Life in Motion

by Misty Copeland
2014

The subheading of this fascinating autobiography is, "an unlikely ballerina", and after only a few pages, it is easy to see why.

Misty Copeland, now a soloist at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City, grew up experiencing almost every kind of adversity there is towards a successful career in ballet.


Familial Instability.



Poverty.


A late start.


Racism.




Misty's book certainly raised the curtain on a world I've only watched from afar. And only once or twice a year, if that.


What I didn't know...
That it is very rare for a "little brown girl", as she writes throughout her book, to achieve professional success as a ballerina.



What I did know...
Starting ballet at age 13 is not a recipe for success.

Nor is coming from a poor family.

Not to mention moving from house to house, (or motel in Misty's case at one point), or stepfather to stepfather.


But,
prodigy is what they called Misty.

And,
she had the right people come alongside her to make it happen.



With all the disappointment and heartache Misty experienced over the years as she struggled to "make it", it was truly encouraging to read the end result.


Reading Life in Motion reminded me about how important it is to encourage and mentor the kids we have in our lives. In sports, activities, relationships and character. 

(Coppelia 2014 - Photo Credit: Naim Chidiac Abu Dhabi Festival - courtesy of Wikipedia).

Reading on...