Shake it Up

It’s a snowy Saturday night in late winter, and you approach a darkly lit restaurant around 11 o’clock. It’s suburbia, so everything around you is totally silent. You pull the door towards you, opening it wide, not knowing what to expect. Tired and a bit drained by the day’s events, not sure that you have energy to go in, you look inside. What you see amazes you: the place is completely packed and every inch of space filled with a person dancing. Not just people bending their knees and bobbing up and down with a bevie in hand, but fully swinging hips and shoulders and heads, arms up and hands clapping, fingers snapping, engaging other people with their eyes and arms. “Come hither” gestures abound. Laughing, laughing, laughing and singing from everyone. The energy simply pulls you in, leaving you grinning and instantly high … you really don’t have a choice. You enter.

The other night I was in such a place, and staring in delight while catching my breath from shakin’ my groove thang. (In a scene like this, like all of life, participation is required.) All these passionate dancers and singers – without regard to appearance – were really moving their whole bodies. I mean every inch of their physical being, and it was HOT to watch: so beautiful and sensual, with a high, clear energy. It wasn’t the might-as-well-be-having-sex dancing I see at clubs, no this was so sensual and free and elemental and fast that people literally only stepped out to catch their breath and grab a drink. No one was dancing alone, groups formed and split, then re-formed and split again. It didn’t matter who you were dancing with, and half the people were related. I knew none of the music, and could not understand the words. It didn’t even matter. Love was everywhere.

The person next to me said, “Did you know we settle fights like this?” I asked for an explanation. He said, “for example, if you are out like at a picnic and someone says something wrong to another, and a fight starts, we start dancing. Everyone has to dance, like we are here. And soon, there is no more fight. It’s over.” Ah, yes. Peace and love through dancing, though music. You bet.

I love to dance, I do it everyday, and – like laughter – it is one of the fastest ways I know to get you where you want to go. Struggling with an idea, a concept, an emotion? DANCE! It’ll get you grounded, breathing, smiling, present, open, and clear immediately. Remember that your mind is not just in your brain, but everywhere in your body. As much in your little toe as your head. To open your mind, you must move your body.

So here I am imploring you to get out there and REALLY dance. Don’t dance like no one is watching, but like no one is judging, because what others think of you is not your business anyway. Your job is to live, beautifully and fully. When was the last time you truly danced? Turn up the tunes and abandon yourself to music. I’ll be right there with you.

Much Love,

Laura