Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like it's heaven on earth.
--William Purkey
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like it's heaven on earth.
--William Purkey
And we did, as most of you already know! For over two hours straight, Astrid and I danced our feet off at my nephew’s farm wedding in Michigan. It was our first time to dance publicly in our 5 years together, with my extended family watching (as I mentioned here).
Michelle, the official wedding photographer, said, when she found only 5
images: “I'm sorry - I thought it was more. Maybe I was just
watching the two of you dance and not clicking the button as much as I
thought!!! Haha.” So, she, too, was watching.
Now, a fun, God-honest story: When Astrid looked at her watch at one
point (a different kind of watching), it was supposedly 9:12p.
Unbeknownst to her, that’s when her watch had stopped. So you can
imagine her disbelief when I told her shortly thereafter it was 11p. She
had thought the night was still young! You and I know, of course, the
Wood Elves played a lovely trick on her just to keep the magic alive. She
is, after all, the stronger dancer and knows how to lead...ME! Heaven on
earth.
That was Saturday in Michigan. How could anything ever top that!
The next day we flew to Atlanta to be with my kids and grandson. As
daughter Amy was preparing supper, with lovely music playing in the background,
Nicholas, now 12, said. “C’mon, G’ma. Let’s dance!” He had not
been at the Saturday wedding but was perhaps remembering from a year ago how we
had danced at the cabin. At one point he rested his head against my chest
(here)…as though he didn’t care a whit he was dancing with his g’ma, while
Mommy, Dennis, Astrid and Uncle Mark watched!
And just like that, it was once again heaven on earth.
How does this happen? Something so simple becoming so powerful.
Losing self-consciousness. Blowing all caution to the wind. Going
for broke. Giving no regard to what anyone else thinks.
Is it a choice we make in an instant? Is it as easy as flipping a
switch? Does someone have to give us permission? Do we need
guidance…or does it come from a place deep within us since the foundation of
the world?
And why doesn’t it happen more often? If we’ve tasted it before, why
don’t we just jump at every chance we get? Who told us we couldn’t
do it? When did we start believing we had anything but magic at
our fingertips?
And where is it written we can’t make heaven on earth? Who
said we couldn't decide for ourselves?
On Facebook, before leaving, I saw the following and smiled, anticipating
what had already been set into motion by all of you who cheered us on:
So, I took
your advice and danced like no one was watching.
My court date is later this month.
My court date is later this month.
Thank you…and smile like you mean it! :)
