Dancing Every Day
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. It’s not my style. I believe you’re just setting yourself up for failure and self-hatred. I don’t want to give things up, or tell myself no. I felt very strongly about this until this year. Twenty twenty was a garbage year for everyone, but I’m sure my negative perspective didn’t help. This year has to be different. It just has to be, right?
Recently a friend start doing Instagram Lives where she dances for 30 minutes every morning. She challenged all of us to do the same. Now, I am not flowy like she is. I don’t send waves of empowerment through the moves of my body like she does. Thirty minutes is an entire TV show, so that is a no go. But I accepted the challenge. Not 30 minutes, but I was going to start my morning dancing. Every morning. I also challenged myself to dance when I’m frustrated or overly emotionally stimulated.
I punch and kick things; I don’t dance. I’m not a graceful person. I’m not a gentle person. Dancing’s not my thing.
But I’ve done it. For 17 days now I have danced. I dance fast, or I dance slow. I feel stupid a lot, until it goes away and I just find myself in the dance. I can only compare it to runner’s high or great sex. I dance. And I love it. I dance in my kitchen; I dance in my office. I turn the world off and dance. I have learned dancing is contagious. My very-grumpy-hates-mornings husband has now joined me dancing in the mornings. It’s incredible. This little challenge has quickly became solid important memories I get to cherish.
So this is my challenge to you. Dance. Let your perspective change for just a moment. Live in that moment and cherish the simplicity of moving your body in the world.
—Lindsey