Zumba girl crush + 50 questions
Hi friends! Happy Saturday 🙂 What are you up to this weekend?
Last night, I met up at the mall to meet up with the squadron wives to see a movie. It ended up only being myself and my friend Emily who showed up, so we saw Horrible Bosses and then went to pick up our husbands at the squadron bar. Horrible Bosses was pretty hilare- much better than I thought it would be 😀
When I got home, per my usual Friday-night pre-Zumba ritual, I decided to work on a new warm-up and cool down for today’s class. I watched a Tanya Beardsley (my Zumba girl crush and hero) ZIN video for inspiration:
and instantly in my mind Good-to-Great-ed her.
(One of my fave books.. if you haven’t read it, it’s definitely worth checking out)
I thought about the fact that there are SO many good Zumba instructors out there, but only a fraction of them are GREAT. Why is Tanya Beardsley so awesome?
1) Natural talent- the kind that can’t be taught. She can move parts of her body that I have yet to locate, but it’s good inspiration to practice.
2) She feels the music. It’s obvious that she’s doing something she truly loves, and it shows.
3) It isn’t about being *perfect*. She sticks to the classic Zumba format, but adds in crazy moves and fun little quirky things. Even though she’s a trained classical dancer (she did ballroom competitions pre-Zumba), when she does Zumba, it’s more about fun than having perfect feet or arms.
Evaluating others I admire like this helps motivate me to do better 🙂 Who’s someone you truly admire, and why are they so great at what they do?
This morning’s breakfast feast was enjoyed on our new World Market table:
[We have to go to the other WM today to pick up the other two chairs)
I’m so excited to put a baller centerpiece together 🙂 Let me know if you have any ideas! I’m thinking some kind of huge vase with orchids? We’ll see…
Bfast:
2 pieces of GF toast with salsa, egg, nutritional yeast, coffee + almond milk
Work snack:
I’m off to do the work thang
[I was shocked to actually find a Zumba outfit in the boxes of clothes yet to be put away. It’s a little –lot- wrinkly, but I’ll still call it a win]
and the Pilot is hard at work getting the internet hooked up.
See ya after work!
xoxo
Gina
Something to think: This is an amazing list of thought-provoking questions I found *here*. Feel free to answer one or as many as you like in the comments section- I’d love to read them 🙂
I’ll go first:
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Show love and kindness to as many people as you can. We never know what someone else is going through, and simple courtesies go a long way.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? While I was at the Dance Trance workout in January. It felt SO good to dance and move all day.. I’d like to start teaching again after the little guy is born because I really do miss it.
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? Nope. I love every second of writing this little blog <3
50 questions that will free your mind:
These questions have no right or wrong answers.
Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.
- How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
- Which is worse, failing or never trying?
- If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
- When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
- What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
- If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
- Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
- If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
- To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
- Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
- You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
- If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
- Would you break the law to save a loved one?
- Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
- What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
- How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
- What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
- Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
- If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
- Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
- Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
- Why are you, you?
- Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
- Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
- What are you most grateful for?
- Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
- Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
- Has your greatest fear ever come true?
- Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
- What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
- At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
- If not now, then when?
- If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
- Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
- Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
- Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
- If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
- Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
- Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
- When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
- If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
- Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
- What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
- When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
- If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
- What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
- When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
- What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
- In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
- Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
And check out these books for more thought-provoking questions:
46 Comments
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What a great list of questions – definitely bookmarking so that I can look back on them when I need a little perspective! 🙂
Someone I really admire is Lea Michele. She has such natural talent from Broadway to television, and I think it inspiring to see someone with real talent who worked exceptionally hard make it. I feel so many times that people make it in that business (or any for that matter) just because of luck. Granted, luck is always part of the equation but it’s nice to see someone who didn’t succeed because of that alone.
What great questions and so thought provoking…made me think a lot!
1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? I would want to be the age I am now, 29. I’m living the best year of my life right now, I’m the most confident I’ve ever been, I don’t care what other people think about me, and it’s the year my hubby and I started trying for a baby…I will never forget this age and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been 🙂
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? This morning in Spin class! It was hard core and a blast, and I was paying attention to my breathing in order to push through some really hard hills and intervals 🙂
Ooo very provoking of the thoughts 🙂
They’re all interesting, but I’m digging #s 9 and 10:
9) To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? – I used to be a passive bystander but in the past couple years I’ve taken the reigns, and once I started taking control, it became easier to be more in control and be confident about it.
10) Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? – Ahhh! I’m definitely a ‘doing things right person,’ even though I know I should be more concerned with doing the right things. My type A tendencies obscure my vision of what’s truly important sometimes.
Great post!
Thanks for sharing the video. I loved it, so full of energy. I think if I had her a Zumba instructor, I would take her class every day and practice her moves at the club, lol!
I’m going to copy the questions you listed and go thru each one every day. It’s a good mind exercise. I agree, sometimes the answers are in the questions.
“What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?”
I’d like to change the way that people view themselves. I’d like to help people create a different perspective of themselves and learn to love themselves, instead of constantly critiquing everything 🙂
We had to read that book at work in the “management group”. We would be assigned a certain chapter and have to create a presentation on it for the other managers. I think there is something about being forced to read something that just ruins it. Maybe I will give it another chance 🙂
I really like your table… so much, that I think I’m going to World Market tomorrow to see if they have it here!
31. finding out I was pregnant a few months ago filled me with passion and alive-ness… especially because it was unexpected, it amazed me at how instantaneously my life changed in so many ways, and it made me realize that I am beginning an entirely new, exciting phase of life, that things are forever changed. I had a pretty profound moment 🙂
“What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?” Answering this question changed my life in the best way. This is a really great list of questions!!
Today is my BIRTHDAY so I am spending it with the fammmm at the lake and then going to dinner!! The best seafood place ever. Ever ever. I love thosee questions, not gonna lie I think I’m gonna make a post out of them and link you up!! <3
#50 I think I am making some of my own decisions, others are being made for me. It’s good to be reminded to take control of my own life – I tend to be a little indecisive!
Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and really enjoying it! I finally decided to stop lurking and get into the blogging community!
Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?: Definitely more work I enjoy doing! I want to be busy and stimulated!
Love the questions! I’ll answer #1: If I didn’t know my age, I would be 18! I feel 18. Young, energetic, free! Hope that never goes away.
BTY – is that Udi’s chia millet bread? YUM!
At the gym I go to there are several zumba instructors, but this one particular girl has such a natural talent for it that she is the obvious favorite. People literally swarm & sneak into her class, so I know how you feel
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? I am FINALLY making my own decisions, and no letting the high expectations of others sway my path in life 8)
Have u found a healthy gluten free bread? They all seem to be sweetened with something?
# 29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
Answer: Yup, and nope. This is something I’ve been working on reminding myself of lately. Whenever I get upset, or anxious, or frustrated, I ask myself if the thing that’s upsetting me will matter tomorrow, in a week, in a month, a year, or five/ten years. It makes me step back and evaluate my reaction, and it also is great for putting things into perspective. Loved this!
Gina what a great list of questions! But before those…adorable pink work shirt!
And love!!! your new World Market table. My dining room table from West Elm is really similar. Lovin’ the dark wood.
All those questions could and do deserve really long answers but I am drawn to the 5 years ones…generally speaking, most people get really upset and bothered by things in the heat of the moment that as you look back in 5 years (or a month, even a week) won’t even matter and you’ll have totally forgotten why you were even upset. I try to keep this in mind and not sweat the small stuff in life!
Great questions. Figured I’d go off a tangent instead. Can’t recall if I ever thanked you for introducing me to TJ Seaweed, but I love it. In fact when I bring my son to TJs he reminds to get my seaweed.
World Market rocks! The one near us closed down and I can’t imagine why since their prices are so reasonable.
Your house is already looking like a home!
I would rather fail at something because at least I know that I tried it!
& I do remember a time when I was really upset…and it doesn’t matter at all now!
#2 really hits home to me. I would always rather try and fail then never tried at all. I would hate to look back on my life and regret not doing something. In the end the failures have all made me stronger!
Reading through this gave me the chills, seriously. (Okay, I know that’s totally cheesy but it’s true) I am kind of going through a time in my life where I need perspective like this. This question for example: If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Really hittin home right now..
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? I would probably be more assertive in my job search…I’m pretty timid and hate feeling like I’m troubling people with networking opportunities/asking for advice/etc and being more aggressive in looking for a job…otherwise that’s about it 🙂 For the most part I don’t hide who I am 🙂
Fun post!! I can’t wait to see Horrible Bosses 🙂
The one piece of advice I will give my child is that thought become things! Focus on what makes you happy in life and people are all connected :).
Love these 50 questions!!
Xxoo
#18 Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? (1)The guilt of not being at home when my dad passed away suddenly. (2) The feeling of being maligned for the things I never do or say, just because some people started spreading rumors about it. Totally crossed about it till today.
Anyway, I was hoping to read a focus on post on P57 Workout Dvds. 🙂
sure, i’ll have it up on tuesday or wednesday
No hurry.. ! Thanks! 🙂
I loooooove Tanya! I tell everyone that she’s my girl crush, too 😉 She did my B1 training last month and I literally couldn’t stop staring at her the entire day (my friend was like, “Danielle, I totally understand what you’re thinking right now, and I just want you to know that only in this instance is it absolutely, 100% OK for you to not be able to take your eyes off of another girl’s butt!” ;)) Tanya oozes passion for the Zumba program and it’s so inspiring to just be around her because of that and the fact that she’s so down-to-earth and real.
This post also answered another question I’ve had for a while…is the Warm Up and Cooldown DVD worth it? I know it’s silly to even ask since it’s Tanya, but it IS another expense. I’m assuming though that your positive review confirms that I definitely need to buy it! 🙂
(Also, I totally want to check out ‘Good to Great’! Thanks for the recommendation!)
YES. there were only 3 songs that I’ll actually use, but way worth it. 🙂
Just ordered it today 😉 Will let you know how I like it (I’m sure it will be fabulous!)
Awwww you took your new bracelet for aspirin the Zumba dance floor! 😉
I love tanya too, it’s a toss up between her and Gina for my fav. I got to meet Gina at convention though (not Tanya – boooo) so I guess I’ll go within for that reason alone.
I saw Jim Collins speak earlier this month at a conference. Best keynote speech I’ve ever heard. He and his book are pretty amazing.
Love Tanya. She taught my B1 training and is so amazing to be in the same room with. Her two catchphrases from that day that I now repeat to myself before every class: “doubt kills,” and “f*** perfection.” 🙂
I love those quotes…she said them over and over at my B1 as well. Also…”leave your ego at the door” and “don’t deny what you’re meant to do”! Love them all 🙂
le sigh. i wish she would do more training sessions on the west coast!
I would tell a newborn child to live in the present moment and to take each day one at time.
how did you get into teaching zumba? i don’t really have the time now, but after i graduate and i situate myself more, i’d love to look into it. i think it’d be a fun weekend job! 🙂
Love no. 12 too! I would tell a newborn–open your eyes, love and appreciate the life that God has given us because it is truly a gift, and once you find love hold onto it with all of your might.
What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? I have sooo many happy childhood memories!! I am so lucky. But here is one of the happiest, well actually it’s a place we went to several times growing up. Once a summer we went to my mom’s friends cabin on Lake Superior in Minnesota. Some specific things I remember that make me insanely happy are blueberry pancakes on the screened in patio, playing monopoly, and naming rocks with my sister. My mom, my dad, my sister and I were all so happy up at that cabin.
If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Love yourself, no matter what. Learn who you really are, and let that be what fuels what you do in this world. Your love is the most valuable thing that you can offer.
I have decided that it is time to give Zumba another try 🙂 I want to love it!
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
I always, always encourage people to try! There is a time to “not try,” but more often, we should try things, or at least look into things, before shooting them down!
Loooove those questions!!! They really do make ya think about things in a different way!!!
Love this post!!!! 🙂
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? YES. So many times with my boyfriend, we are pretty much disgustingly in love and I feel like this happens so often.. we totally read each others faces all the time.
Cute zumba outfit! I loved reading through the questions. I have the If… book. It is great for road trips!
I love Tanya too! She was my fave watching the videos she’s just so fun seeming and a great dancer! My teacher for a lot of my business classes also highly recommended Good to Great and pretty much anything by Jim Collins. I haven’t read it yet but seeing others say how good it is def makes me want to read it more! I love your blog!