Risking, en Français!
Risking, en Français!
When I first started dancing, my teacher used to tell me,
“Fernando, take more risk.” Now, risk is an action I have avoided for most of life. I never got in trouble, I always got good grades in school, I did not break the rules… I was a goodie-doodie.
As time passed, Rebecca’s statement changed to, “can you take more risk with that?” So, mistakenly, I assumed she meant she wanted an extra turn, maybe an even longer breath or perhaps simply being one or two counts behind in the choreography. I was trapped in this immense vortex in my head where I thought risk meant to get in trouble.
The time came for me to move on and continue my dance education somewhere else and there she was telling me again, “…you are going to have to learn to take more risk.” Deep down I just wanted to tell her to leave me alone, and cut me a break. After all, in my mind, I had already taken a big risk by dropping my business major and deciding to pursue a dance degree.
You see, back then; I had not understood what SHE wanted from me, because of that exact same reason. I was concerned with trying to please her desire of “more risk” that I had failed to see this risk she spoke so much about lived inside me and it was not meant to be anybody else’s, but mine.
As I hugged Rebecca “see you later” on Monday, approximately 4 hours before my flight, she held me tight and said, “I am so proud of you.” The tone of her words resonated so deeply inside me and I realized that those were the exact same words she said to me when I packed my bags and moved to Tampa to obtain my dance degree.
This woman, whom I now have the pleasure to call my dear friend and mentor, had shown me that risk taking goes beyond breaking rules, and “not” doing “good” things. She had awakened this nature inside me where I finally understood risk taking was the conscious action of breaking the walls we build for ourselves. These walls, whether they are emotional, physical or mental, manifest in an inhibiting manner where we, maybe subconsciously, convince ourselves that “things are ok.” Now, I am not saying that I am an expert in the matter. I merely want to share my story with you so you can ask yourself, “Am I taking risks?”
When was the last time you made a new friend? How about getting to know a different part of the town/city where you live? Or simply, when was the last time you attempted to learn to cook something you don’t already know how to make?
The beauty of risk taking is that it is as small or as big as you want it to be. Like everything else, starting small will aid in the transition into bigger things. After all, repetition is the science to mastery.
I don’t have the formula for success. I don’t know an algorithm to help find contentment. But what I do know is that I was afraid to take risks because I was thinking about everybody else instead of me. So, I share a secret with you, when you take a risk, or someone asks you to take a risk, the result is going to be an even better YOU than what you already are. Don’t worry about the destination. Enjoy the ride, that’s where happiness lies.
Photo Information
Name: Typhoon (2016)
Choreography: Fernando Chonqui
Photo: Candace Kaw