july 5: david, hip hop dancer

a few days ago, it was a scorching 102 degree day here in new york city.  even for me, a girl who loves a hot summer day and doesn't mind the humidity usually, it was too hot, and too humid.  wandering around outside, i finally took refuge at a mcdonalds.  i decided to put this no-diet-coke thing that i am getting pretty good at on hold for the afternoon and treat myself to an icy d.c.  and it was heaven. but i digress..

when i began talking to this man sitting next to me, he looked at me much like he is looking at the camera in this picture ("who is this annoyingly friendly girl and do i really have to talk to her?")..  our conversation developed, and when i asked him what he did for a living, he said, "if i tell you, you won't believe me."  i said, "try me."  he said, "i'm an exotic hip hop dancer.  i've been doing it since i was 19, and i'm still being hired, so i'm still dancing."

i asked if he had taken dancing lessons when he was growing up, and replied with a strong, "no."  he told me how he thinks that some things, like dancing, are completely innate.  he said that when he starts dancing, his eyes come more alive, and he feels the beat all throughout his body, right down to his fingertips -- which is when he started "dancing" with his hands, moving them faster than i have ever seen hands move before!  this caught the attention of some people at other tables around us, who looked surprised and confused by our exchange.  i simply smiled back at them, almost successfully not being phased at all by the people who looked at me like i was absurd.

anyway.  what i learned from david?

find a hobby that you love to do, and keep doing it as long as you continue to find joy in it.  heck, it could even turn into your lifelong career!