I'm only 19...

I have been dancing for the majority of my lifetime. It's been around thirteen years and that is a lot of sweat, work, happiness, awards and medals, and self gratification. On the other hand, it is a lot of tears, aches, and pains. I can "pop" my left shoulder, both hips, various regions in my back, and my ankles with ease. I have rolled my left ankle more times than I could EVER count.

One day while at work I was flexing and pointing my feet together. I realized my left foot does not have the same flexibility and is much more irritable during stretching than my right. I can not fold my legs while sitting or tuck my left foot under without my foot hurting. I am also really sad about the fact that it is getting harder and harder to wear high heels!

More often than not, my back hurts. I constantly have knots in my back and get sharp pains down my back. Today I was sitting on the floor and leaning against the couch. I tried to sit up but it hurt my back too much to move. Instead I found the simple solution to sit and cry. Tonight I was doing laundry and I realized how much my back, arms, and feet hurt and started to have the familiar moisture run down my cheeks. I am not sure if it was because of the pain, or basically because I am an emotion girl?

I am still very young, but I have troubles walking and feel as if my body is much, much older. The pain increases at such a rapid rate, what is it going to be like when I am sixty-five?

"The greatest wealth is health" ~ Unknown

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." ~Mark Twain