Takes 2 to dance: Part IV

Omg... I really enjoyed tonight's practice! It was crazily fun! Although my age is catching up and I was forgetful, it was a damned enjoyable session! I think we finally manage to break the ice after a couple of sessions together. I also need to thank Lisa and James for advicing me to keep my worry-looking face aside and bring out the original bubbly me (^_^*)

Kvin is kinda outgoing and courageous guy, a really great partner to dance with! He dares to look into my eyes and buzz me with high voltage. Luckily my heart is safekept in Ed's pocket in Trops, else kena la... 'lol'. I think both of us can generate great chemistry together! Fyi, I haven't start to seduce him yet... beware Kvin... 'rofl'

Kvin shared an experience with me today. He chose the Jive music with the highest bpm (beats per minute) from the CD track. I was stunned. But apparently his instructor told him that if the dancer can dance in fast speed, he can better master the steps in lower bpm. For the first time I attempted such fast pace although i didn't ask how fast! It was crazy, I said 'You are crazy!?!' but I crazily enjoyed it very much. I was exhausted, but it was so shooked!

Today, we practiced along with Esther and Jeremy for the first time. It was fun able to dance with the young energetic couple. It motivated Kvin to work harder also. I guess every youngster need some form of motivation to boost to another level :) Some healthy competition would do everyone good :] 'Ops... dun let Kvin know :p'

Four of us managed to sit down and chat a bit. It was a ice-breaking session for the 4 of us because we barely had the chance to chat like that. Esther is a very sweet young lady and Jeremy is still a boy despite his mature looking face. I am really looking forward to the Penang trip. Albeit the eye-opening competition, I am looking forward to the makan-makan sessions! Omg... I need to work on my weight first, have been gaining quite some weight lately... -_-"

We also talked about costume... -_-" that is another headache for me now. I still do not know what to wear... what hairdo to set... which tailor to go for... The cost for the costume is fairly expensive as expected. Hopeful I manage to get one below RM 400. Would not want to spend too much on one competition. I need to do more homework on this.

There are so many things to work on... I guess I need to note down all the outstanding tasks to be completed, else I will surely forget something at the last minute.

I am exhausted and dehydrated now... after the practice session and One-2-One non-stop session.

It has been a really fun day! Wanted to do some normal pre-sleep reading but I think I'm knocked out for the day la.

Good night Malaysia .... Zzzzz.....

Takes 2 to dance: Part III

Finally we completed our Jive routine tonight!

Actually it was not really a great achievement because it was Henry who reduce the variation in dance after considering our pace. However, for our level, I believe keeping the basic steps would be an advantage for us. We just need to strengthen our basic routine and outshine it with great execution.

Everyone had fun tonight, I supposed. The atmosphere was less tensed and there were plenty of laughter. Kvin seemed to be merrier tonight. Less frowns and more smiles, I am glad.

Tonight, we experimented different pace. From slow to fast. It was not easy. At some point of time, I felt like i was chasing time, totally left no room for executing dance technique. Sometimes Kvin flung me and my feet was off the floor. I felt that I looked rough and both of us looked messy together. We really need to kick some asses and I need to work more on my pace -_-"

There are still a couple of things that are lacking in us. The main one is none other but partnering. I feel that we are weak in usage of tension. At certain steps like Chicken Walk and 4 Steps... I couldn't feel Kvin's tension and strength which I can with Antonio and James. Subsequently, I subconsciously leaded him in some steps, ops! Didn't mean it.

Secondly thing is finding a balance between both of us. Kvin is younger and vigorous while I'm the old lady who is weaker in speed and strength. I'm more focus on the execution of the steps because though i believe both of us can execute with power, we need to strengthen our footsteps first. Less of compensation in our partnerwork.

Anyway, if only we had more opportunity to practice, I believe we can work all the problems out. Hope Kvin excels in his exams and can spare more time for practice after the exam week -_-" Something which is beyond my control but I have to stay positive and have confident.

We all just wanna have fun, but must be supported with determination and commitment!

Receiving is Offering

I am brought up in a family of offering. Despite the moral studies I did during schooling period, I have been educated to offer since young. When I was learning Yoga, I studied The eight limbs of Patanjali. The first branch, Yama is about social behavior; about how we treat others and the world around us. The Yama element which relates to offering is Parigraha.

I love to offer. If I have 12 pieces of chocs, most of the time I would share 11 or maybe all 12. When I know about a good investment, I will share with friends who love investment. When I see warehouse sales, I would inform my lady friends who are fanatic in shopping to share the joy. When I see someone needs help, I will try to help. It is not a holy thing that I want to brag about, but rather it is an instantaneous response in me. On second thought, it is because I feel bless to be able to offer. I feel lucky because I have the ability to offer. There are many people in this world who are deprived from having the basic needs in life e.g. health, shelter, food, family etc, while I have the choice to choose what I want to eat, wear or even partying. I am blessed with ABUNDANCE thus I can have CHOICES. With abundance, I possess more than I need and thus I feel that I should contribute to others who lack. This is the principle that is held by a lot of well known rich people around the world. However, the art of offering depends the selfishness/selflessness of a person.

Now, what about receiving as offering? It may sound contradictory to what I have written earlier, but actually it is not. The reason behind it, BALANCE. Alike male & female, hot & cold, yin & yang, give and take work as a pair.

I myself have neglected this balance. I know about 'Give and Take' but I have tendency towards offering because it feels good to be able to. However, sometimes I reject or decline other's offer. I was not being mean, but rather at that point of time, I really do not need what was being offer. So, I thought that offering could be passed on to someone else who needed or wanting it. Little did I realize that I was actually depriving other's chance to offer what they could/have.

Am I exaggerating the matter? Like me quote some of my encounters:

:: Encounter 1 ::
Last year, Shu Hui went to China and bought me a really expensive wool shawl for my birthday. When I opened my gift, my first response was "This is too expensive for me and I seldom wear shawl la! You keep this expensive gift for another friend la! Why don't you offer the sample necklaces on the make up table instead? I don't mind, I kinda like them. Can I have those samples instead?" What I thinking at that time was, since I wouldn't be using it frequently, don't waste it on me. My best friend made big response. She claimed that she chose the gift for me, not for another people and the shop is a well-known boutique in Shanghai. I didn't realize that I made her feel bad at that time. Later when I recalled back, I felt bad for saying that because I did not appreciate what she did for me. It was NOT just about whether I want it or not.

:: Encounter 2 ::
Last August, Shu Hui went to Beijing with family for the 2008 Olympics. I asked her to buy me a collection of Olympics stamps. I have been collecting stamps since primary school. When we met in September, she bought me this really beautiful set of FuWa (福娃) stamps and a limited edition of Ying Ying (盈盈) T-Shirt. I was so happy and I said "Thank you, thank you! I really love them!" Instead of buying on my behalf, she bought them as souvenir cum belated birthday gift. I could see that she was pleased that I love the souvenirs she bought. Later she told me that she actually queued up for the stamps. I was so touched TvT

I am not sure whether you share similar experience. But I had learn from mine. So now, I practice GIVE and TAKE simultaneously. To be frank, it feels a lot better to offer and receive, as compared to offering alone. I feel more sense of balance.

Alike an ancient chinese proverb, 投我以桃, 报之以李。It is an art of appreciation.

Hope this sharing can inspire my acquaintances and make the society a better living place.

We can make a difference!