Jump. Twitch. Flail. The time when I went to belly dancing class.

As I grew up in the Middle East, I’ve long been enamored with belly dancing. For years, I watched with awe. My Egyptian friends naturally and rhythmically seemed to sway and shake their hips without instruction. I’d join in at parties – but it was a disaster. 

I needed a teacher.

After a lot of false starts, I finally went to a class.

I stood at the back of the classroom

I nearly blended into the wall. I stood so far back that I couldn’t see myself in the mirror. When the teacher gave us exercises to do – I was hesitant. 

I started. I stopped. I was so self-conscious. 

Up ahead of me, though, was a rail-thin woman struggling with rhythm and the dance moves. She had a jerkiness to herself which was exacerbated by her boney frame. 

She was – there’s no other way to say it – a hot mess. But I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. She threw herself into every single step. The energy and enthusiasm were startling. 

Later, I spoke to her and found out that this was her fifth class. Two conflicting thoughts emerged. Five classes and you are still so jerky? 

Then also, wow, she’s five classes in – can you imagine the progress she has already made – also – can you imagine the amount of progress she will make at this rate? 

Courage. Awareness. Process.

When we think of art, dance, creativity – too often we think of the END result. The beautiful ballet, the seamless user interface on a new app, or a striking painting.

What we don’t spend enough time thinking about is the PROCESS to the beautiful product or painting. How many iterations? How many drafts? How much of jerking and flailing had to happen before we could see this beauty.

If we fail to deeply consider process – well, then we miss out on the most important emotion we need to pursue our creativity.

.COURAGE. 

Courage is the ability to show up regularly especially when you are new at something. When you are twitching, flailing, and looking nothing like what you thought you would look like. It really is SO much easier to be the person laughing from the sidelines. But guess what? Sneering at someone else’s flailing does little to help you bring your art and your voice into the world. 

Swap out cynicism to process-aware 

Something which has become very popular is cynicism and mockery of aspiring artists. We cruelly laugh at the George Ohs and the lame dancers on YouTube. 

I’d stay away from this posturing. 

Instead of laughing at some who is struggling to sing or dance AND is still trying to get on to American Idol… I’m in awe. I think – ‘Wow, here is an Artist in training.’ That is someone with courage. 

Then I switch it off or atleast stop looking at the YouTube comments.

“Those who watch and those who play”

I remember a time when I complimented Pierre, a Frenchman on his country winning the FIFA World Cup.

Pierre looked at me with his characteristic disdain. 

He snarled :

“There are two types of men in this world. Those who watch football and those who play it. I’m the latter.” 

He was the owner of a Bootcamp and taught martial arts in his spare time. To him, the notion of watching somebody else play football – seemed pointless, when he could play football himself. 

I don’t think the world is divided neatly into these two categories. I do think consuming art is one of life’s deepest pleasures. It feeds our hearts and souls in ways in which life often can’t. 

And at the same time, there is an infinite source of gratitude, pleasure, and happiness to be found in the PROCESS of creativity. When you switch from a spectator and or a snarling consumer – and actually CREATE yourself.

Channel the energy of the Jerky Woman.

We can’t expect to be good at everything. Maybe belly dancing isn’t your thing – but there might be another art, sport, role, identity, or capacity that you could get really good at. Promise! 

The only way you are going to find it and enjoy it – is through those awful moments of twitching and flailing. 

Even when you look in the mirror, canvas, or screen – and you say – damn, this sucks.

Be like the Jerky Woman. Jump. Twitch. Flail. 

Do whatever. 

Staying in the game is the hardest thing for the beginner artist.

That’s what I’m doing out here every week. Just staying in the game.