Okay, Let’s Dance.

Well, hello, 2014. I guess someone (me) decided to show up to blog today. I have no excuse except that I only blog when I have something to say, so here I am.

Anyway…

Kennedy has gotten into this phase where she’ll be watching one of her favorite TV shows and in the middle of it, when a song plays, she’ll exclaim, “Okay, let’s dance.” She’ll then stand up and dance her little heart out.

A perfect example:

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This is something new but extremely precious to me. Her dance moves are not only hilarious, but she is full of life and her face is lit up. She completely lets go and moves without abandon.

The other day, I intently watched her as she did this. There was not a care on this child’s face. Her life and innocence made her joy just exude out of her. I then begun to think about how difficult it is for teenagers and adults to do something as simple as to let go and dance like no one is watching.

There’s something about letting go that makes us clam up. Maybe it’s the fear of looking stupid or being judged by others. We think that by letting go it makes us more vulnerable or weak.

You see, vulnerability is a good thing. At least I’d like to think so. Being vulnerable and sensitive helps you appreciate life so much more.

I tend to think I am a pretty open person. As a theatre director, I am always striving for my student actors to let go. One common thing I am always telling them in rehearsal is, “Stop being in your head so much in that scene. Let go and live in the moment.” It’s second nature for me to be able to recognize when an actor isn’t truly living in the moment onstage and to try and help him/her get to that sweet spot of vulnerability.

However, there are many times where I find it hard to open up myself, let alone drop everything I’m doing to do something as simple as dance. I’m caught up in my head, just like those teenage actors, and dropping everything to dance without abandon is just what I need in my life.

It’s absolutely amazing to me how a tiny, innocent two-year-old could open my eyes to something so profound. Children teach us so much about the world and ourselves. I’m left asking myself, “When was the last time I dropped everything and said ‘Okay, let’s dance.’?” I don’t even know.

As 2014 has begun, I haven’t really thought much of resolutions, phrases, or buzz words to live by this year. I think I’m just going to join Kennedy in her dance breaks. I’m going to drop everything, say “Okay, let’s dance,” and dance without abandon.

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And look like a fool while doing it. And be okay with it. And pin the printable graphic I made. And admit my transparency of making a graphic aimed to be Pinterest-y.

Okay, let’s dance.