. And then I just danced and danced with all of these people for one song eacH!! I kept sitting down and then peopel woudl be like, “Want to dance?” and it was insane cause it was… okay, i’ll tell you a few things (whoever the heck reads this hahaha)
When I was young, I was ALWAYS as a young girl, going to like “DANCES”. for real, no joke. Like formal-ish dances where you’d sit there and wait for someone to ask you to dance. Or all different things. My swim team had formal dances. LOL! right? but clever I guess?? And then I did formal dancing as a tween/teen. And… idk I was just always going to dances. But it never went how I wanted.
Either I’d say “no” to some guys but then no one else would ask me to dance 🙄. And then my family gave me so much crap my whole life for not saying “yes” to those guys and I was forever thinking about it - legit no joke for like 25 years.
And then like other times, idk. Dances were always a part of my life, but never too enjoyable - though I wanted them to be.
So now, this suddenly appeared. AND IM JUST SITTING WATCHING AND THEN THIS DEAR MAN who is like… probably been dancing for 60 or 70 years, asked me to dance. And i was like, “me!?”. Then I danced with him. Then anohter guy asked me to dance. Then I moved my stuff and another guy asked me to dance. Then I sat back down but antoher guy was like, wanna dance? THEN i sat back down and another person said wanna dance. THEN the last dance, I watched and someone was like, wanna dance?
Right at the end hahahaha - and then the last guy - we did the waltz (and before that, a few dances before, someoen else did the waltz with me - but he used to teach the waltz on cruise ships so he was good at teaching) but the last guy was really dancing fast in the circle hahaha. So I had to focus so hard and work on being light and let them lead and like focus on the footsteps.
it was so fun 😂
So… it was very fun and surprising and a new experience for sure. And i just kept sitting there, watching, and then next thing you know, people kept asking if I’d like to dance! So… I really was surprised and freaking out a bit. You know. It’s something I struggle with and I work on (and it’s not really un-taboo to admit, and its a bit of a weakness to expose… but…
I do get anxious, like, what if no one ever asks me to dance??? you know? But then it did!? and then it happened a lot - and it was surprising. and now i’m like - but what if no one is happy to see me next time? hahaha you know?
So that’s really a psychological thing to get over. I think that’s part of growing up. and self confidence and self security. But! It’s where my mind goes.
AND HECK - that event didn’t even EXIST in my world until suddenly.
So, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment- for someone like me, especially, who can get super present into moments and whisked away emotionally for a while haha.
And who cares if no one asks you to dance - its for the better in that moment. And who cares if people ask you to.
I wrote that out before thinking it/saying it - so let’s defend it, before I wrap this up.
It doesn’t matter. Because they’re just having fun. Life is ephemeral. And it’s just an experience.
Idk. For me, it’s very new to me and an experience that always was sorta like “unresolved” from my past 😂. But suddenly - boom haha. I’d say after last night, that resolved all of my past hahaha. Like, point proven.
NOW is the real deal: what do you do with this. Wanna embrace it and realize? Woah? There’s something here?
I mean, I think it’s just good, fun knowledge. And a good option for a fun use of time! Right?
So… if I hadn’t put myself in the place to:
1. break myself out of my norm - go to that event, stay downtown, even dress up nicely!! - I never would have stumbled upon that dancing event perfectly dressed!! And legit, I was so badly hoping for something fun, you know? It was truly a great surprise! Like a gift from the world, in my world.
2. look the part - as I said, somehow I wore my perfect dancing dress to a dancing event I didn’t know about… but I realize that’s a benefit of dressing up. It just makes other things easier/happen. (Versus being a bit insecure/having hte excuse of being sloppy) - so that tiny littel effort can pay off
3. get out of your place - and go see what’s going on downtwon. Find an event, leave when you’re ready, but keep on the lookout. You know? I didn’t overstay at the main event i was there for (FIFA) BUTTTT I did enjoy the time before it - and then the time AFTER was a huge delight and surprise. But none of this would have happened if I hadn’t just gotten started somewhere.
Hope this is motivational to you!! All of the time I don’t want to go to things and I just want to stay home and comfortable… but you can see that “life” really hands you amazing things when you give it a chance and set yourself up for these random learning experiences & beyond :)
