This past week, I went out on a limb and attended my first ever Zumba class, and let me tell you, it was an incredible experience.

When I first walked into the Zumba workout room, I was nervous beyond belief. Every part of my mind was telling me to turn around-the part of my mind that is very unsure about exercising in a group, the part of my mind that loves to dance but doesn’t want to feel watched while dancing, and the part of my mind that knows very well that I *occasionally* lack in rhythm (by occasionally I mean usually). So I stood there, surrounded by 20+ people, unsure of myself and what was about to happen.

Next thing I know, everything starts to change as an energetic, hyped woman leaps onto the stage in the corner of the room and says “For all the new people, remember, no one’s watching you, they’re all watching me.”

And then the music starts. And she couldn’t have been more accurate.

As the sounds of latin pop filled the room and the instructor began to move, I immediately felt the power of having over twenty people packed in a room whose sole purposes were to be fit and have fun. I put almost all my focus into following our instructor with the rest being in following what those immediately around me were doing to ensure I was getting the right idea, and as I casually watched out of my peripherals, I noticed that no one was doing the exact same dance move- everyone was putting their own spin on it or adapting the move to fit their abilities, and everyone was happier because of it. The positive energy swelled the room and my spirit, and I can say, without a doubt, I spent every second of that one-hour class dancing my heart out and not thinking twice about it, because I knew, in that moment, I had 20+ of my closest friends around me, doing the exact same with their hearts, and I can confidently say that together, we were the best looking dance group in the entire world. And it wasn’t because of looks.

And, at the end of the class, the woman who had been in front of me (whom I had observed frequently in case I didn’t understand a move because she knew what she was doing) asked if it was my first time. I replied with a “Yes”, and thought to myself “I can see why that was probably obvious”, but then she surprise me by saying that I did an excellent job of sticking through until the end, and that most first-timers are beat by the halfway point. So hey, if even if I looked like a beginner, at least I looked like a beginner who wasn’t going to give up.

So now I challenge you to live like Zumba. To remember that getting out of your comfort zone can lead you to the most wonderful of moments in life. Remember that more often than not, everyone is more concerned about their goals than worrying about yours. Remember that it’s okay to adapt in life so that you are able to accomplish anything and everything to the best of your abilities. Remember that it’s alright to learn from others who are more experienced. Remember that confidence is a feeling you deserve to have and one you should always exercise. And remember, congratulate your neighbors on hanging in there until the end, cause let’s be honest, life gets to all of us sometimes and perseverance through it all should be celebrated. So live like Zumba- always excited for the next step.