This month’s Pole Dancing Bloggers Association Blog Hop is Gratitude. November is the month of gratitude because Thanksgiving happens this month! This is my first blog hop post.

Honestly, I think I have a lot to be thankful for. I think I’ve been pretty blessed by God. I’m in a good place in my life now with loving family and friends, a wonderful love life, food to eat, clothes on my back, roof over my head, a stable job, and a fierce passion for pole dancing. I intend to make this post pole-related so I’ll only write about how pole and the people around me have played significant roles in my pole journey.

I’M GRATEFUL FOR POLE DANCING.

It has changed my life for the better physically, emotionally and spiritually, and also socially.

I’m in the best shape of my life and it’s all thanks to pole. All the bruises (we call them pole kisses), muscle aches, and occasional sprains are all worth it. In fact, I’ve never been more proud to wear my ‘badges of honour’ and show my ‘bruise pride’! It makes me feel like I’ve worked hard and the satisfaction I get after a workout is priceless. I can be trusted to carry heavy grocery bags and I proudly flex my muscles when friends ask me to. I know, how very lady-like… 🙂 Pole makes me want to continue keeping fit. It makes me want to explore other sports and disciplines to widen my workout regime. That’s why I’ve recently picked up Pilates. Loving it so far!

It empowers me emotionally. When I have a bad day, all I need is some time alone, the pole and some music to dance to. I guess others find their solace in other things, but for me, it’s pole dancing. Sometimes I like to pole by myself. It may get lonely without a friend but this is ‘Michelle Time’. I challenge myself and push my own boundaries. It also gives me a certain balance between the crazy busy rush of a modern life and a healthy positive life. Lastly, I can’t really explain the euphoria when I nail a move but lasts all the way from my drive home, to the shower and before I sleep. What a good way to end a day!

Pole has impacted me socially as well. By taking up pole, I found a new supportive circle of friends! They come from all walks of life, different parts of the world and are of different ages, sizes and races. Pole does not discriminate and it’s amazing when everyone comes together to do what they love. I’m so grateful for the pole community online and offline. To me, pole isn’t a solitary sport and it’s always best when you have a group of like-minded friends to be there and encourage you all the way!

I’M GRATEFUL FOR MY INSTRUCTORS AND FELLOW POLE FRIENDS.

*I have more photos but only posted a few!

Without their encouragement and support ever since I started pole, I won’t be where I am now. If I had not been fiercely encouraged to take part in one of the studio’s events a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have developed this thick skin to ‘just do it, come what may’. That was the turning point for me. I started wanting to do anything and everything pole-related that I can possibly do. That led to the various competitions, overseas pole drop-ins and finally, the birth of heartnpole. I don’t think it will stop here, I will always want to do more. And I have my instructors and pole friends to thank for never giving up on me. 🙂 Thank you for making me laugh and sometimes cry from laughter. Thank you for making me stronger (physically and emotionally). Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for spotting me when I’m doing something you probably won’t understand from the looks of it, haha

I’M GRATEFUL FOR MY NON-POLE FRIENDS.

*I have more photos but only posted a few!

Some may understand pole, some may understand dance, some may understand the fitness side of pole, and some just don’t understand pole one bit, but I know that pole is not understood by everyone. Just like joggling (WHUT?) is not for me. Nevertheless, these friends have believed in me and have also been honestly brutal when I screwed up, haha. Thanks for calling me out on my bullshit especially when I get silly thoughts before a competition. I think you know who you are. 🙂

I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE ONLINE POLE COMMUNITY.

Actually…thank you, Internet. Without it, I won’t be able to connect with pole dancers around the world. I won’t be able to learn and be inspired by others from their videos (performances, combos, tutorials, etc) and their photos (just beautiful). I have found an international community that is absolutely non-discriminatory and extremely supportive. You may not know each other but you share the same passion. And that’s enough. I’m grateful for the many Facebook pages, websites, blogs and YouTube videos by pole dancers for pole dancers. Thank you thank you!

I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE POLE DANCING BLOGGERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER POLE BLOGGERS.

It was around July this year that I joined the PDBA group. Everyday, I read and learn new things from other pole bloggers and I love how everyone shares in the group. I’m happy that I found a community who will give advice and share tips with everyone. I’ve learnt so much from reading their blogs! I’ve also made many new friends just by being in this group. Thank you PDBA for the monthly blog hops, photo challenges and overall, being awesome. 🙂

I’M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE POLE STARS OUT THERE.

There are so many amazing pole dancers who dance both professionally and non-professionally and they are every pole dancer’s inspirations! They have shaped pole dancing into the sport that it is today. Many of these dancers have different styles and each of us can relate to at least one of them. I have a long list of pole stars that I love but my top few are Marion Crampe, Anastasia Skukhtorova, Lolo Hilsum, Manuela Carneiro, Maddie Sparkle, Michelle Shimmy and Zoraya Judd. Okay, I really have too many, those are just a FEW!

I’M GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY.

Some of you may know that I don’t really talk about pole dancing in my home, but I know I’ll always have their never-ending support and love. 🙂 My mum was so excited when the TV show segment I was supposedly on with some of the pole girls was on TV. In the end, the producer only showed a second of my back view, of which I think only my hair could be seen. Well, at least I had nice curly hair that day. 🙂 Thanks to my sister and her boyfriend for coming down to my competitions even though I think you don’t get pole hahaha.

I’M GRATEFUL FOR SEAN.

This guy actually watches pole dancing videos for me and with me. Talked about techniques here and there too. A little weird because he’s a rugby player and coach, but I’m not complaining! And when I complained about an injured knee, he wondered if it’s because I use my right knee to hook the pole all the time. Supplied me with his ice pack and Deep Heat when I got hurt. Encouraged me every time I go for pole. Listened to me whine about my sweaty palms and cry when I’m stressed. And of course, there are more. Thank you, my number one fan. ❤

I’M GRATEFUL FOR MY HEARTNPOLE READERS AND FOLLOWERS.

Thank you sooooo much. You have no idea how much it means to me that YOU (yes, you!) are here right now reading this. 🙂 And thanks for enduring the long post to finally get to read this last part here. See what I did there??? HAHAHA. The encouragement I get from you and you and you really makes me want to share more, inspire and contribute to the pole community. 🙂 THANK YOU!

This post is written for the November Pole Dance Blog Hop, a monthly blogging event that unites the global network of independent Pole Dance Bloggers around a common theme. The goal is for each participant to write about the group topic with their own unique perspective. To read other November Blog Hop entries, click here!