The Scary Thing!
Hi, FFGs and Future FFGs--
I have been neglecting you. You know, I think as much as I vow to blog shorter and more often, this is what it is and I am what I am: not a short/sweet/frequent blogger. Believe me, I think about it ... and you ... all the time. The solution may be to do a vlog or an audio blog, because by god, I could talk your ears off about all things FFG. (The only danger: that you would get sick of me. I am a firm believer in the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" aka law of supply and demand thing.)
I have a million things on my mind, but I have to make a choice. So here it is.
I have to say I am sucked in to "Dancing With the Stars." (Please, please don't click that little red box with the X in it ... yet, anyway!) I do think of myself as somewhat hip and cool for my age, but I know this puts that illusion in major jeopardy. But who can resist watching such an odd, disparate group of people do ANYTHING, let alone cha cha, rhumba, crunk (the hip-hop version of the Viennese Walz), and tango. This season is an embarrassment of riches in that respect. I mean, Priscilla Presley and the guy from Police Academy? How strange can you get?
Part of the attraction could be that I, in fact, love dancing. I actually took ballroom dance classes in the early 90s (I was firmly rooted in the un-comfort zone!). My partner was a guy who now has a talk show on Fox News ... I won't tell who because he may skewer me on air! We were co-workers, and I had a little crush on him. NOT because he was any good at dancing, mind you. He had completely no rhythm whatsoever.
I also dabbled in something called contra dance, and used to go to swing dances in Philly with a girlfriend of mine. That was totally fun. Then, soon after I moved to Birmingham, I was at a festival hosted by the magazine I was working for at the time. We had hired a Cajun band for entertainment, and a cute guy asked me to dance. That cute guy is now Mr. FFG. And no, we don't dance much any more but I am lobbying for it!
Anyway ... back to Dancing With the Stars. So the other night, the audience voted out Adam Carolla, a comedian who I have to say I don't really find all that funny. He didn't do much to endear himself to the audience, either, especially when he called the female judge the "b" word on live tv (hey, hey--this is a family show!).
And, he was about as graceful as Herman Munster on the dance floor. I don't deny anyone the right to get out and dance, even if they stink at it. I, as you know, am ALL ABOUT trying ... and fight a daily battle against the perfectionism that threatens to keep me, and all FFGs and Future FFGs, frozen in fear. But the rules of the game say somebody has to go, and last night, that was Adam.
Why am I blathering on about this? Here's the point. This guy said something at the end of the show, his final words before he left the ballroom forever, that really stuck with me. It was pure FFG. He looked at the camera and said (paraphrasing): "Hey, America. I know everyone can't be on Dancing With the Stars. But if there's something out there that scares you, go for it. Do the scary thing."
Wow.
I wrote about that in my book. How the things that most scare me are the ones that, in the end, have the most potential for making me happy (ok, except maybe pit vipers). It has been true, time and time again. And I needed to hear that (from Adam Carolla, no less) yesterday, because I'm kind of in a scary transitional place again in my life. (What, you are saying? AGAIN?)
I won't go into details now. But I have committed to a new venture and am doing my usual thing ... having that morning-after OH SH**! reaction. The what-have-I-done-I-can't-do-this-i'm-not-as-good-at-[fill in the blank]-as-they-think-and-what-if-they-find-out? thing.
I am flat-out scared.
This has happened before. Indeed, it happens every time I take a leap. I should be prepared for it, but no. I need ADAM CAROLLA to remind me that the scary path is the right path. But hey, I'll take it--it just tells me that the right messages can come from anywhere ... billboards, fortune cookies, Dancing With the Stars, even blogs.
I tried to find the clip from Adam on You Tube to post here. If anyone does a better job of searching than me, please post! And ... tell me all about your scary things. I want to hear!
Lisa D
I have been neglecting you. You know, I think as much as I vow to blog shorter and more often, this is what it is and I am what I am: not a short/sweet/frequent blogger. Believe me, I think about it ... and you ... all the time. The solution may be to do a vlog or an audio blog, because by god, I could talk your ears off about all things FFG. (The only danger: that you would get sick of me. I am a firm believer in the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" aka law of supply and demand thing.)
I have a million things on my mind, but I have to make a choice. So here it is.
I have to say I am sucked in to "Dancing With the Stars." (Please, please don't click that little red box with the X in it ... yet, anyway!) I do think of myself as somewhat hip and cool for my age, but I know this puts that illusion in major jeopardy. But who can resist watching such an odd, disparate group of people do ANYTHING, let alone cha cha, rhumba, crunk (the hip-hop version of the Viennese Walz), and tango. This season is an embarrassment of riches in that respect. I mean, Priscilla Presley and the guy from Police Academy? How strange can you get?
Part of the attraction could be that I, in fact, love dancing. I actually took ballroom dance classes in the early 90s (I was firmly rooted in the un-comfort zone!). My partner was a guy who now has a talk show on Fox News ... I won't tell who because he may skewer me on air! We were co-workers, and I had a little crush on him. NOT because he was any good at dancing, mind you. He had completely no rhythm whatsoever.
I also dabbled in something called contra dance, and used to go to swing dances in Philly with a girlfriend of mine. That was totally fun. Then, soon after I moved to Birmingham, I was at a festival hosted by the magazine I was working for at the time. We had hired a Cajun band for entertainment, and a cute guy asked me to dance. That cute guy is now Mr. FFG. And no, we don't dance much any more but I am lobbying for it!
Anyway ... back to Dancing With the Stars. So the other night, the audience voted out Adam Carolla, a comedian who I have to say I don't really find all that funny. He didn't do much to endear himself to the audience, either, especially when he called the female judge the "b" word on live tv (hey, hey--this is a family show!).
And, he was about as graceful as Herman Munster on the dance floor. I don't deny anyone the right to get out and dance, even if they stink at it. I, as you know, am ALL ABOUT trying ... and fight a daily battle against the perfectionism that threatens to keep me, and all FFGs and Future FFGs, frozen in fear. But the rules of the game say somebody has to go, and last night, that was Adam.
Why am I blathering on about this? Here's the point. This guy said something at the end of the show, his final words before he left the ballroom forever, that really stuck with me. It was pure FFG. He looked at the camera and said (paraphrasing): "Hey, America. I know everyone can't be on Dancing With the Stars. But if there's something out there that scares you, go for it. Do the scary thing."
Wow.
I wrote about that in my book. How the things that most scare me are the ones that, in the end, have the most potential for making me happy (ok, except maybe pit vipers). It has been true, time and time again. And I needed to hear that (from Adam Carolla, no less) yesterday, because I'm kind of in a scary transitional place again in my life. (What, you are saying? AGAIN?)
I won't go into details now. But I have committed to a new venture and am doing my usual thing ... having that morning-after OH SH**! reaction. The what-have-I-done-I-can't-do-this-i'm-not-as-good-at-[fill in the blank]-as-they-think-and-what-if-they-find-out? thing.
I am flat-out scared.
This has happened before. Indeed, it happens every time I take a leap. I should be prepared for it, but no. I need ADAM CAROLLA to remind me that the scary path is the right path. But hey, I'll take it--it just tells me that the right messages can come from anywhere ... billboards, fortune cookies, Dancing With the Stars, even blogs.
I tried to find the clip from Adam on You Tube to post here. If anyone does a better job of searching than me, please post! And ... tell me all about your scary things. I want to hear!
Lisa D
posted by Lisa Delaney at
12:29 PM
2 Comments:
Hi Lisa,
You are sooooo cool. (kind of a corny word, but I still love it) That is how I see you today and also life saving and generous in spirit and love, beyond belief. OK, here is my scary. I am leaving my job and current state and moving to a another state in 3 months. I have no job yet, but a beloved extended family member has offered her home to me to rest, think, plan and begin again. I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. I have butterflies in my stomach and peace for the first time in a very long time. I'm not saying there won't be bumps and bruises, and I have no doubt about my success. I see it in my mind every day. Remember this Lisa....the world is on your side and wants you to succeed. Each day I read your guest book to see how you've enriched and given courage to another life. You're right, facing those fears is the only way. And yes, it can be terrifying. I wish you peace and to be self-assured on your current stuggle. Take care and remember....I believe, I believe, I believe.
As always, great thanks,
Kelly
I want Kelly in the Spry! How exciting for you! Go Kelly - Go Lisa!!!
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