Hi Friends:
So, it's graduation season. High school, college--my daughter is graduating from preschool this Friday. I was thinking that there are so many celebrations for and markers of achievement when we're young. Not only is there graduation for preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, eighth grade, high school and college, but also there's getting in your first tooth, walking, talking, potty training, losing teeth, becoming a teenager, getting your driver's license, going to prom, getting married, having a kid--and then, nothing (unless you go to graduate school or win a prize or something) until retirement. That could be twenty-five to fifty years of nothing. No wonder being a grown up sucks--there aren't any parties, except for that you're getting older (and who wants to celebrate that?!).
I think we should continue to celebrate our accomplishments, big and small. I think we should make little graduation ceremonies for ourselves, for both events in our lives and for milestones of maturity. We could have commencement ceremonies for:
-quitting smoking
-when you realize that, even if you could have your ex back, you wouldn't want to
-when you decide you'd rather have everyone see you in a bathing suit than not go swimming
-when you buy a house
-when you pay off your house.
Really, you could graduate from all kinds of things. "I graduated from nagging my husband all the time, and he graduated from not listening to me," you could say, as if you've put those things behind you and are moving on to the next phase of your life. It's all in the way that you look at things.
Or, maybe I'm just looking for any excuse to have a party.
Have a great week, and I hope to see you this Thursday in class!
-Meredith
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
5/16: Break
Hi Friends:
Yes, we're back this Thursday!
Hope you had a nice Thursday off. I was thinking about how valuable it is to take a break from things every so often. We've been doing Zumba in Nuuanu for seven (!!!) months now, and mahalo to all of you for making it such a fun time for me. I hope you are enjoying Zumba, and that you are seeing the results you want, in your health and body, that you want. It can be hard to see, though, because change can be gradual--so gradual sometimes as to be frustrating. Taking a break can help show you how your body is feeling, and help you take stock of where you're at, fitness-wise and even emotionally.
I never want our class to feel like a burden to you--more like a joyful habit. If you ever feel this whole thing is bogging you down--or really anything is bogging you down--I encourage you to take a break from it. A month, a week, a couple hours, even a few minutes away (in the case of, say, your kids driving you nuts) can help you renew your commitment, your patience, and even your joy.
That being said, I'm super jazzed for this Thursday! We have two new songs, and I have a bunch more planned to roll out over the next four weeks. Whoo hoo!
Have a great week and I'll see you soon,
meredith
Yes, we're back this Thursday!
Hope you had a nice Thursday off. I was thinking about how valuable it is to take a break from things every so often. We've been doing Zumba in Nuuanu for seven (!!!) months now, and mahalo to all of you for making it such a fun time for me. I hope you are enjoying Zumba, and that you are seeing the results you want, in your health and body, that you want. It can be hard to see, though, because change can be gradual--so gradual sometimes as to be frustrating. Taking a break can help show you how your body is feeling, and help you take stock of where you're at, fitness-wise and even emotionally.
I never want our class to feel like a burden to you--more like a joyful habit. If you ever feel this whole thing is bogging you down--or really anything is bogging you down--I encourage you to take a break from it. A month, a week, a couple hours, even a few minutes away (in the case of, say, your kids driving you nuts) can help you renew your commitment, your patience, and even your joy.
That being said, I'm super jazzed for this Thursday! We have two new songs, and I have a bunch more planned to roll out over the next four weeks. Whoo hoo!
Have a great week and I'll see you soon,
meredith
5/9: Move Your Body
Hi Friends:
Happy Monday! I hope you guys had a great Mother's Day. I received my first piece of ugly little kid craft (a clay strawberry on a clay flower, painted all kinds of metallic) that I have to keep for the rest of my life, and I'm super stoked about it. No joke. In my family we take this very seriously--my grandmother has a clay goat and a clay turkey my father and uncle made for her when they were, like, five and six years old. She's kept them over 60 years, and displays them with her china.
Anyway, this week's inspiration comes from Michelle Obama and Beyonce. You may have heard of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, which hopes to prevent childhood obesity by encouraging healthy eating choices and being physically active. Well, last week Beyonce joined the mission, with a remake of her single "Get me Bodied" (when I first started teaching Zumba, we did this in class--doing "da bump" at the end--anyone remember?) called "Move your Body."
Here's the video:
Let's learn it! And we can do it as a group as soon as I find the single. Hopefully by May 19, which is our next class.
That's right, no class this Thursday (May 12)--instead, take your family to the Nuuanu Elementary Carnival on May 13!
Ok, I look forward to seeing you next week!
Have a good one,
meredith
Happy Monday! I hope you guys had a great Mother's Day. I received my first piece of ugly little kid craft (a clay strawberry on a clay flower, painted all kinds of metallic) that I have to keep for the rest of my life, and I'm super stoked about it. No joke. In my family we take this very seriously--my grandmother has a clay goat and a clay turkey my father and uncle made for her when they were, like, five and six years old. She's kept them over 60 years, and displays them with her china.
Anyway, this week's inspiration comes from Michelle Obama and Beyonce. You may have heard of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, which hopes to prevent childhood obesity by encouraging healthy eating choices and being physically active. Well, last week Beyonce joined the mission, with a remake of her single "Get me Bodied" (when I first started teaching Zumba, we did this in class--doing "da bump" at the end--anyone remember?) called "Move your Body."
Here's the video:
Let's learn it! And we can do it as a group as soon as I find the single. Hopefully by May 19, which is our next class.
That's right, no class this Thursday (May 12)--instead, take your family to the Nuuanu Elementary Carnival on May 13!
Ok, I look forward to seeing you next week!
Have a good one,
meredith
5/2: Building bathrooms
Aloha Kakou:
Thought I should throw in the eensiest bit of Hawaiian for May Day. Hope you guys are having a good Monday.
As some of you may know, my husband is a painter, and he recently did a mural for the new Disney resort. This past Saturday they had a "mahalo day" for all the construction workers--where everyone who built the hotel got to bring their families and do a "behind the scenes" tour of the site before it opens this fall. Solomon had to give a talk about the mural he had painted, so we went, and let me just say, it is really gorgeous and there are lots of special effects that are really cleverly done--mo'o, he'e, and pueo carved into the mountain they've built, and fiber optic lights, and lanterns that look like giant ipu, and a huge aquarium. We were feeling very awed, and very important because Sol was one of the artists.
Several hundred people were there. While we were standing in front of the giant fountain, oohing and aahing at how clever it was, I heard one guy say, "Okay, well after this I going show you guys the bathroom I built." The way he said it was like, "Forget this--the coolest thing in this place is my bathroom." He was so proud--I laughed. But at the same time, why shouldn't he be? His contribution was just as important to the whole place as the fountain, or vaulted ceilings, or murals. And more people are likely to ask, "Where is the bathroom?" than "Where is the mural?" And actually, in an emergency, I bet everyone would pick a bathroom over a mural.
We went to look. It was a very nice bathroom.
I hope you have pride in all the things you do. Though some contributions are more visible than others, every part makes the whole and everyone's work is important. Have a good week!
-Meredith
ps. This week we will be doing Zumba al fresco on the black top at Nuuanu Elementary!
pps. It's free Zumba this Thursday, so bring all your friends!
ppps. In case you don't know the price structure, it's $5/class, or you can get the pass, which is $45/12 classes. Nu'uanu Elementary faculty and staff have a special $3/class mahalo rate.
pppps. We have ONE new song this week!
Thought I should throw in the eensiest bit of Hawaiian for May Day. Hope you guys are having a good Monday.
As some of you may know, my husband is a painter, and he recently did a mural for the new Disney resort. This past Saturday they had a "mahalo day" for all the construction workers--where everyone who built the hotel got to bring their families and do a "behind the scenes" tour of the site before it opens this fall. Solomon had to give a talk about the mural he had painted, so we went, and let me just say, it is really gorgeous and there are lots of special effects that are really cleverly done--mo'o, he'e, and pueo carved into the mountain they've built, and fiber optic lights, and lanterns that look like giant ipu, and a huge aquarium. We were feeling very awed, and very important because Sol was one of the artists.
Several hundred people were there. While we were standing in front of the giant fountain, oohing and aahing at how clever it was, I heard one guy say, "Okay, well after this I going show you guys the bathroom I built." The way he said it was like, "Forget this--the coolest thing in this place is my bathroom." He was so proud--I laughed. But at the same time, why shouldn't he be? His contribution was just as important to the whole place as the fountain, or vaulted ceilings, or murals. And more people are likely to ask, "Where is the bathroom?" than "Where is the mural?" And actually, in an emergency, I bet everyone would pick a bathroom over a mural.
We went to look. It was a very nice bathroom.
I hope you have pride in all the things you do. Though some contributions are more visible than others, every part makes the whole and everyone's work is important. Have a good week!
-Meredith
ps. This week we will be doing Zumba al fresco on the black top at Nuuanu Elementary!
pps. It's free Zumba this Thursday, so bring all your friends!
ppps. In case you don't know the price structure, it's $5/class, or you can get the pass, which is $45/12 classes. Nu'uanu Elementary faculty and staff have a special $3/class mahalo rate.
pppps. We have ONE new song this week!
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