Ilov Grate ~ Day29 (Birthday Thanks)

Birthday Thanks is a 31 day blog challenge focusing on people who have influenced, shaped, affected and changed my life. My birth was awesome but my ALMOST 28 years of living has been enhanced by the people I’ve met along the way.

I’ve “known” Ilov for a little over a year and yet she has impacted my life in ways that I’ll carry with me for a lifetime. Ilov is one of my dance instructors and I am incredibly grateful for the experiences she creates. First off, I love her name. Ilov Grate. I read that as I LOVE GREAT!, which is wonderful.

I am grateful for Ilov because she pushes me pass my comfort levels. Just when I think I’ve danced as fierce as I can, Ilov does something that brings out even more from me. When I think that being fierce and strong is who my inner siren is, Ilov pushes me towards vulnerability and sweet surrender.

After I dance, Ilov hugs me. She smiles. She cries. She high fives me. She gets me, sees me and then urges me to try more and to experiment more. I can’t ask for more from any kind of teacher. Its amazing to have a teacher that sees me completely and also sees more of what I can be.

I love that before some of my classes, Ilov reads excerpts from magazine articles on women making a difference in the world or she talks about books, movies and her life experiences. Some teachers whether in school, dance class or whatever just begin class at their designated time and they end on time, back their bags and go. Ilov tells stories, she asks us questions, she repeats our names and give us a focus for the day.

She gently insist that we all try something new. I value that in my experiences with others.

All in all, Ilov has taught me to explore every crevice of my self. She insist that I shed light on the dark corners of my mind and bring them to surface. She suggest that I let go just a bit more. Later on, she checks in with me to understand how the experience was for me. I signed up for classes with Ilov to learn more about dance. I didn’t know I’d learned more about my self, about life, about expression and about all the ways my heart shows up in the room.

Ilov thank you for being exactly who you are. You are a wonderful, gifted, incredible teacher that goes ABOVE and BEYOND the call of duty. You have created a community in your class of wonderful exploration and you inspire me every time I see you. I carry you and your life lessons with me always!