A challenge to seek happiness instead of resolutions in 2025
Almost two years ago, I picked up a hobby I hadn’t participated in since high school – baton twirling. You may, or may not be familiar with what that is. It’s a sport wherein a twirler aka a majorette spins a metal rod(s) while dancing and even performing some gymnastics. It requires a high degree of dexterity to do well, in addition to flexibility and stamina. It may look like a pretty dance, but baton twirling is quite a workout.
In the olden days, twirlers were a staple of high school marching bands, but when I graduated in 2003, they were pretty rare. Nowadays, they are almost non-existent save for a few schools that hold on to the tradition.
On a whim, I whipped out my ancient equipment bag, pulled out my beloved batons, and started spinning. I didn’t have any music in that moment, just me and the flow of the movements and I realized something – I desperately missed this hobby which used to consume my entire world. I didn’t know it then, but that moment started a new chapter for me.
At first, I felt self-conscious. I was a grown woman spinning a silly metal stick, hitting myself, causing bruises and pain for what reason? The answer, I realized, was simple. I was doing it because it was fun.
I never choreographed anything when I started spinning again. I still don’t. Instead, I turn on the music and let the movements take me from one trick to the next getting lost in the music and flow. When I find this flow state, my mind empties and the anxiety of everyday life ceases to exist for just a little while. It’s meditation in motion, and it has a name – flow arts.
Flow arts is a niche community of movement-based arts and performers that merge the manipulation of props with body movements. It includes dance, circus arts, martial arts, color guard, and much to my pleasure, twirling too. I found a creative outlet through this community that has been good for my mind and my body. It’s carried me through personal struggles and helped me find new friends. I even spin fire now, which has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.
When I look back on my start, today, I wonder what ever made me feel so self-conscious about picking my batons up in the first place. And I think the answer is just that adulthood makes us feel like we have to be serious adults all the time, and spoiler alert – that’s not true.
Being an adult can also mean taking the time to embrace, or even heal, our inner child. For me, this came in the form of twirling and flow arts, but here in Seguin I recently learned there are other adults following their passions in the form of hip-hop dance.
Community member, and newly elected SISD school board president, Denise Crettinden, participates in the weekly class after taking her first adult class last year.
“My daughter was taking lessons at Second Story and there happened to be a class that was at the same time she had lessons – so it worked out,” she told me. “I had friends in previous classes and I had talked to Amanda about it during Camp Broadway and it seemed like something to do with no expectations – just fun. That was a Jazz class and I loved how supportive all the women in that class were – we all had different levels of experience and ability and everyone helped out – videoing new steps we learned if you missed a class, giving encouragement to everyone- we had a blast. This year both my daughters are taking lessons and the adult classes on the same night were Hip Hop and Tap and though I am less sure of my Hip Hop ability – I decided to go for it and it’s fun!”
Denise’s story was a bit like mine in that she took dance classes as a kid and was in Gold Battalion. She also shared that she took ballroom and Irish dance lessons in college. Of course, hobbies aren’t as easy as they once were for either of us. While I can still throw a lot of the tricks I did in high school, my body isn’t nearly as bendy as it used to be. For Denise, it’s more about remembering the steps.
“It’s not as easy to learn new steps as it was in high school and college,” she said. “It definitely takes more practice at home. In the weeks before last year’s recital, you could often find me in my kitchen working on the routine over and over. Thankfully, other ladies in the class shared their tricks for remembering this or that and my daughter watched the dance and helped me break down steps that just were not clicking. This year in Hip Hop and Tap, some of the moves are completely new to me – so it’s a learning curve, but a fun one.”
Also in the adult hip-hop class is local lawyer, James Reyes. James’ passion for dance comes from his daughter, Leah, who has been dancing for twelve years. He participates in the weekly classes too after his wife, Julie signed him up.
“Here I am channeling my old break-dancing self,” he said. “I’m not as loose as I used to be but stretching helps! It’s definitely fun. The music is great. Our choice of dance music takes many of us back to the 90s and early 2000s. The routine is a warm-up stretch, followed by building on our dance routine and then a cool-down stretch. It’s a fun time while exercising with great company.”
James and Denise invite anyone curious about dancing as an adult to come down to Second Story Dance & Co. to check it out for themselves. It’s a judgment-free environment where participants try to lift each other up.
As for me, I have a New Year’s challenge for you, my dear reader. This time of year, it’s the standard to set a resolution for self-improvement. I, however, challenge you to do something you love instead. Do something that brings you joy, for no other reason than it sparks happiness. If you do this, self-improvement will follow. •
