Appreciation

Well......here we are 2008.

Do you remember when we were kids and they talked in terms of the first decade of the next millenium? I remember the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey from when i was pretty young and how that movie was portrayed as if in 2001 we'd all be living in city sized Spaceships voyaging through wormholes in Outerspace. Well fortunately, life hasnt turned out quite like that to this point in time. Technology has come a long way since those days when I was watching a television with rabbit ears and playing my beastie boys - license to ill record, but still the basic fundamentals of life remain largely unchanged.

Still with every year and milestone in life we contemplate where we stand, where we are headed, and undeniably where we should be based on society's judgement of life as a timeline.

As California has provided me with somewhat of a rebirth in life, I cant help but think back to where I was, where I come from, and all those that have entered and exited my world. Ive been exposed to many challenges and events since moving; somethings I love and appreciate about my current position like the endless perfect climate, and somethings I miss like people and characteristics of a life past.

The future is an open, blank book yet to be inked and who knows where we will end up and how that journey will change the person we are inside. In the book of life some pages will be very positive and uplifting..... Others will be dark and tragic.

From every part of life I try to take things that have had a big impact on me and smile if possible at events that will leave a permanent mark on my soul. In any situation you should try to capitalize on the positives to create a healthier, happier self. And one of those things this past year has been the opportunity to work and train with some amazing dancers that share the same passion and understanding of a simple, timeless pleasure.

I have taken advantage of my current place of residence by studying under a teacher, artist, and friend whom I respected from the opposite coast for a few years and I was very fortunate to be quickly linked to him upon my arrival. In the pursuit of his classes came the opportunity to meet some newly found friends and solid dancers which are now a consistent part of the weekly cycle. He has helped me along my own path and evolution as a dancer without question. When work is tasking, Im missing those I care about so deeply and wondering how they all got lost, or I wonder where I fit in this complex world in which we exist, I look forward to the weekly diet of form, structure, and substance in which he provides. I thought Id share a little video of him in appreciation.

With losses in life come new gains that arent by any measure better, but are always different and contribute to the end result.

Thanks JRD.