I know many steps of many dances, backwards, forwards, and frankly, so well that I could do them blindfolded; but, even precision needs reminders of flexibility when perfection can’t be consistently attained – we are only, Human. So, like most, sometimes I stumble, sometimes my boots catch a rough or slipper spot on the floor and sometimes, I forget the exact movement for a split second or my weight distribution is offset. It is in these times, that I silently, as gracefully as I can, blend back into my intention with the focus of a hawk but the fluidity of water – real-time, unabridged, uncensored, micro-corrections towards reaching flawlessness, even though that is only a theory and piece of mind. Hopefully, only my co-dancers can tell i’ve made a mistake. Is it a mistake if you can convince an audience it’s a choreographed ornamentation?

Growing up, I was a musician. Perhaps, the foundation of why dancing feels so natural. My body and my mind process in rhythms and beats, they function only in sync and to disengage the two is always more difficult than not; while, it may be quite the opposite for some. I have a harder time understanding being off beat or out of tune, my brain just isn’t wired that way. Perhaps, it’s because I AM left-handed, for what that’s worth. One thing, that always astounded me growing up, was watching expert musicians tune their instruments and make micro adjustments in real time as they continued to create art. The ability to accept imperfection and the beauty in recognizing small mistakes simply as variations in a cadence that was constantly evolving, was magical. I loved watching a guitarist tune his guitar while he was actively playing it, to almost not miss a single beat; just as the pianist would turn the page, so quickly, if you only saw with your ears, you would have never noticed.

In the intensive care unit, there are often times that medication is needed to support cardiovascular function and blood pressure in the times of critical illness. We are fortunate that throughout the years, brilliant scientists and researchers have discovered some of the chemicals the body makes to sustain our lives. Some of those very important chemicals go by different names depending on where you are or what language you practice medicine in, but a few of these substances (referred to often as vasopressors) I know as norepinephrine or epinephrine. These fall into the class of medications/substances we also refer to as catecholamines, and more colloquially, or in other countries, as noradrenaline and adrenaline. There are others as well, but one that stands out to predate and literally act as the molecular precursor transforming into the above is dopamine. Many people, even not in healthcare, know of the affect that dopamine has on our brains and moods, but it also touches receptors in the body that alter blood pressure or kidney function. But, this blog isn’t really focused on medical or clinical advice, so why do I mention it?

Over the years as we have grown in our deeper understanding of the human body, and particularly tiny human bodies in my sphere, we have started focusing more and more on individualistic affects, tailoring medications and doses to bodies that are different. Eventually, we will get to a time of precision medicine, but we’re decades away from that. However, it doesn’t mean we should ignore the idiosyncratic reactions that one patient has to a medication versus another; and so, it takes finesse sometimes, real moment-to-moment practical “tweaks” to make small adjustments on doses or timing of administration, knowing that nothing fits a “cookie cutter” mold. Also, if you really think about it, even a “cookie cutter” can make rough edges or something that’ll crumble.

Dancing, music, and medicine all foster creativity and are arguably all forms of art, and adaptation and constant evolution create the best works and are necessary for the goal outcomes.

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee

Image Credit: ChatGPT