Dear Friends,
Join Us Thursday for Devil Wears Prada!
This Thursday, May 7th, we will be celebrating our dear Marsha Cellar's birthday from 9:30am-10:45am @UUMarin with a Stop Drop and Dance class! She has chosen the theme, "Devil Wears Prada!"
Marsha always comes into class with a smile on her face and eyes that light up like sunshine. Over the years, we have gotten to know Marsha's personality and humor, her role as a new grandmother, plus she is our favorite "Tainted Love" karaoke performer who knows how to pressure her friends to sing too! =)
We love celebrating you Marsha!
"Wear red and let's all be little devils."
- Marsha
Happy Spring Birthday Angela!
Thank you to everyone who came last Tuesday to celebrate Angela Hart's birthday with a 75 minute Stop Drop and Dance playlist of old and new songs, including an Angela original, "Mic Drop," by BTS, Desiigner, and Steve Aoki, to a current Angela fave, "Chk Chk Boom," by Stray Kids!
Angela chose the theme, “Spring,” and we loved all the outfits with flowers and bright spring colors that filled up our UUMarin church. Thank you Angela for gifting flower clips for all the dancers and to Erin Meyers, Sandy Aley, and Jennifer Lee for decorating our backdrop!
Looking pretty in pink Angela!
Tanya's 60th Birthday!
Tanya Burdick found the perfect shirt to wear to her 60th birthday Stop Drop and Dance class on Saturday morning, along with gold tutus for her besties and the perfect “Shine and Sparkle” sunglasses for everyone who came to dance!
Thank you to Jen Lefferts, Susannah Wallenstrom, and Sarah Leipsic for bringing the background balloons and birthday banner, and to Erin Meyers and Jennifer Lee for helping to decorate!
Sadly, our recording got cut off half way through, but thank you to those of you who were there live in-person or on Zoom to dance the whole hour with Tanya.
What Tanya’s shirt said:
SO
HAPPY
I'M 60
TWICE.
*Now read the first letter of each line.*
Ha!!!
Wishing you a wonderful birthday on your actual day today Tanya!
May the 4th be with you ❤️
A Magical Monterey Encounter
These past 6 years establishing "The Power With Grace" have been extremely stressful, challenging, and humbling, but so rewarding, magical, and fulfilling.
I am actually quite a terrible business person. I shy away from marketing or self-promoting, and I truly dislike business networking or making decisions based on profit or money. I know it is not smart or reasonable at all, but honestly if I could, I would teach for free.
"The Power With Grace" exists because I have simply learned to lean in to my higher calling - my faith - to guide me.
As I make decisions for this business, I follow a deep sense, an intuitive feeling, an awakening inside my heart that I know is not "my" idea because it is so beyond what I am capable of. I have learned to trust this calling, and it comes in various forms - usually through new songs I hear while driving, through quiet and stillness when I close my eyes, or sometimes I am given really obvious signs to guide me.
This Monterey Retreat came about because of a need - several of you requested that I plan something shorter in length and closer to home.
So, when I found out that for the first-time ever, my 8th grader AND my 5th grader were going to be on their outdoor education trips during the SAME week... that nudge came. After searching for the right venue, location, and services, this Monterey Retreat was the answer.
However, let's just say getting my two daughters packed and organized to go away on their big trips, plus planning all the final details, activities, and packing to lead my own retreat... was A LOT times THREE. On Tuesday night, right before the retreat, I told my husband,
"Next time if both kids happen to have trips at the same time, remind me to do NOTHING and relax at home in an empty house!"
I showed up early to Monterey last Wednesday quite exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed, doubting myself and my decision to do a retreat. My room was not ready and I still had 3 hours before everyone else arrived, so I went up to the top-floor hot tub that overlooked the ocean, to force myself to relax.
When I walked into the locker room, there was only one other person there, but of course, of all the lockers, I was assigned the locker right next to her. I apologized as I asked her if I could get into my locker, and then she apologized to me by saying,
"I'm sorry if I look awkward. This is the first time in 40 years my husband booked me a massage and I don't know what to do."
She was my senior, but at that moment, she seemed like one of my lost Kindergarteners, so I told her not to worry and explained how she can just change into the robe and slippers and then enjoy the amenities! She thanked me and went into the bathroom to change.
An hour later, I had finished the hot tub and was sitting in the spa lounge, enjoying a cup of tea, when this same lady came into the room. She had just finished her first massage, and instead of going to shower or walk to the locker room, she sat down on the chair right next to me.
I think the best way to explain what happened next is by sharing our dialogue:
Her: "That was... amazing."
Me: "YES! And you should tell your husband you would love more massages!"
Her: "I think I will. He never does things like this."
Me: "What made him decide to treat you all of a sudden?
Her: "Honestly, I think it was mortality. We've had a really hard year.
Me: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
Her: "He had a surgery in February for bladder cancer, and when they went in, they found it spread to his prostate too. Can you believe it?"
Me: "Oh NO! I'm so sorry. Were they able to remove all of the cancer during the surgery?"
Her: "Thankfully, yes, but he still has to do some IV treatments. But it is a good outcome. It went well."
Me: "Aww, I'm so relieved to hear that. I think it's serendipitous that we met and spoke because my husband is a urologist that does these exact type of cancers."
Her: "Oh really? Where do you live?
Me: "Marin."
Her: (pause)
Me: "Where do YOU live?"
Her: "San Rafael."
Me: (pause)
Her: "Who is your husband?"
Me: (still pausing... because there's no way right???)
Her asking again: "Who is your husband?"
Me: "Dr. Yu."
She stood up abruptly, backed up to the opposite corner of the room, and in her spa robe, extended her arms and said emotionally:
"Can I give you a hug?"
YOU GUYS!!!
What are the possible chances of:
- my husband operating on her husband,
- both living in San Rafael,
- both staying in Monterey,
- both in the spa at the exact same time TWICE (one hour apart),
- AND having a serious enough conversation about our personal lives to link our families together???
I don't talk to strangers usually. But this was truly a magical encounter for both of us.
She profusely praised my husband and his effort to take care of her husband, and for me, this was that sign, that confirmation, that undeniable evidence, that I was meant to be there in that exact moment to lead this Monterey retreat (not at home watching Asian dramas in my pajamas with a pint of ice cream...).
And... the same goes for each and every person who came to the retreat. We were all meant to be together.
And... the same goes for each and every one of YOU who have read this far and are witnessing my story. You are meant to hear how God, the universe, or whatever your faith may be, works in our lives. Quite a sense of humor I'd say!
We are all called to follow our higher purpose.
It is often the choice that is harder, more challenging, time-consuming, uncomfortable, and uncertain.
But when we follow our faith and trust the journey, it is always 100x more life-changing, more transformational, and more wonderful than we can even imagine.
So back to our retreat highlights...
We stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, located right on the water and in Cannery Row.
The retreat itself was a perfect number of just over 20 dancers where everyday we had enough time to meditate, journal, and then share as a whole group. This allowed everyone to get to know each other better and be able to hear everyone's stories.
In addition, despite previous friendships, roommates, or carpool arrangements, every single person was really intentional about connecting with others in the group that they did not know as well.
From sitting in different seats at meals, or sharing a tandem kayak with someone else, to dancing in a new spot, the genuine effort everyone made to create different friendships and bonds was noticeable and made all the difference.
We had a combination of serious activities that required reflection, honesty, and vulnerability, such as our small group sessions, evening gatherings, Conscious Ink tattoos, meditation, and yoga, but it was balanced with light-hearted activities that fostered laughter, creativity, and joy, such as an outdoor scavenger hunt by Let's Roam with trivia and funny photo challenges, kayaking through Adventures By the Sea (including a few women unexpectedly falling into the waves), and of course, dancing our Stop Drop and Dance classes!
Thank you for sharing your presence, your positivity, and your playfulness Allegra, Bonnie, Christine, Doan-Nhu, Ellyn, Jaime, Jen Lee, Jen Liao, Karen B., Karen W., Karin, Kathleen, Kristin, Lisa, Megan, Melanie, Mercy, Monica, Sacha, Sara (and Amy and Molly in spirit!).
Did you know Sea Otters hold hands?
Not only are sea otters just so cute lying on their backs in the ocean (we even saw a baby sea otter on the mama's belly!), but at nighttime, sea otters actually hold hands with each other so they won't drift away while they are sleeping.
We have a lot to learn from these sweet creatures.
Why go through life floating alone? When we are tired, when we need help, or when we are simply at rest, look around and find your trusted community.
Let's not float through life alone, let's flow hand in hand.
Love,
Grace
