I had three main activities when I was growing up: school, chores, and dance lessons. I wasn't very talented, even though my grandmother had been a professional dancer, but I worked hard. I worked hard to master complicated tap steps, and I had pretty good self-esteem for a teenager. I never gave 100% to school work (and certainly not to chores) but I always gave 100% to dance and theater. It made me feel special, I felt proud to have minor chorus roles at the Civic Theater in Fort Wayne and proud to have bigger roles in high school productions. Early in high school, each student had to have a meeting with one of guidance counslors. I met with Mr. Martin (not his real name)he asked me what I wanted to do after high school. College, naturally, and I wanted to study dance. In this small rural school, there were several girls that took dance lessons, but only one who was really talented, Jane (not here real name). Mr. Martin asked if I had ever seen Jane dance, and if I was a good as she. Jane had three things that I didn't have: true talent, beauty, and height. Flashforward to college, I was no longer taking lessons but I was still performing at the Civic Theatre in summers and doing small roles in the college productions. It still made me feel special, and I still gave 100%. Flashforward 10 years a military husband, and two kids later. All the things that were so important to me are gone. I love my children and my husband, and yet I still feel that a part of me is missing. I must ask myself this question everyday "is this the real me?" or "is this all there is?" I think that every sucessful parent has an outside activity, or outlet. Photography, art, running, yoga, work, etc. Something that puts them back in touch with their inner-self. I don't want to get all "aura sensing" or "chakra cleansing" here but everyone needs something for themselves. I think I need to get involved in theater again, or dance, or....something.