Fort Stevens Recreation Center does line dancing every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. It’s five minutes from my house and somehow twelve miles from my daily schedule.

But last week, I made it. I sauntered in like I was auditioning to be one of Beyoncé’s backup dancers. And very quickly I discovered that my sassy attitude, and my two left feet didn’t talk to each other.

Now let me make it clear, I can line dance. Well, at last the four routines my crowd loves.

I was feeling frisky, channeling my “spring chicken,” like the old folks would say. “I’ll sweat on my lunch hour today,” I said to myself. “I do yoga! I treadmill! I stair-climb! I row!” Of course this will be easy fun.

Sixty-seven minutes later (yes, I watched that clock like it owed me money), I had fulfilled my mission: Line Dancing 101, with 37 fabulous folks over fifty with one enthusiastic newbie who managed to turn the wrong way for the entire series of line dances.

I was the newbie and who knew there were more than four line dances!

The Warm-up Rule

I discovered there’s something called the “Warm-Up Rule.” That’s like the pre-dance practice, or the “ugly first 10 minutes” of this new thing you’re trying.

Note to self: Anything new that’s creative or performance-based has an awkward ramp period up before there’s a flow.

If we don’t expect to wobble before we flow, we quit a few minutes in and declare, “I’m just not good at this.”

But if we anticipate an awkward start, we breathe, we laugh, and we keep moving. And our groove finally shows up late, but a welcomed site, like an old friend.

Seven saints in the front row knew every step. I watched them from my spot in the back right corner, but mirrored them going the wrong side every time! But I was committed. I danced till the end.

And you know what? I felt proud. Humbled. Very humbled but proud that I did not quit.

What I learned:

1. Try something new and be awkward at it.
2. Time-box it: Give it at least 15 - 30 minutes.
3. Just do it. Evaluate later.
4. Don’t quit early and forfeit getting your groove.

Ways you might apply this concept:

• In Writing: Give yourself 10 minutes to draft a bad first paragraph. You can’t edit a blank page.
• In public speaking: Memorize two warm openers and a short story.
• While networking: Have three friendly openers to break the ice:
  “What brought you here?” “What’s been the best part of your week?” “Who should I meet before I go?”
• In marriage: Toss out a relationship “bid,” that tiny invite to connect. Examples: “Look at this,” a shoulder touch, or a sigh that says, “Ask me about my day.” When your partner turns toward you, you’re both dancing.
• While parenting: Let the kids teach you the first dance step.
• Fitness: Stretch first. Light weights before your heavy lift.
• Money moves: Paper-trade or a $10 “rehearsal investment” before doing the real thing!

And use this 7-Minute Rule: You are not allowed to quit before minute seven!

If you see me at Fort Stevens next Tuesday, I’ll probably be the one turning left while others are going right. But I’ll be smiling the whole time.

My confidence isn’t that “I never mess up.” My confidence grows for “I keep dancing until my feet remember how they’re supposed to move!”

What dance moves do you need to make right now?