As Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what...
Meet Micky – It’s Never Too Late to Chase Your Dreams
As Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” I met Micky over 7 years ago, and I still remember how she made me feel – joy, happiness, and inspiration.
After catching up with some casual chit-chat, I decided to ask Micky what I assumed was an easy question, “Maybe you can start by telling me a little bit about yourself?” She quickly laughed, “Oh my gosh! Hard to know where to start.” She paused for a moment, “I was born in Munich, raised in Berlin, Germany. I lived there for 30 years, then I travelled as a Go-Go dancer through West Germany when it was still divided,” her eyes lit up, “I always wanted to be a dancer or actress. That was my childhood dream,” she continued,” The wall didn't come down until 1989 when I was already in Canada for the first time with my now husband.”
The adventure continued when she and her husband moved back to Germany where he was posted with the Army. “When my husband got out of the Army in 1994, and we decided to stay in Germany where we opened a bar business for 13 years. I was a fabulous bartender.” I listened in awe to her every word. “After working 24/7 for so many years, we were both burnt out. We made the decision to move back to Nova Scotia. My husband moved back in 2004, and I followed a year later after the contract with the brewery was finished, and we’ve been in Pictou County ever since.”
Curious, I asked, “It must have been quite a culture shock and adjustment moving here permanently?” Without hesitation, she answered, “Oh yes! I missed work and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was afraid to drive for at least the first month.” Then, one day everything changed for Micky in the most unlikely way. “I was checking out the community bulletin board at my local Foodland and I spotted an ad for Zumba classes.” She went to many classes where she made lots of new friends over a booty-shaking great time. What she shared next shocked me. With a bright smile, she said, “I became a licensed Zumba Instructor at the young age of 64 after a friend told me I should go for it! I was an instructor for 7 years.” I suddenly had the biggest smile on my face too. “When you were 64 years young! Micky, you are amazing! I love it,” I said.
One day while browsing youtube videos, Micky fell in love with an incredible Salsation Instructor, Alejandro, and his dance moves which quickly brought back fond memories of her dancing days in Germany. “I just had to meet him,” she giggled, “So, in 2014, I flew with a friend to Prague to attend his Master Class with over 3000 people and something unbelievable happened.” I was perched on the end of my seat! “I ran into him while we were looking for a bathroom before the event started. He looked at me and asked, ‘Micky?’ Yes, he recognized me from Facebook!” She glowed, her cheeks rosy, “He called my name out to the crowd during his performance. It was a real-life changing experience.” My mouth hung open.
Being the adventurous, life-loving, dancing queen she is, Micky just had to do one more thing. “I became a Salsation Instructor in 2016 when I flew to Hamburg, Germany with my best friend who also took the training. Nicolle and I were the very first instructors in Canada.” Most unbelievable is that Micky was 69 years old at the time! She is instructing classes today 6 years later and still loving it.
I left my conversation with Micky the same as I did the first time we met over 7 years ago with a feeling of joy, happiness, and inspiration.
I believe this quote by John C. Maxwell sums it up perfectly, “Every morning you have two choices: Continue to sleep with your dreams. Or wake up and chase them.” Thank you, Micky, for reminding us to wake up and chase them too!
Pictured: Alejandro & Micky