Reflection on Competition

It has been a little over a month since I last competed in pole and I anticipate that it will be a very long time before I compete again, if ever. I never do well at competitions, and I don't know why I put myself through the stress,  

I did learn a few important lessons from my last competition. One of my students has the best attitude about competing. She sets personal goals for herself that have nothing to do with how she places in the competition. I love that!!! All you can do is prepare and perform the best you can the day of the competition and then it is up to the judges. You do not get to control the judges or who your competitors are. You might do the best routine of your life and still not place. If you make personal goals unrelated to placing you can still leave the competition feeling great about yourself. I came in dead last (AGAIN), but I had better musicality than ever before, I made it all the way through my spin pole pass, still spinning and I didn't slip in my ayesha like I did the previous year. I also got to chat with a pole friend who I greatly admire and she told me she doesn't do well in competitions either. I couldn't believe it. This woman is seriously phenomenal. How could she not place? From this I learned you can be a great, entertaining performer and amazing instructor and not do well in competitions.

I got a lot of great feedback from people who have known me for years and seen me perform many times. That feedback was far more valuable than the feedback I got from the judges because I allowed me to see growth from where I was to where I am now. 

I went into this competition planning on it being my last, so for the first time EVER I purchased the photo and video packages. I never did before because I always place last or close to last, and why would I want to be reminded how much I sucked? I am so glad that I purchased them this time. The photos are great and I am even proud of the performance that was captured on video. 

Compete to meet your personal pole goals, compete because you love being on stage, but don't do it to win because there are too man things out of your control and you may make yourself very, very miserable. Make pole your happy place and let your unique style and story shine.