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line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_shadow=”no” text_shadow_vertical=”” text_shadow_horizontal=”” text_shadow_blur=”0″ text_shadow_color=”” margin_top_medium=”” margin_right_medium=”” margin_bottom_medium=”” margin_left_medium=”” margin_top_small=”” margin_right_small=”” margin_bottom_small=”” margin_left_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” margin_top_mobile=”” margin_bottom_mobile=”” text_color=”” animated_text_color=”” gradient_font=”no” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ highlight_color=”” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

“ One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.”

[/fusion_title][fusion_title title_type=”text” rotation_effect=”bounceIn” display_time=”1200″ highlight_effect=”circle” loop_animation=”off” highlight_width=”9″ highlight_top_margin=”0″ before_text=”” rotation_text=”” highlight_text=”” after_text=”” title_link=”off” link_url=”” link_target=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” content_align_medium=”” content_align_small=”” content_align=”left” size=”1″ font_size=”” animated_font_size=”” fusion_font_family_title_font=”Montserrat” fusion_font_variant_title_font=”700″ line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_shadow=”no” text_shadow_vertical=”” text_shadow_horizontal=”” text_shadow_blur=”0″ text_shadow_color=”” margin_top_medium=”” margin_right_medium=”” margin_bottom_medium=”” margin_left_medium=”” margin_top_small=”” margin_right_small=”” margin_bottom_small=”” margin_left_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” margin_top_mobile=”” margin_bottom_mobile=”” text_color=”” animated_text_color=”” gradient_font=”no” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ highlight_color=”” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””] ~ Shannon Alder[/fusion_title][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Do you ever notice that you’re taking yourself too seriously? What’s your go-to method of lightening up? Could it be that your personality is much like your physical body, and that a bit of stretching once in a while can limber you up like yoga?

Well, the good news is that you don’t have to be stuck in one persona or another all of the time. It’s quite all right to get out of your comfort zone once in a while and try on something new.

We’ve all got an alter-ego or two floating around behind the surface, and it can be a liberating experience to let your inner-child come out to play on occasion.

And not just for your own benefit. The other folks around you get to see an different side of you that may well add to their overall impression of you in a positive way.

If nothing else, it adds another dimension, and we all want to be multi-dimensional, right?

Today, of course, is Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of The Dead. And when you ponder your long-lost ancestors and relatives, you may find sides of yourself that are rarely exposed.

Last night was Halloween, and if you have any young’uns around, you were probably out doing some safe and socially-distanced Trick-or-Treating. Kids sure know how to inhabit different personas with ease, and we can all take our cues from them.

Whether you’re a prankster or not, turning up somewhere in a radically different guise is a real hoot. There’s nothing like seeing the look on your friends faces when they see you in a totally different light.

For me, it takes me back to my formative years as an aspiring rock-n-roller. Had things gone a slightly different way back in the early 80’s, I might have stayed in my long-haired rocker lane.

But alas, I discovered Punk Rock and chopped my hair into a short mohawk one fateful day in Boulder, turning my back on all of my hippy friends and hightailing it to the underground basements and warehouses of Denver where a real, live Punk scene was happening.

Since then there have been a few attempts to let my hair grow beyond my neckline, but every time it would get close to the point where I might be able to tie it back, I would relent to the aggravation and shear it off. So, no man-bun for me, it wasn’t in the cards.

But at least once a year when Halloween rolls around, I can let my inner-rocker out to play and pretend that I went down the Heavy Metal path like so many of my cronies.

So remember that one of your great privileges in this life is to play with your persona and shift up your shape once in a while! Your personality likes a bit of limbering up once in a while, so go ahead and let your alter-ego take center stage. You’ll always be there when you return.

Much love and happy November!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine

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