This past Monday, I went to a hip-hop dance class with T, C, and Cor. It’s the second time I’ve headed to dance with these ladies, this time a different studio than the last, but both times equally fun.

I am a terrible dancer, having stopped taking dance in my youth in favor of soccer. I never quite got the hang of shifting my weight in a way that could make it look like I was light on my feet. But I love dancing. I love dancing around my kitchen, in my car, at any bar/party/house/grocery store. So when T and C invited us to go, of course my answer was yes.

At class, our teacher was showing us how to pop and lock, how to do some fancy footwork, and generally how to move like we knew what we were doing – which we most certainly did not. But he said something that really applies to all life – “put some face into it.” He meant to put a smile on – act like you know what you’re doing, like what you’re doing is what you MEAN to be doing. Add your own flair to what you’re doing, too, because your own touches make it seem even more right. Fake it til you make it – and smile all the while.

Well, I might have barely learned 16 counts of dance moves to a Bruno Mars song, but I had an hour of fun, I put some face into it, and I got some exercise in on the way. The teacher told me I did great at the end, and that stuck with me, too – because a) I am pretty sure I didn’t but I appreciated the support and b) because I really did smile and laugh the whole time because I was having a good time (remind anyone of going to yoga with me?)

I think I’ll be back with T and C to shake it til I make it, face included.

Happy hump day, chickens!