Dance When You Can

"Dance like no one is watching."

(from the P!nk show in LA)

It's a line you've heard time and again.

Most of the time, it's referencing the figurative dance of our busy lives. It's giving yourself the time and space to pause and seek out happiness ... for yourself.

Oftentimes, that's a foreign concept. Ponder your own scenario:

You spend the day in the office or attending to the household needs before the final school bell rings. Then, you don your chauffeur cap and get the kids to their respective rehearsals or practices. Maybe you sit for the hour or two and chit-chat with the other parents/guardians. Then, it's back into traffic and production of dinner product and homework supervision. Then, round-up for bedtime, maybe a story or two and kitchen clean-up ... before that glorious moment to catch up on the day's news or a quick tv show before passing out on the couch or crawling into bed.

And before the morning's light comes streaming in, you're up and ready to do it again. All apologies to Jackson Browne.

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For those without the children/grandchildren (other caregiving) addendums to the schedule, maybe there's insertion of additional traffic snarls or longer hours or ... insert the complication here.

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The point is this. Dance and open your eyes every day. I pull a story from the world of sports to serve as a reminder of the triumph of spirit and having a fuller appreciation of the day-to-day. 

Ryan Shazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers sustained a spinal cord injury during a December game in 2017. He was not expected to walk again. But, he went to work with his doctors and trainers. Video updates of his progress and workouts inspired countless families in the midst of their own difficult circumstances. 

Check out the video from one of Shazier's workouts (December, 2018): From Sports Illustrated

That was just the starter to this long road. This past weekend, Shazier's story took another big turn ... on the dance floor. He married Michelle Rodriguez and took a spin in front of this friends, family and teammates. I must have watched the video five times upon first seeing it, and sought out the Twitter and Instagram posts and videos from those in attendance. Take a look to see the radiant couple: Shazier's Dance. 

We received so many reminders of the complexities of our lives. I'm staring at the bags under my eyes now. It's hell trying to get the mind to slow down sometimes. 

Give the dance video a spin or two. And exhale. Crank up the song on the radio. Rock out at the stove. Give in to watch some bad tv. 

Don't forget to dance a bit today ... even if you feel the eyes of the world on you.