Weekly Newsletter - Getting out there (especially dating)
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Dear Wonderful Friends,
So I've just made my guidebook to Japan ��� "Japan Is Very Wonderful" available as a downloadable ebook on Lulu���
���and my new book "Camino de la Luna ��� Take What You Need" which tells the story of what happened when I left Wimbledon last year is finally on Amazon as a print on demand book. (I'll also be making this a downloadable ebook as it is very expensive as print on demand!)
And daily I'm emailing places and people to set up other gigs.�� I'm getting a lot of knock backs, but I've been here before.�� You should have seen me trying to set up my Zumba Gold chair classes!�� Zumba Gold was different because I already had people in my regular classes who wanted to give it a go (or who didn't really want to do the "old lady" class but trusted me enough to try it once because I promised they could go back to the other class if it didn't suit them).�� But even then groups like Age UK did not want to know.�� I was the first person to put a Zumba Gold class on the zumba.com website in Merton.�� And Zumba Gold chair was the TOUGHEST sell.�� I called groups (nope), I emailed countless old people's homes offering FREE demos!�� (Getting into schools to teach kids was waaaaaay easier.)�� It was so frustrating because I'd worked with so many disabled people, and I knew I could make exercise fun for them, knew I could give them something pretty special and no one would give me a chance.
So here's what happened finally.�� I was invited to a special awards ceremony for community volunteers in Merton.�� I'd been volunteering for a few years supporting carers and we were being given an award.�� I raced over, still in my Zumba gear and sat in an auditorium while the prizes were handed out.�� And then I heard it - a�� club for older people - being run by the mayor!!�� So, as she stood with us for photos, I pitched her!! (Man, it's funny it sounds like a big business deal, not desperately trying to offer a free class - but sometimes you can't even GIVE stuff away!!)�� She said yes, they'd like to see what I could do!
And so that's how I started teaching Zumba Gold chair, and as I set off for the class all I could think was "Aaargh what have I done?"�� But it wasn't as bad as I thought - it was worse.�� You haven't been heckled till you've been heckled by a ninety year old in a wheelchair - what do you say back to that!!�� But eventually I realised the heckling was actually because she liked me and yes, she could dish it out but she could take it too.�� Some of the best times of my life and certainly the moments when I felt I was serving my life's purpose were in those classes.
These were actually the classes it was toughest to teach when I "woke up to myself" last year because all I could think was "what am I doing here?�� I need to go and do all the things I want to do in life while I can."�� And of course these were the guys that said "Yes, do it, before you get sick or older and can't climb mountains."�� But now I've climbed enough mountains.
So what on earth has that got to do with dating?�� Well, I was talking to someone about climbing and, as she said, it's one thing to climb a scary mountain but, for her, the idea of dating again after a break is truly terrifying.
On my trip this year I've been hit on A LOT.�� I gave up wearing make up, do not wear that many hot clothes, in fact I am generally windswept, sweaty, in walking boots and carrying a rucksack.�� Who knew this would turn on so many guys (and a few really pretty girls!�� Thank you for the compliment.)�� I have NEVER experienced this before, perhaps it's just being myself?
Anyway, mostly it's been no, because I've usually been leaving (and I'll be honest, I'm still figuring out how to handle all the social media approaches), but there have been a couple of times, a couple of guys who I've been able to hang out with a bit and even have a couple of dates.�� One of which was so special, one of the best dates of my life, someone I was so sad to leave behind.�� But I also figured out why, to understand certain things in my life I had to separate from the people I loved, had to have all those goodbyes, and what it was all about.
So, I'm ready, I think.�� Does it fill me with fear, the idea of dating?�� Well, yesterday I called back someone who asked me to come for a cup of tea - was it a friendly request or something more?�� There was no answer, but I'll try again, it wasn't that scary.�� And then, well I'll just show up and see what happens.�� It could be good, it could be bad but I don't think it can be as scary as that first Zumba Gold chair class! �� (Unless he has a ninety year old grandma sitting in the corner heckling us!)
Oh��� and a few years later when I looked on zumba.com there were 22!!! Zumba Gold classes listed on zumba.com so yes, it was so worth putting myself out there and getting those classes going��� and going��� and going���
Lots of love, Pearl x
Upcoming Events
Tuesday 10th October Paris
For up to minute news check out my Facebook
Or follow me on Twitter
Click here to get my newsletter emailed to you direct http://eepurl.com/U3C3T
Dear Wonderful Friends,
So I've just made my guidebook to Japan ��� "Japan Is Very Wonderful" available as a downloadable ebook on Lulu���
���and my new book "Camino de la Luna ��� Take What You Need" which tells the story of what happened when I left Wimbledon last year is finally on Amazon as a print on demand book. (I'll also be making this a downloadable ebook as it is very expensive as print on demand!)
And daily I'm emailing places and people to set up other gigs.�� I'm getting a lot of knock backs, but I've been here before.�� You should have seen me trying to set up my Zumba Gold chair classes!�� Zumba Gold was different because I already had people in my regular classes who wanted to give it a go (or who didn't really want to do the "old lady" class but trusted me enough to try it once because I promised they could go back to the other class if it didn't suit them).�� But even then groups like Age UK did not want to know.�� I was the first person to put a Zumba Gold class on the zumba.com website in Merton.�� And Zumba Gold chair was the TOUGHEST sell.�� I called groups (nope), I emailed countless old people's homes offering FREE demos!�� (Getting into schools to teach kids was waaaaaay easier.)�� It was so frustrating because I'd worked with so many disabled people, and I knew I could make exercise fun for them, knew I could give them something pretty special and no one would give me a chance.
So here's what happened finally.�� I was invited to a special awards ceremony for community volunteers in Merton.�� I'd been volunteering for a few years supporting carers and we were being given an award.�� I raced over, still in my Zumba gear and sat in an auditorium while the prizes were handed out.�� And then I heard it - a�� club for older people - being run by the mayor!!�� So, as she stood with us for photos, I pitched her!! (Man, it's funny it sounds like a big business deal, not desperately trying to offer a free class - but sometimes you can't even GIVE stuff away!!)�� She said yes, they'd like to see what I could do!
And so that's how I started teaching Zumba Gold chair, and as I set off for the class all I could think was "Aaargh what have I done?"�� But it wasn't as bad as I thought - it was worse.�� You haven't been heckled till you've been heckled by a ninety year old in a wheelchair - what do you say back to that!!�� But eventually I realised the heckling was actually because she liked me and yes, she could dish it out but she could take it too.�� Some of the best times of my life and certainly the moments when I felt I was serving my life's purpose were in those classes.
These were actually the classes it was toughest to teach when I "woke up to myself" last year because all I could think was "what am I doing here?�� I need to go and do all the things I want to do in life while I can."�� And of course these were the guys that said "Yes, do it, before you get sick or older and can't climb mountains."�� But now I've climbed enough mountains.
So what on earth has that got to do with dating?�� Well, I was talking to someone about climbing and, as she said, it's one thing to climb a scary mountain but, for her, the idea of dating again after a break is truly terrifying.
On my trip this year I've been hit on A LOT.�� I gave up wearing make up, do not wear that many hot clothes, in fact I am generally windswept, sweaty, in walking boots and carrying a rucksack.�� Who knew this would turn on so many guys (and a few really pretty girls!�� Thank you for the compliment.)�� I have NEVER experienced this before, perhaps it's just being myself?
Anyway, mostly it's been no, because I've usually been leaving (and I'll be honest, I'm still figuring out how to handle all the social media approaches), but there have been a couple of times, a couple of guys who I've been able to hang out with a bit and even have a couple of dates.�� One of which was so special, one of the best dates of my life, someone I was so sad to leave behind.�� But I also figured out why, to understand certain things in my life I had to separate from the people I loved, had to have all those goodbyes, and what it was all about.
So, I'm ready, I think.�� Does it fill me with fear, the idea of dating?�� Well, yesterday I called back someone who asked me to come for a cup of tea - was it a friendly request or something more?�� There was no answer, but I'll try again, it wasn't that scary.�� And then, well I'll just show up and see what happens.�� It could be good, it could be bad but I don't think it can be as scary as that first Zumba Gold chair class! �� (Unless he has a ninety year old grandma sitting in the corner heckling us!)
Oh��� and a few years later when I looked on zumba.com there were 22!!! Zumba Gold classes listed on zumba.com so yes, it was so worth putting myself out there and getting those classes going��� and going��� and going���
Lots of love, Pearl x
Upcoming Events
Tuesday 10th October Paris
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