by Susan Herson

Oulacation in Cancun should be paradise—sun, sand, friends. But when I flew to Mexico to join fellow Oulakins, I wasn’t sure how many people I would know. I stepped into the unknown, again. I volunteered to teach Aqua Splash, or Oula in the pool, to a group I barely knew in a format I’d only tried teaching only once before. Geez, why do I do this to myself? Balancing teaching with relaxing on vacation is already a challenge for me. I wasn’t completely confident that my playlist was good, that I knew the lyrics, or that my timing was spot-on. But as I get older, I find myself caring less about being perfect. As Mama Rose says, “perfection is offensive.”

A friend from my book club observed, “You enjoy doing hard things.” I was honestly flattered. But it’s not that I enjoy hard things for their own sake—I appreciate the growth that comes from pushing myself so I don’t let fear hold me back.

The theme in Oula this year, as it was at Oulacation, is learn, grow, lead. I’ve learned that vulnerability draws people in. It’s scary to lead with vulnerability, but when you’re humble, people are more likely to approach you and want to connect. I often tell people that I can feel lonely, and more often than not, they’ll admit they feel the same way. That shared honesty creates a bond.

Oula allows us to be vulnerable, and it helps draw others in, too. Oula is healing and healthy in so many ways. To a casual observer, it might just look like a cardio dance class. You have to be in the room to really feel the connections being made—the emotions, the sense of safety, and the community. When I talk about connections I mean friendships, but also the brain connections that come from learning choreography and the muscle memory that develops. Sometimes I’ll be out shopping, hear a pop song, and my body just wants to move!

There’s also a connection to something positive—the lyrics that stick with me throughout the day. That’s part of what inspired me to start my business, so I have chosen to lead in more than one aspect of my life. Every class I lead, for the second time or seventieth, I still get nervous. But as long as I’m healthy, I’ll keep dancing, and Oula is the highlight of my week.

P.S., Faith, I so enjoyed being roomies with you!