Celebrate Life

Inspire Me

Make a Difference

Our BIGGEST Fundraiser Ever!

May 16, 2022

May 16, 2022

Dear Friends,

About last weekend...

It is truly incredible that Stop Drop and Dance classes have become a gathering for inspiration and change. Last October, we reached our highest goal of $10,000 for the non-profit organization, Ouchless ER, to support kids getting their Covid vaccinations.

Last Saturday we set a new record and raised $12,824 for Lynne Yuster and B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer)!

WOW!!! Thank you to all of you who generously supported Lynne's fundraiser (including a last-minute company match through Lynne's husband's work!), and for dancing together in-person and on Zoom!

We began class with Lynne sharing her personal journey becoming a breast cancer warrior, then we heard from B4BC's founder, Lisa Hudson, and Wellness + Marketing Director, Megan Pishke, about their non-profit organization's mission, and finally we danced together, finishing off in a circle celebrating community and life to Lynne's theme song, "I Am Woman" by Emmi Meli.

Thank you for supporting Lynne Yuster and saving lives by spreading breast cancer awareness!

About NEXT weekend...

We are so excited to be a sponsor this year for MFCA, the Marin Foster Care Association, and we will teach a Stop Drop and Dance class as part of their 3rd annual Dance-a-thon on Saturday, May 21st from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

(NOTE: The regular 9:30am class on May 21st will be cancelled)

Please try to attend to help represent Stop Drop and Dance at this event and share our class with a new audience!

I NEED YOU!!!

The tentative schedule looks like (subject to change):

4:30pm Welcome and Music with DJ
4:45pm Kids Choreography Class with Love2Dance
5:15pm MFCA video
5:30pm Stop Drop and Dance class
6:30pm Snacks & Raffle prizes

Ticket prices (registration required)

$10 (Kids 2-12 years)
$25 (Adults 12+ years)
$60 (Family Pack of 4 - 2 kids & 2 adults)

Last Chance for Backup Dancers!

We will be dancing inside the community center and I need 2 dancers per song on stage with me! If you haven't already, please REPLY to this email by WEDNESDAY, May 18th, if you can make it and you are comfortable leading our dances in front of others.

Otherwise, I hope you will at least join us in the audience and support Marin's Foster Youth!

Advice From My 80-Year-Old Self

Last week for "pillow talk" time with my older daughter, I felt called to revisit a book that was gifted to me a few years ago from my friend and student, Seran Kim, who had just celebrated her 5-year Cancerversary from becoming a breast cancer survivor.

The author and artist, Susan O'Malley, interviewed people from the ages of 7 to 88 and asked,

"What advice would your 80-year-old self give you?" 

She shared each person's real words of wisdom in the pages of her book, designed as a beautiful art collection, and were also used for two temporary murals and an art exhibit.

The shocking part of the story, however, continued on the last page in the afterword written by her best friend, and ironically a previous student of mine, Christina Amini.  Christina shared that Susan completed her Advice From My 80-Year-Old Self Project, but shortly before her book was published, she passed away unexpectedly at the age of 38 during her last week of pregnancy with twin girls, Lucy and Reyna, who also didn't survive.  

 In this tremendously tragic and heartbreaking twist, as a reader you cannot help but pause to reflect on your own life and wonder, "What would my 80-year-old self tell me right now?"  Susan's book is a reminder to us all to cherish the present moment and to remember the big picture of what matters most in our lives. 

Reflect on your life, listen to your heart, and live purposefully today.

Love,
Grace