a humble plié

You know who gives the sweetest gifts? Repetition. I’ve done hundreds, maybe thousands, of pliés, but it wasn’t until a sudden shift in perception that plié became so much more to me. A gift from the repetition I had already practiced. The new perception would have meant nothing without it.

A bow, a curtsy, signs of respect became a plié—an exercise, just as before. And somehow, plié is politer-er-er than a bow. I think it’s because the head is held high. It isn’t derogatory. It isn’t marred by centuries of dropping the head in belittlement. It’s only about 400 years old. Practically brand new.

So I want to plié to you, dear reader—head held high. A polite welcome. This exploration will be mostly bad, but I’m excited to try. I hear repetition gives the sweetest gifts.