A time for reflection

Quite a lot of things have changed over the last two months; furlough, working from home, one trip to the shops per week, no school, and a serious lack of hugs. Besides the obvious reality that I definitely spent way too much time in Sainsburys pre-Covid, one factor that personally resonates with me has to be the large group of people going without their much-loved hobbies and activities. I for one would’ve been absolutely distraught if such a thing had taken place during my dancing days.

As usual, something will fleetingly pop into my head and my brain then goes off on a tangent. I began thinking about how my years of dancing have shaped me as a person, how I have never lost my love for dance, and that I doubt I ever will. As the famous Dr. Seuss quote reminds us, “sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”.

I danced for quite a huge chunk of my childhood, but looking back the years really did fly by. I danced right up until my education got quite full-on and required a bit of serious attention in order to achieve my goals. Giving only a fraction of my attention to something that meant so much to me just didn’t sit right, and I decided to hang up my shoes with memories of only ever giving 100%. I had a successful dancing career, went on to have a successful educational career, and can only hope to say the same about my ‘actual’ career in the future.

The hidden language of the soul

It has been a while since I’ve thought about dancing on a personal level; of course I keep up to date with the dancing world day in day out on social media, but this is a completely unrehearsed exploration into the impact it has had on my life. I owe so much to each and every person who was part of that journey.

In particular, the people responsible for my love for dance, my incredibly talented and hard-working teachers.

The weekends dedicated to competitions, sometimes missing birthday parties and a list of other activities, taught me commitment and the ability to prioritise at a young age; to understand that sometimes decisions have to be made by our present selves to pave the way for our future selves. Thank you for showing me that nothing worth having in life comes easy.

The nights I had class were a quick turnaround between school, homework, dinner and getting myself sorted and out the door. Thank you for teaching me the ability to multi-task, alongside commitment and productivity; we all have the same amount of hours per day, and what we choose to do with those is what shapes our being.

Thank you for making me a motivator. There’s a solution to every problem, and criticism can be constructive. Thank you for challenging me to constantly better myself, for showing me the sun cannot shine without a little rain. For inspiring me to be a leader, and to never give up or look down on anyone. You taught me confidence, one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received.

Thank you for teaching me that winning isn’t the be all and end all of life. Taking part is just as (if not more) important.

As a 23 year old, I couldn’t list my placements over the years. What I can recall in detail; the memories inside and outside of class, the friendships, the costumes, the competitions, displays and functions, the days spent drilling the same 10 seconds of a step, this is what I remember, and I know I’m not alone. In these moments there was nowhere else in the world I would’ve rather been.

Dance gave me my ‘can-do’ attitude. The courage to be brave enough to fail at something new. The same attitude I see responsible for my other achievements, both academically and personally. Mistakes, mishaps, bumps in the road don’t define you, your ability to get up and keep trying does.

Practicing so hard and not placing as highly as hoped… totally unfair and outrageous, right? An excuse to walk away? Wrong. That’s life. There’s ups, downs, and everything in between. Failure, disappointment, sadness, all general everyday emotions. I was lucky to learn this at a young age. I was lucky enough to learn that every disappointment isn’t a personal attack, every feeling of failure wasn’t reason to give up. For every down day in the world of dancing came 6 good days, because for every 7 it remained my most favourite thing in the whole world. Thank you for the blessing of persistence.

I write from personal perspective of an Irish Dancer, however all is relevant to any hobby, activity or pastime that takes up a place in your heart never to be lost. My dance teachers were a few of the first people to believe in me, and responsible for some of my earliest and most memorable achievements. Thank you for giving me a purpose in childhood that has motivated my drive to always have a purpose in adulthood.

So for all of the above, I thank you.

“It’s not where you are in life, it’s who you have by your side that matters.”

I still run steps to burn off energy, especially now while stuck at home all day. I put my shoes on at the beginning of lockdown for the first time in a few years, and it was as if no time at all had passed. Dancing continues to brighten my mood, my mum still displays my winnings as though more are due to appear, and I will always call myself a dancer.

It can be hard sometimes; friends from outside of the dancing world won’t always understand why you choose to devote so much free time to something they don’t appreciate in the same way you do. Life will give you the choice to sit it out or dance; I’m glad I gave so much of my time to something I loved, I’m glad I made sacrifices, I’m glad I have these memories. I may not have chosen to go professional, but I can confidently say that dance made me into the person I am today, and I will always be grateful for that.

To each and every dancer who may be reading this. You will be back. Stronger, brighter, and more determined than ever. Remember, enjoy every minute, because in no time at all you’ll find yourself looking back.

Finally, always #bekind.

Nora xx

BSc Communication Management & Public Relations First Class Hons. Instagram – @noraellenb / Twitter – @noraellenb / LinkedIn- Nora Ellen Brennan.

HELLO

I’m Nora. 23 years old. Recent graduate from Ulster University. Coffee enthusiast, Personal Assistant to my dog Toby, retired (but still tapping my feet daily) dancer, and online shopping addict. Like many others, I’m currently at home exploring multiple hobbies (one of which is this blog) and treating Sainsburys like Paris Fashion Week on grocery day.

Almost a year ago I completed the final year of my degree – a complete emotional roller-coaster. I studied Communication Management and Public Relations, enjoyed the ups and downs and everything in between, a tough but well worth it journey. In first semester I studied a module called Critical Perspectives in PR and one aspect of the assignment was to publish two blog posts on the Ulster PR Student blog. Terrifying… I had never written anything beyond an Instagram caption before and the idea was incredibly daunting. However, this particular assignment turned out to be one of the most enjoyable I had ever completed. I did enjoy the Dissertation module too… (by that I mean trailing my bestfriend over to Jordanstown to snap a picture of me for social media to prove to my 300 followers that I actually wrote 10,000 words).

I promised myself I would start my own blog post-graduation, alas here we are bordering on a year later, and this is me just getting around to embarking on a new activity, it only took a global pandemic to entice me (let’s be honest, I need something to do now I’ve been furloughed from my current role as ‘piece of furniture’ in the coffee shops of Belfast). To clarify, no that isn’t my full-time occupation.

A PAUSE BUTTON

Lockdown is very strange, there’s no doubt about it. It’s a completely new way of life, a way of life that most of us have never experienced, or ever considered a possibility.

Personally, I’m very active and lead a fairly fast-paced life. I’m rarely at home, for no other reason than I prefer to cram every day full of activities. In addition to work, whether it be a simple coffee with a friend or a day at the park with my family, I’m definitely the ‘get out of the house’ type. I was an Irish Dancer for most of my childhood and teen years, I have an 8-year-old (soon to be 9) dog to be walked daily, and at least 60% of my wages go directly to Caffé Nero. I enjoy being busy. It’s my normal.

Following the initial “I absolutely hate this, I miss everyone and everything, I miss my coffee shop friends who make my coffee before I order it….” outlook, that I’m sure most of us have experienced, I decided to adapt my thinking and make best use of this unexpected time at home. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, take a break and just breathe (…if you’re a key worker of any kind, you’re a complete superstar and we are all so grateful for your contribution).

One thing that stands above all else – how lucky I am to have a close family and amazing friends that are worth missing to this emotional extent. Without a doubt, I now consider myself one of the lucky ones throughout the madness. I have a happy and comfortable home to roam around, lots to keep me occupied (doubt I’ve picked the most enriching activities, but they’ll do), a fully stocked Nespresso, and all else waiting for me when Boris gives us the go-ahead.

DO YOU FANCY A CUP OF TEA?

Positioned at the table in the back garden (that has had more use this last month than the prior 4 years), having spent £10 on birthday balloons for my dog who will be celebrating in lockdown (by celebrate I mean a few treats and a painstakingly dragged out photoshoot), was definitely not how I had envisaged a typical afternoon in May. I should be on the final countdown to the trip to Tenerife I’ll not be going on in a few weeks’ time, deciding what 40 outfits I’ll take along for my 5-day stay, but here I am at home deciding what mug I’ll use for hot drink number 6 of the day.

With the above in mind, for the first time in our lives so many of us have the ability to help out in the biggest way by doing absolutely nothing (quite literally). Stay home, stay safe, wash your hands, and learn how to make whipped coffee (it’s a game-changer).

A few years ago when I was learning to drive (when I say learning I mean severely struggling), my Mum mentioned a phrase my Dad used to joke about on the roads; If you ever get lost, just keep turning left, and you’ll eventually end up back on the main road you initially veered off. Whatever path you take, wherever the unknown trails of this life may take you, there will always be a plan B. Before sitting my A-Levels that same year, I printed and framed the phrase ‘Keep turning left’ and placed it on my desk. I think of it as a way to remind myself that no decision is necessarily ‘wrong’, but simply part of the journey.

This wee quote has become very special to me over the years, and will probably be used as a sign-off on the majority of my upcoming blog posts. Covid-19 has thrown the car into reverse, but gears are easily changed. That main road will be waiting for all of us.

THE IMPORTANT STUFF

Anyhow, enough about how much fun I’m having watching Disney+ with my dog. Here it is, my new blog ‘noraellenb’, by me, Nora Ellen Brennan (about as creative as my parents naming me after both grandmothers).

I hope you’ll all join me on my new adventure. I’ll try my very best to be interesting, with a bit of coffee chat and gegs on the side.

Be kind, and keep turning left.