Uh-oh, there they were again. Those little butterflies that sneak into my stomach when I’m about to be in front of people I don’t know. It happens to me every semester when I’m about to meet a new group of students, and it happened to me as I drove toward the location of the commercial that I was scheduled to shoot.
The irony was that this particular shoot wasn’t even a speaking part. So how did those pesky butterflies get in?
It was a momentary lapse of confidence. I looked in the mirror and thought “Susi would have done my hair and makeup better”, and “I really look like I was sick all of last month”, and even “What if I do something stupid?” Just a few seconds of doubt was the perfect window of opportunity.
But you know what? After I got to the location of the shoot, the butterflies flew away. Everyone I was going to work with was great—friendly and professional—and I wasn’t expected to do anything beyond my capabilities.
Some of the best professors I have ever met have told me that they, too, experience nervousness when they are about to meet a new class. They expect it, and they worry that a lack of jitters means that it is time for them to quit teaching. After all, if you are not concerned about doing a job well, you shouldn’t be doing the job at all.
So the butterflies can flit around in my stomach for a few seconds. The rest of the time they can stay in the garden.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
What Is Pretty? by Georgianne Vecellio
What is pretty?
When I was asked to participate in the Roanoke Women’s Expo Fashion Show with Anna, my first thought was “Wow! That sounds like fun!” My second thought was “I’m not pretty enough to be in a fashion show”!
That got me thinking: what is pretty?
The conclusions that I came to were these: Pretty is not perfection. It is not fancy clothes or lots of makeup, although these can certainly contribute to one’s appearance. Pretty is not height or weight or straight teeth or any particular hair or eye color.
How did I arrive at these conclusions? At the fashion show, there were several models I’ve seen at Metropolished under different circumstances: Toddler Time and Dance Class. I’ve seen them in their sweats with their hair pulled back, and they looked just as pretty as they did styled and dressed in fancy dresses. What’s the trick?
Pretty seems to be the culmination of taking care of oneself, having something to genuinely smile about, and knowing how to make the most of what you have.
As for me, I’m working on it. Sometimes, I’m even 'workin’ it'!
When I was asked to participate in the Roanoke Women’s Expo Fashion Show with Anna, my first thought was “Wow! That sounds like fun!” My second thought was “I’m not pretty enough to be in a fashion show”!
That got me thinking: what is pretty?
The conclusions that I came to were these: Pretty is not perfection. It is not fancy clothes or lots of makeup, although these can certainly contribute to one’s appearance. Pretty is not height or weight or straight teeth or any particular hair or eye color.
How did I arrive at these conclusions? At the fashion show, there were several models I’ve seen at Metropolished under different circumstances: Toddler Time and Dance Class. I’ve seen them in their sweats with their hair pulled back, and they looked just as pretty as they did styled and dressed in fancy dresses. What’s the trick?
Pretty seems to be the culmination of taking care of oneself, having something to genuinely smile about, and knowing how to make the most of what you have.
As for me, I’m working on it. Sometimes, I’m even 'workin’ it'!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dance, Dance, Dance!!!
What started as just a 'one night' workshop within our Get Fit Series, has become a weekly event that is all the rage... well, at least for those that attend :). Our Metropolished Hip Hop/Latin/'Whatever Other Steps We Want to Throw In' Dance Class provides a very non-threatening environment and a perfect 'oulet' each week for many of our Metropolished talent and their friends/family. We don't get extremely technical, nor do we expect anyone to become the next 'Shane Sparks'. We're just having fun!!! For young and old (and even some mother/daughter teams) it's a chance to get some exercise, learn some fun steps, and have a little bit of social time that's a bit different from the 'norm'.
Come check it out! But be prepared to have some fun, to laugh, and to feel energized!
Metropolished Dance meets every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30. Contact susi@metropolished.com to find out more!
Come check it out! But be prepared to have some fun, to laugh, and to feel energized!
Metropolished Dance meets every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30. Contact susi@metropolished.com to find out more!
KAHRI GETS IN ON THE ACT! by Georgianne Vecellio
KAHRI GETS IN ON THE ACT!
Metropolished is a family business; Susi and Val have made that clear from the start. But did you know that Kahri contributes as well? Once a week, Kahri hosts Toddler Time, an informal “class” for—you guessed it—toddlers.
Susi does most of the work: she starts off by reading a book and engaging the kids in the story. The current favorite is Brown Bear, chosen because of its repetition and predictability. That may sound boring to adults, but according to Susi, a former teacher, that’s the first step toward getting the kiddos to read.
Next is song and dance, with all kinds of props like drums and stars, not to mention all kinds of dancing around. But again, it’s all informal, and the kids aren’t pushed into participating. So, if a child grabs the stars during book time, then wants to read during song and dance time, that’s ok. It’s also fine if the little ones get distracted by their reflections in the full-length mirror. In fact, after a class, there is usually a collection of little hand prints on the mirror.
For the guests, it is all fun and games, but for Kahri, there’s work to be done. She greets everyone as they come in and tells them goodbye when class is over. She likes to give tours of the office and has even handed out Metropolished promotional materials.
All of this effort is paying off; my daughter, Anna, leaves Toddler Time exhausted (thank you!!!) and I have heard her asking for Kahri and her other friends at Metropolished.
Metropolished is a family business; Susi and Val have made that clear from the start. But did you know that Kahri contributes as well? Once a week, Kahri hosts Toddler Time, an informal “class” for—you guessed it—toddlers.
Susi does most of the work: she starts off by reading a book and engaging the kids in the story. The current favorite is Brown Bear, chosen because of its repetition and predictability. That may sound boring to adults, but according to Susi, a former teacher, that’s the first step toward getting the kiddos to read.
Next is song and dance, with all kinds of props like drums and stars, not to mention all kinds of dancing around. But again, it’s all informal, and the kids aren’t pushed into participating. So, if a child grabs the stars during book time, then wants to read during song and dance time, that’s ok. It’s also fine if the little ones get distracted by their reflections in the full-length mirror. In fact, after a class, there is usually a collection of little hand prints on the mirror.
For the guests, it is all fun and games, but for Kahri, there’s work to be done. She greets everyone as they come in and tells them goodbye when class is over. She likes to give tours of the office and has even handed out Metropolished promotional materials.
All of this effort is paying off; my daughter, Anna, leaves Toddler Time exhausted (thank you!!!) and I have heard her asking for Kahri and her other friends at Metropolished.
Breathe!
BREATHE
“Just take a deep breath!”... a phrase that’s familiar to all of us. In fact, those were probably the first words spoken to you, although I’m sure that’s not an event you can remember. But how about the first time you learned to swim? “Just take a deep breath and jump in!” Then in junior high school, when you finally got the nerve to talk to that special someone that you had been admiring from afar, you probably told yourself, “just take a deep breath and say hello”. I’m sure you can sit and recount many times when you needed that extra breath… in your exercise or yoga class when you were sure you couldn’t push yourself any further, in the office when you were ready to lash out at that annoying colleague, during your meditation time when you were seeking ultimate relaxation, when you were having your baby or coaching your partner during those awful contractions, and the list goes on.
Isn’t it funny that something as natural as breathing doesn’t always seem to come naturally? But taking a moment for that extra deep breath brings you courage to push harder, to take that chance, and to strive towards your goal.
As I began my new journey with Metropolished, it would have been easy to let thoughts of doubt creep in and create apprehension. But my ultimate goal with Metropolished is to encourage others to reach their full potential, and so I knew I had to pave the way by example. Every day, with new challenges and endeavors, I take a deep breath, I reach down deep for courage, and I jump in. And most of the time I find that my fears or frustrations were unwarranted.
What is it that you wish you could do in life but are afraid it’s out of reach? What were your New Year resolutions? What fears do you need to conquer? I challenge you to take a deep breath and jump in. And when you do, you’ll find that as long as you remember to BREATHE, any task you endeavor is achievable and that the journey is worth it… one breath at a time. Take a deep breath and jump in! Won’t you join me? The water is perfect!
“Just take a deep breath!”... a phrase that’s familiar to all of us. In fact, those were probably the first words spoken to you, although I’m sure that’s not an event you can remember. But how about the first time you learned to swim? “Just take a deep breath and jump in!” Then in junior high school, when you finally got the nerve to talk to that special someone that you had been admiring from afar, you probably told yourself, “just take a deep breath and say hello”. I’m sure you can sit and recount many times when you needed that extra breath… in your exercise or yoga class when you were sure you couldn’t push yourself any further, in the office when you were ready to lash out at that annoying colleague, during your meditation time when you were seeking ultimate relaxation, when you were having your baby or coaching your partner during those awful contractions, and the list goes on.
Isn’t it funny that something as natural as breathing doesn’t always seem to come naturally? But taking a moment for that extra deep breath brings you courage to push harder, to take that chance, and to strive towards your goal.
As I began my new journey with Metropolished, it would have been easy to let thoughts of doubt creep in and create apprehension. But my ultimate goal with Metropolished is to encourage others to reach their full potential, and so I knew I had to pave the way by example. Every day, with new challenges and endeavors, I take a deep breath, I reach down deep for courage, and I jump in. And most of the time I find that my fears or frustrations were unwarranted.
What is it that you wish you could do in life but are afraid it’s out of reach? What were your New Year resolutions? What fears do you need to conquer? I challenge you to take a deep breath and jump in. And when you do, you’ll find that as long as you remember to BREATHE, any task you endeavor is achievable and that the journey is worth it… one breath at a time. Take a deep breath and jump in! Won’t you join me? The water is perfect!
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