The phrase “out of my league,” with a sports origin, refers to a skill too advanced for one’s current level. This weekend I volunteered as a substitute in the local bowling league, as a beginner. I was literally out of my league among a group of advanced longtime bowlers, who were welcoming despite my low score. That uncomfortable, newcomer feeling is something I’ve experienced many times in my life.
In college, I boldly and naively tried out for activities out of my league, including: the tennis team, where I was paired against classmates who had been competing since they could hold a racket; crew team, for the coxswain position, despite having no rowing experience; and dance team, where I must have thought my high school musicals experience qualified me to compete against Princeton dance majors. I did not make any of those teams, which was humbling.
For those dance team tryouts, the captain placed me in the front row of the group of women auditioning. I was expected to instantly pick up the jazz choreography sequences in real time, with everyone behind me watching. The first count of 8 was OK. The second count was less OK, and the first section had escaped my brain when she called out, “From the top!” And so on, and so on, until I felt like Lucille Ball in a hilarious I Love Lucy episode.
Now, as the only new student in my current adult group tap class — with a nationally-renowned teacher and several dozen women who have studied under her for years –I once again feel out of my league. Just four weeks into the season, the choreography is so complex that I need to study the videos from class and practice at home to keep up. And yet, I love the joy of movement, the camaraderie, the sound of tapping in unison, the satisfaction of tackling an intense mental and physical challenge.
The picture below is a favorite postcard I’ve had on my desk for decades. I’m proud of my younger and current self, willing to feel like a misfit (like the girl in the photo) for the sake of growth. I just saw this Kurt Vonnegut quote: “To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow…”
What art have you practiced that feels out of your league?
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