Support is the backbone of success.


(*AN: A small article submitted to an online dance community. Published on Wednesday, 23 April, 2003*)

Support is the backbone of success. Without it you will be in the midst of no where one day. If you need support/help from someone and you don't know how to get it, or are too shy to get it... this will help you hopefully. *Bit of Inspiration*



Bit of Inspiration


Support is the number one thing for a dancer or any type of athlete, entertainer, or person in general. Whether you need support from your own body to pull yourself up and out of those pointe shoes or support from a friend, family member, or stranger... we all need it.

How to get support is a different story.

Getting Support You Need

We all need it, even if you deny yourself support, eventually the root of your problems will come down to support.

If you're wanting a particular somebody to help you out with something don't be shy!! Ask them for help, support, or just comfort. Let's use your mother for example. If you're having a rough time in dance, theatre, or your favourite hobby, you're going to have to talk to them. The longer you wait to tell them, the more you're going to feel like you're in a rut. I know so many girls that have wanted to pursue a career in dancing, acting, singing, writing, basketball... whatever, but they never got to fulfill their longingness for their dream. They never went to the auditions they wanted to. They never got agents. They never were listened to when they had a problem concerning their sport. Whether you're just having a small tough time trying to balance in your attitude en pointe or you just really want to pursue it further but you don't know how... [i][b]get support[/i][/b]. In life, when it's all too late, you will find out that



Support is a key to success.


No, support is not the key to success, but it's a huge contributing factor to it. Get support straight away. Even if you don't want to pursue a career in the sport you're interested in, you still need support so that you don't feel dull or that the practises are monotonous, etc. You need to feel good about what you love whether it's your dream or your past-time.

If You Want It...

If you want support, you can't just stand there and let it come to you ... because it won't. It's not a birthday, holiday, or specific date that does eventually come, it's an emotional and psychological help system that can only be given and sought out with words and love.

+ Don't be shy! If you're shy about it, people might forget that you need support and they might not take you seriously. When you sit down and talk about it, let them know how serious that support is to you.

+ Don't deny! If you deny yourself support or tell friends or family... or whoever wants to help you out that you don't want their help and support, they won't give it to you, respectively! If you do want it, don't be scared to ask or admit that you need help. If they are your family and friends, they won't turn you down. They want to help you... let them!

+ Don't lie! If you didn't want their help before, and you do now, don't lie to yourself and say, 'I can do it! I did it before, why not now?' Because if you've already thought the one thought, 'I need support,' ... then you need it!

+ Be blunt! If you're already receiving support and help from one person or more, don't beat around the bush for weeks or months. Be blunt with them. Tell them that what they are giving you is not enough. If you think they might take this offensively, explain to them that it's not that they aren't giving you enough or that what they're giving you isn't good, but that you're feeling that just now it's a tough time for you and you need help with something. Explain you feel alone or overwhelmed and you don't know where to start!


Who Should You Ask?

If you just need support for small things, like to talk, small advice, or a good laugh when you feel bad about yourself, go to anyone and everyone. People of all ages are good to go to because you get different perspectives and different knowledge as well as different advice. If you need help finding some other studios, teams, agents, or pursuing your dream further, it's best to seek adult advice and support. They're more respected amongst the public.

Don't Be A Loner!

Don't try to seek out support by yourself. (rephrase: don't be your own support). It's okay to be self-motivated, self-disciplined, self-organised, and so on, but to give yourself support will not be sufficient and will cost you in the end. If you try to pursue your career alone, you may see results at first that may encourage to go on by yourself, but in the long run, and when it gets down to the major stuff, you're going to need an adults help. Even though some adults and the public will respect you more if you do things on your own, adults are more respected amongst the public when they seek agents, schools, etc. Let them do the grown-up work. Let you do your dream ;)

When Support Isn't Enough

If you find yourself doing everything you could do gain support, and you have, and it's not enough, it may be time to talk to a trusted and respected adult about problems you may be having to deal with in the areas of your life. Support is not going to fill that hole in your heart, but it will be a huge gained profit for you. If you feel that support isn't enough, look into anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression. You may be experiencing stress if support isn't enough. Best to seek medical advice.

No Support?!

After you've asked friends and family for support several times and nobody seems to want to help you or is interested, you may need to have a very serious conversation one-on-one with your family about it. Support should be a cycle - you give and receive it. If it occurs amongst your friends and yourself, maybe your friends and you need to talk too. If they still don't seem to care, maybe you need to care less about their troubles as well.

As for family, if they continue to careless, remind them respectively and kindly. If it continues, either seek professional help (i.e.: shrink) or maybe the whole family needs to attend a few meetings. Or ask your family members if there is something that they need help with. Eventually if you help them enoug, honestly, with their troubles, they may want to repay you for your acts of kindness and start supporting you. If not... another one-on-one talk should be up for grabs.



I really hope I've helped you guys. I know I tried to support myself ever since I was a young girl. I've gotten pretty darn far, but not far enough and now that I am sixteen I know that I need to seek help and support from my family. My friends can't give me what I need, and it's the love and care you get from your family. If you ever need a friend to talk to, I'm there for any of you guys! Much luck and love and a prosperous future for you ;)

Happiest Easter!

Warm Love
*-Llydaw-*

REMINDER:

You should seek professional medical advice by your personal physician if you are experiencing the symptoms in relation to any illness, disorder, or syndrome such as depression, anxiety, stress, or eating disorders. These matters are serious and must not be taken lightly. Please contact your physician immediately.