You know what I realized is missing from my life now? The paranoia that used to plague me when I ventured to work outside of the dancing world. I had a brief stint at a restaurant several years ago, and I was constantly paranoid that I would be recognized. I always wore baggy shirts and pulled my hair up- of course I knew how looking pretty translated into better tips, but I was just too paranoid.
When I started in retail last June (it's almost been a year!) I had a bit of that paranoia still, but it was hedged out by the pride I had in myself for getting out of the club. My first job wasn't anything glamorous, that's for sure, but still. The customers I deal with now are a galaxy ahead of those at the first job. Good Lord.
And now, I don't worry about it. Occasionally I will see someone from that part of my life, but I just laugh about it (unless it's someone who I can't stand, then I avoid them). There is a guy who I see at work and who stops to chat a couple times a week that I know from the club, but he thinks that I look familiar just from seeing me in the store. I'm pretty confident that he really doesn't realize that he knows me from there, and the other employees make fun of him 'cuz he's a little weird. Dorky, quiet with big old glasses, but he's a good guy. He was another girl's regular while I was dancing, and she enjoyed his visits and he was a good tipper. I'm always tempted to pull him aside and remind him, but I'm pretty sure he would get super embarrassed and we would never see him again. And, just let sleeping dogs lie, right?
K
