What if I could?
Picture it. It's 2005.
I'm sitting around in my pajamas. Eating popcorn. Chocolate. and probably a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup.
I'm watching So You Think You Can Dance.
And I think to myself...I bet if you locked me up in a room with one of these pros after a few thousand hours, I could learn how to dance!
I mean, maybe not look as beautiful but my body COULD learn it. I'm capable.
I, of course, sat there, swatting the smushed popcorn from the cushions and didn't do a damn thing about it.
I sure did love that show. I always thought Dancing with the Stars was cheesy 👎🏼👎🏼 but SYTYCD? That was for real! 💯
This week, I went to Brian Friedman's choreography workshop at a new studio in Atlanta.
Brian was one of the lead choreographers on SYTYCD and has worked with Britney, Cher, Beyonce, Mariah - all the artists that need no last names.
So I went in, everyone was so welcoming.
One of the owners asked me if I had a dancer there. 🙄🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🙄
"No, I'm the dancer."
"Okay! All right! You go, girl." -said the owner. 🙄🙄🙄🙄
I went. The dance studio was packed. Everyone looked so cool.
I noticed that lots of the dancers were dressed in flannel pajama bottoms (um, wtf) and still looked cool.
The choreography was so technically difficult. SO FAST. So intricate. So 🔥❤️🔥
I gave it a shot. I got maybe the first 10 seconds of moves and then just was 100 steps too late for the rest of it. Over and over and over again. Adding on. Practicing practicing practicing.
I really had to fight the voice in my head telling me I am not a real dancer. Should I even be there at my age? Could I ever pick it up?
But the other part of me couldn't stop smiling. Wouldn't stop trying because why not? I'm already there.
My body is capable. It might take me longer. And more time. But I could do it.
I was STUNNED at how quickly all these amazing dancers were picking up the choreography they learned in just an hour! And WERKING it! See here.
I was smiling so big. It felt so so good to be in that room. To tell myself that I belonged. To move my body in a different way.
And it made me think about the things we tell ourselves we can't do...but could we?
Like posting something fun on TikTok. Or running a 5K. Or finding time to journal every day. Or starting a business from that flicker of an idea you had of a problem you'd like to see solved. Or just picking up a paintbrush and seeing what happens.
Seek joy in trying something new.
Next time you find yourself shutting off from a possibility because you've never done it before, maybe it would be helpful to say...what if I could?
And speaking of amazing feats, I got to interview the science journalist and bestselling author and host of the popular podcast You Are Not So Smart, David McRaney.
ABOUT CHANGING PEOPLE'S MINDS!
Turns out, it's possible!
Listen here. This could be one of my favorite episodes I've done!
xo,
Allison
P.S. If you want to go wild and actually learn that routine, you can right here. Why not?
P.P.S. I'm currently obsessed with this. What are you bingeing now?
P.P.P.S. This song....WOW. Turn it up and let it wash over you. I can't get enough of it.