Catching Up

I hope that you all had a great week and a blessed Ash Wednesday! I apologize for my lack of posting/reading, but I should be able to get back on track now. Midterm week finally arrived which meant extra coffee and cram-study sessions for me… That pretty much explains why I have been absent for the past few days.

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I went to an early mass this year for Ash Wednesday because it was the only possibility for me, so I wore ashes on my forehead all day. I was shocked by the amount of confused faces that passed me in the hallways at school, and I actually had multiple people tell me that I had something on my head. It was an interesting day, but I was not embarrassed. I used these encounters as a way to educate others and help them understand the purpose of the ashes.

“We can feel a little funny with ashes on our foreheads, but for Catholics, that is how we mark the start of Lent. Ashes don’t say we’re holy. They say we’re sinners. They don’t say we’re perfect, only that we’re willing to try. They don’t say we’re models of religiosity, but they do say we belong.”

~Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, RSM

Next weekend, we will bring “Flight” back to the stage, so be sure to keep an eye out for that post! I also just want to take a second to thank all of my loyal readers who continuously read/comment on my posts. You are all so positive and encouraging, so I will not desert this internet space anytime soon (despite occasional inactivity). You are all amazing, and I cannot thank you enough for that. Now, go be awesome!

Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

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This Art Form

It is so easy to forget why you love this art form when you sacrifice so much of your life inside of a studio with your feet cramping, muscles burning, and sweat dripping in your eyes. It is so easy to forget why you love this art form when you think about how many things you have missed out on by not living a “normal” life for a dream that you may never even reach. It is so easy to forget… until you step onto that stage to dance for hundreds of people and hear their applause… until you experience an injury that prevents you from being able to express yourself for weeks… until you are offered a job contract that allows you to do what you love and not sit in an office all day long… until an audience member warmly touches your shoulder after a performance and tells you how grateful he/she is for sharing your gift…

The fact is, I hear negativity every single day whether it is inside of my own head or from other people expressing their personal unhappiness. I have begun to realize that dance is a mental battle, and it is something that continuously challenges people both emotionally and physically. I have known so many people who have stopped fighting for this dream and have had thoughts of “what if I didn’t, where would I be now?” for the rest of their lives. Do not ever forget why you started dancing, and do not ever forget that magical moment that lit up your young eyes when you discovered it for the very first time. Always remember the power that dance has to heal and change people’s lives, and never allow your current emotions to put out the flame that burns deep within your soul. Remain true to yourself, and have faith through it all.

No matter how defeated you may feel at times, never forget this art form… It is part of you. It IS you… Do you really want to let it all go?

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I know that this post was significantly longer than my typical posts, but I just felt like the world needed to read this because these words have been lingering in my head for quite some time now. Too many people in my life have incredible talent, but they are quickly loosing their passion; I don’t ever want that to happen to me.

Photo credits: Richard Jean-Louis

A Day In My Life

Hey everyone! Today, I thought it would be fun to share “A Day In My Life” and allow you to have a small peak into my routine throughout the week. I wanted to try something new and a little different on Maysa Rose, so I hope that you like this post!

7:00 AM: I finally decide to roll out of bed after pressing the SNOOZE button on my alarm at least twice.

8:00 AM: I load my backpack, lunch, dance bag, and purse into the trunk of my car and head to school.

8:40 AM- 1:15 PM: I arrive at school and bounce from class to class listening to lectures. My favorite time of day… (not really)

1:20 PM: I begin my 30 minute commute to the dance studio.

1:50ish PM: I finally reach the studio, do my hair, get changed, and cram food in my mouth before I head to class.

2:15- 5:30 (occasionally 6:30 PM): Ballet class and rehearsals

6:00 (occasionally 7:00 PM): I get home, eat dinner, shower, do laundry, and prepare for the next day.

8:00 PM- 12:30 AM (typically but varies): Homework and study

There you have it; this is the average day in the life of me! Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this or if there are any posts that YOU would like to see… Have a great Wednesday! 🙂

~Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

Control

“If you try to control everything, and then worry about the things you can’t control, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of frustration and misery.”

~Unknown

Photographer: Jason N.

13 States/20 Days

In exactly one week, my family will begin the journey through 13 states in 20 days. We are going to explore some of the major national parks and landmarks across the USA including: Mount Rushmore, Cadillac Ranch, Garden of the Gods, Yellowstone, Royal Gorge, and the Badlands. It is going to be such an incredible experience that I am so thankful to have… I am so blessed to be able to spend this summer with my family and make memories that will last a lifetime. I will be sure to keep you all “posted” while I am on this adventure, and I will take lots of photos to share. I hope that you join me!

*Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

Removing Doubt

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

~Mark Twain

*Photo credits to Jason N.

Darkness

“Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.”

~Madeline L’Engle

In late December, I did a photo shoot with the incredible photographer, Richard Jean- Louis. It was such a fun experience, and I am glad that I am able to share more of this shoot with all of you. If you like this, be sure to check out my previous post Standards.

Photo Credits: Richard Jean- Louis