When Paige danced, she was like a mega-wattage light bulb. It was because she just swam in the music. The rhythm flowed out of her skin. I loved to watch her, invariably wiping away a tear of joy that rolled down my cheek. Seeing that kind of unbridled passion inspired me then as it inspires me now. I love to watch a stage performance, particularly a musical performance. Singing and dancing are powerful ways for the spirit to unleash!
And that is what I am speaking of, unleashing the spirit. We are all here to dance our very own specific dance. There is something or many things that ignite the fire within each and every one of us, the dreams I am so fond of daring myself and everyone else to reach out and wrap our arms around. And when we envelope them, dance them, when we allow our passion to rise, when we open the pores of our skin and let our energy flow out, we are swimming in love (...which is what we are all searching for, the giving and receiving of love.) Those are the times when there is no time. We look up and out of our awe and see that hours have passed by unobserved.
I've experienced this in happy times, in contemplative times, in sad times too. Because in everything, including sadness, there is a joy to be found. There is an outpouring of love as in recent days in the aftermath of Katrina. Great sadness brings great com-passion. We have the opportunity to give and to receive in big ways, no holds barred ways. And when we do, we wonder why we have not lived each day in the same way, wondering why it takes tragedy to realize the importance of something. Vowing to spend from this day forward appreciating and moving in conscious activity. Reaching out to familiar and unfamiliar. Taking a chance with each breath.
The more we do, the easier done. Like exercising a muscle that is not used all that much, it takes a bit of time to warm up. There might be a bit of pain in the transition, but the results are magnificently worth it all.
If you've been reading my articles this summer, you know that at the beginning of it I took decisive action to step into my life, dropping those very worn out stories with great sweeping motions. Tired of looking at travel brochures and dreaming of someday, I made the decision to board the flight of life. I entered the cockpit, spent some time going over the controls, doing the flight check. I said goodbye to what I would leave behind and hello to where I am going. And now, I am lumbering my jet down the runway with great excitement and anticipation, noticing the shakes and rattles from the vibration of the engines, praying and trusting that all is well and ready. Not completely sure where I am going but I am going. My nose is pointed into the wind, my hand is on the throttle. There is no doubt that in moments I will be airborne and soaring!
But wait a minute...the title of this article is "I am Here to Dance!" Quick change in metaphor, record ripping sound, start over. Ah...what the heck. You get what I am saying. Soar, dance, leap, belt it out like Ethel Merman, whatever it takes to feel your spirit rise mightily to the occasion of the the gift of this life. Starting right now, live every moment as though it is the last and a precious present because it is the very most precious present.
