My partner Jeff and I have been going to this Rueda de Casino dance class for over a year and a half now. If you’ve never done it, imagine salsa… but with a whole circle of people, constantly rotating partners, moving as one organism, barely catching your breath before you’re spun into the next hold.

It’s joyful chaos.

The first time we saw it, we were like:
​Absolutely not.
​We came here to learn how to salsa, not audition for a Latin dance flash mob.

But we stayed.
Because the teachers are incredible, the community is sweet and supportive, and there’s something about being in that circle, losing and finding the beat over and over again, that feels like life training disguised as dance class.

Last Sunday, we spent two hours in a workshop learning a different version called Rueda Dinamica (live footage in the .gif above). It was harder than usual, full of quick transitions and fancy variations, but wow… it was fun.

And halfway through, I looked at Jeff, both of us beaming and sweaty, and I said:

“Honey, we’re experts.”

He rolled his eyes.
“Experts? Really?”

Later, as we walked out, we passed the Level 1 class. All wide eyes and stiff shoulders, counting 1-2-3 like their lives depended on it. And I remembered when we were them.
When even a basic turn felt like a magic trick we’d never master.
When the advanced classes looked like literal sorcery.

And the joke hit me for real:

No, we’re not experts.
We might never be.
But compared to where we started?

We are absolutely, undeniably experts.

And here’s the truth I keep relearning:

If I measure myself against everything I’ve yet to become…
every possibility still ahead…
every version of me I could grow into…

I just want to jump off a bridge.

But when I look at where I am compared to where I started?

I feel proud.
Encouraged.
Motivated.
Open-hearted.
Clear.

And that state of love-filled clarity is where magic actually works.
It’s where growth stops feeling like punishment and starts feeling like a path.

So this is your reminder today:

Stop comparing yourself to the person you think you should already be.
Compare yourself to the person you used to be.

You’ve made progress you haven’t celebrated.
You’ve developed strengths you’ve minimized.
And you’ve been way more courageous than you give yourself credit for.

You used to suck way more than you do now, for real.

You’re doing so much better than you think.

And your past self would look at you with awe.

Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Look at how far you’ve come.
Let that be the fuel that carries you into the next version of your life, instead of pressure, perfection, and urgency. Because how’s that working out for you?

Just focus on the truth of your progress.

And then keep dancing.

Courage, truth, and infinite love,

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I don’t believe in magic, but I know that it works! Magic is not a belief system, it’s a practice that works. Don’t believe me? Come try it out. If it doesn’t work, you lose nothing. But if it does… your dream life is about to begin! About Me →

“El poder está en la acción.”

— Maritza Schafer

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