I love to dance. Ooh, honey. Let me stomp my feet and clap my hands like a flamenco dancer, using my fan as my tool to make my expression that much more grand. Let me sway my hips like a salsa dancer, embracing every curve that I own. Let me pump my chest like a hip hop dancer, expressing how strong and how hard I can go. I love to dance. I love feeling feminine and knowing that I have some hips and curves that I know how to move. And then let me have this dance of expression, telling a story, sharing a story with my body that you can only interpret if you look closely and feel deeply. I love dance. I love that dance is universal, that everybody does it, that everybody can do it, that anybody can do it. I love dance. I love that every piece of my body can tell a story and speak to my experience, and I love the freedom that dance gives me when I am freestyling in my home, dancing alone or worshiping God, hallelujah, I love to dance. I love to think I wish in my head that I could do singing in the rain and jump and have all those high kicks, but that’s okay. I’ll just do it in my head, and I’ll stick to swaying my hips. I love to dance. I love the costumes that people wear when they dance, like leotards and tights, as well as just elaborate colors, like in the Mexican hat dance, showing off their dresses and flowing with the dresses. I love a geisha who’s showing off her fan and her movement, telling a story. I love dance. It’s so beautiful. An experience. A time. A story. An art. I love dance.

Dear, Lindsey,

I’m writing you to thank you for being you. I understand that many hard situations in life have taken a toll on you mentally, physically, and emotionally, but your resilience to persevere through it all is remarkable. Thank you for your genuineness and authenticity, no matter who is bothered by it. Thank you for continuing the self-improvement work that helps you show up everywhere with kindness and compassion. Thank you for looking for that little girl inside of you. I know at one point you felt as if you couldn’t find her. Then all of a sudden when you least expected it, there she was looking back at you in the mirror. Thank you for remembering that young woman inside who had the whole world to conquer, and all the time in the world to do it. Thank you for sharing the love of Christ with others, although sometimes you’re not quite sure if you’re doing it right. Thank you for caring so deeply toward others but also remembering you matter just as much. Self-care and self-love have kept you moving towards your dreams and the things that call for your gifts and talents. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for believing in me again. Thank you for gaining back the faith in me that you lost from all the heartache and pain in your life. Thank you for not giving up on me even though I know you sometimes came close. Thank you for deciding you wouldn’t let the dark things that have happened to you make you bitter, but instead, you choose to love. I’m grateful for you. I know that one day you will understand that you are the inspiration you need to move forward. Keep dreaming. Keep believing BIGGER. Keep showing up for yourself just as much as others. Remember hope is powerful, and faith is life.

Love,
Me