It’s unnatural.
We don’t inherit it, nor are we born with it. It has to be learned, practiced & implemented. At a young age, some of us learn to commit to sports, martial arts, or some other extracurricular activity that teaches us this. It’s our parents’ way of instilling it at an early age, or maybe just somewhere for them to leave us while they go and party. Either way, it’s a tool that can be crucial to a young person’s mindset. I wasn’t one of those kids, even though my mom did her absolute best. I was already a yearly participant in our local acting summer day camp, and she also signed me up for all of the above.
When I was eight years old, we tried wrestling. At first, I enjoyed every moment of it. Practices were fun and easy, and I didn’t have to do much actual wrestling. I didn’t run into any problems until it was time for my first real match. Let me tell you… this kid that I was supposed to be wrestling with was HUGE. At first sight of this behemoth of a kid, I forgot all the techniques I’d learned in practice and immediately began planning my escape. Unfortunately for me, I was surrounded by a room of parents & coaches who were privy to fleeting kids. This left me with one option; wrestle with him. At the sound of the starting bell I started windmilling; flailing my arms around in an attempt to keep this kid off of me. Of course, I was disqualified therefore I never wanted to show my face at wrestling again. So that was that.
I attempted to play basketball and football as well, but that ended disastrously similarly. It was clear from that point forward that I should stick to the performing arts.
I was already committed to musical theater, I just needed to find a way to express that during the school year. I soon found my first dance crew, Future Shock Oakland. Going to rehearsals twice a week was a great way for me to practice discipline, but it was already too late. I didn’t get into that habit until I was in late middle school, maybe high school even. It didn’t teach me discipline, especially because I wasn’t very consistent with it. I’d take month-long breaks, for no particular reason.
I definitely enjoyed dancing, but it didn’t fundamentally shift anything in my brain per se.
Even still, sometimes I surprise myself.
