Dance Your Way to Joy

Belly Dancer by Bliznetsov, Dreamstime

 Guest Post by Jessica Payne 

A co worker who was helping me set up for Prom last month told me, “It says something that you are still willing to dance”.  At the time I just nodded, but I don’t think I really understood what he was talking about… at least not until recently. 

I have always loved to dance.  I have never participated in anything resembling ballet, jazz or even tap. But I remember as a kid dancing to TV commercials, cartoon title sequences, or turning on the radio and just moving to the music.  I would jump and twirl in my room, living room, front or back yard.  When music was on I didn’t worry about grace, coolness, or technique.  If I tripped or collided with a wall, it was all part of the dance.   I was flexible, fluid and adaptable.  I would dance until I was breathless and happy. 

Hidden Pleasures 

I think we all experienced something like that when we are kids.Unfortunately it seems to be something we hide away after a while.We become with each year a little less flexible, fluid, spontaneous, and adaptable.  We all, I think, need to reclaim that part of our youth that made us breathless and happy. That is what will help us to stay fluid, flexible, spontaneous, and adaptable no matter our age. 

Here are 4 simple steps that you can take to find that special thing that you may have hidden away: 

1.  First go to a playground and swing.  When is the last time you played like a kid?   Not as a parent, or as an adult, but as a kid.  You will be amazed at how much fun you can have sitting in a swing and pumping you legs and feeling the air on your face. Be mindful of this feeling; store it up as this will be your energy for the next step. 

2.   Think about happy memories that you have. What were you doing in them? Explore those memories with actions; if you best remember riding a bike then rent a bike and go for a ride. (Remember you never forget how to ride one!)  If you remember coloring, go buy a color book and new crayons and try that. If dancing, like me, was you thing, turn on the radio and move.  Nobody is watching.  Nobody cares how you look.  This time, focus on you!  

3.  This next step is a hard one. Set time in your life for this activity. You can do it with your kids or your spouse if you want or just make it “me” time. It is hard to be selfish sometimes. So many people want a piece of our day/ week that it is easy to be pressured into skipping out on time for your activity.  Your activity should reflect something of that happy memory. 

For me it was easy to forget to turn on the radio and dance, but when I started to learn belly dancing I had a purpose to my dancing. I was able to channel that happy childish memory into something I could enjoy as an adult. The way that I set time for that activity is by teaching it to other adult women on a weekly basis. You don’t have to teach but if you need that accountability that a group can give you, you may want to sign up for a class. 

4.  Lastly forgive your past.  I know this may sound incongruous with the rest of this advice, however I have a point.  Remember why we stopped dancing/coloring/riding our bikes and forgive it.   I had an old childhood tormentor find me on Facebook recently and he sent me a message asking for forgiveness for what he had done as a child. In the past I might have ignored his message, I might have replied rudely, or I might have drug up old memories and bad emotions. Instead I danced.  I was fluid and flexible and adaptable, so I was able to view those memories as an adult and I was able to forgive.  

When we find what makes us breathless and happy we will have the energy to be fluid, flexible, adaptable, and act as an adult. In a way, acting immature makes us better role models, better friends, better family members, and in short better adults.  This is because the innocence and joy we experience in doing these activities reminds us that this is our true nature.  When we are true to ourselves and spontaneous, we radiate joy and happiness and embody true maturity.  

What activities/actions did you most enjoy as a child? 

What is stopping you from doing those activities now? 

June’s Monthly Muse article was written by Jessica Payne, a professional educator who has worked in the education field for 6 years.  She currently teaches high school Language Arts and Dramatic Arts.  Jessica’s students are always actively engaged in learning and she effectively uses creativity to enhance learning in the classroom.  In addition, she is a crafting queen, and is rarely seen without a glue gun or paintbrush in her hand, or sprinklings of glitter on her clothes.  If she is not working with students, she can be found behind her sewing machine making costumes, or creating art for charitable donations.  In her spare time she teaches and performs belly dancing.   

© 2010 Jessica Payne