Gymnastics coach captivates readers with heartfelt memoir

September was self-improvement month, and as someone who is always looking for opportunities to better myself, I jumped on the opportunity to read Valorie Kondos Field’s thought-provoking memoir “Life’s Short, Don’t Wait to Dance.”

I must preface this by saying that I am in no way, shape or form a dancer of any kind. In fact, I am probably one of the least graceful individuals you will come across in your lifetime, so reading about the life of a ballerina turned UCLA gymnastics coach was the first time I was exposed to any of that terminology. Throughout her memoir, Field’s life story kept me engaged, despite my lack of a background in dance. She incorporates personal anecdotes with brutally honest pieces of advice that leave her readers reflecting on their own life experiences.

Most touching, in my opinion, was how Field addresses her breast cancer diagnosis. Never one to dwell on the problems that arise in her life, she faced the diagnosis head-on, choosing to embrace a positive mindset in the face of adversity. A diagnosis of that magnitude is truly life-altering, yet Field’s attitude remained unwavering through chemotherapy treatments, missing only one gymnastics meet over the course a year.

She credits her faith with giving her the strength to face each day with positivity, regardless of the struggles she may face. I absolutely loved “Life’s Short, Don’t Wait to Dance.” It combines elements of both a memoir and a self-help book to inspire readers to challenge their outlook on life and how they handle adversity. As someone who loves to procrastinate instead of doing the things I should be doing, this book motivated me to put down TikTok and start acting on the things I want to accomplish.

Field spent the majority of her career working hard to ensure the success of not only herself but those around her as well, inspiring me with that mindset with each turn of the page. I found that the layout of the book ensured a good balance between personal narrative, thoughtful advice and heartfelt moments. If the subject was dense, she broke it up with a silly anecdote or story about one of her athletes, making it easy to pick up and read.

There were moments that made me laugh until I couldn’t breathe but also times in which I wanted to cry in response to the struggles Field faced not only with her cancer diagnosis but also as a female coach addressing the sexism present in Division I athletics.

Reading the book was a very personal experience, as it prompted me to reflect on the ways I handle adversity both the small and large things in my life. Field suggests taking a head-on approach, acknowledging the challenge and devising a way to address it.

That positive mentality is something I believe everyone can learn from in their lives. Field was brutally honest in acknowledging that life is not without adversity and yet finds that how we choose to face those problems often dictates the fulfillment we gain in life.