The Gift of Dance
The Gift
Yes, Christmas is right around the corner. I even saw a purple Christmas Tree decorated for Halloween. The poor tree had a witches hat on it’s tree top and a graveyard below it’s branches. A little twisted in my opinion, but it got me thinking about the greatest gift that I have ever received. (of course, the gift that I am talking about, falls in line after the obvious blessings: God, family, health, freedom, etc.)
It is a gift that I gave to myself. One that I like to share with others. It is the gift of dance. For those of you that already have it, you know exactly what I am talking about. Dancers’, do you realize that when you dance with a beginner, or someone that has less experienced than you, you are sharing your gift with them. Your encouragement and patience will brighten their day. For those of you that have never danced, I implore you to give it a try. It will be frustrating at first, but hang in there, you cannot imagine how dance will change your life.
It doesn’t matter how difficult my day was, how many times “Murphy” followed me around and tripped me up or how many things still on my list that still need attending to, all it takes to brighten my day, are the words, “You want to go dancing?”. As soon as the music begins, and my body starts to move, all of the stress and frustrations of the day are completely forgotten. You see, dancing brings peace and joy to your soul. It will lift you up and make your heart sing!
So, if you are home with the kids all day, or maybe tending to an ill or aging loved one, or just simply overwhelmed with life in general, I challenge you to get out there and dance! Take a few hours a week, just for you.
There are many places that offer free dance lessons. Group lessons are available at local recreation centers and dance studios. If you feel intimidated by those options, or just find that you need the reinforcement from your classes, please check out our website: www.learntoballroomdanceonline.com It is our desire to bring the joy of dancing to everyone that can walk and fog a mirror!
I will be offering gift certificates for the holidays. Stay tuned and Happy Dancing!
How can “Murphy” be following yo when he’s following me?! I….if you recall…..am the one who got dropped on the dance floor! Ras #1 is absolutely right, though. I began dancing around Christmas time just under 2 years ago. I was visiting my sister in Fort Worth and we decided to go to “Billy Bobs”. By far the biggest bar I’ve ever been it. So big is has a restaurant, several bars, a concert area, and…believe it or not…a bull riding rink. No! Not a mechanical bull, but the real things! Anyway, it was very touristy, so we decided to go down to an area called the “Stockyards” where there are several honky tonks. We ended up at a place called the Rodeo Exchange and there I met a guy who asked me to dance. When I said I didn’t know how to dance, he offered to teach me how to do the Texas 3-step (no..not the 2-ste, but the 3-step). That man….must, for sure have had the patience of a true saint cause I was no fast study! In spite of that, it had to have been the most fun I could remember having in a very long time. When I returned home from the holidays, the first think I did was to search out a place to take lessons. While I couldn’t (at that time) find a place that taught country dancing, I did find a swing dance club where I took lessons in east and west coast swing, cha cha, night club 2-step and hustle. And….I’ve been dancing ever since. Just like Ras #1 says, it provides a major boost to your phychy (not really a word or probably even spelled like a word, but you get the gist). I can be in one raunchy mood (hard to imagine for those who know me) and after a couple of dances……poof! I feel 100% better! Don’t just take our word for it…..try it yourself..you’ll see.
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WELL PUT–THANK YOU— one of my ten brothers taught me to jitter-bug in the living room when I was fourteen–What a gift it has been!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING MiCHELE–AGGIE
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Michele Rasmussen Reply:
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 am
You have 10 Brothers???
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AGGIE GREEN Reply:
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 am
Hi Michele, Yes I had ten brothers and four sisters–with me [count me] makes fifteen children same mother and father. {Mama and Pa}. Welcome to hard times and hard work!! BUT– WE ALL danced–when my bro. were here [in my heart they still live]–I never wanted for a dance partner as there were six or seven of them at every dance I got to go to. That is how I learned to dance every way as they did not all dance the same but they did all lead–WOW!! imagine that!!
I am the only child left on this particular planet so I need to keep up the good work–dancing and maintain the great sense of humor they also tought me. We were money poor but richer than most–Yesereeee!!
LOVED THEM ALL — AND STILL DO. Who said I had to let go–NO__NO__NO!!Aggie Arlene Green here–bye for now
Michele–How is that for a reply?? SMILE–I AM.
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ras#2 Reply:
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Wow! That is truly amazing! Were you the youngest? Where did you grow up? I think that is such an incredible story, and tribute to your parents. And how lucky were you to have all of those dance partners?
I keep trying to get my youngest, (15) to learn how to dance, but at this point he would rather cut off his feet!
Thanks for sharing,
Michele
Ras #1
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AGGIE GREEN Reply:
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I am the fourteenth child , my dads favorite oh yes they both had them and were not shy about saying it—-I think, when I was born my dad thought it was the second comming and he never dhanged his mind. Needless to say he was the love of my life too. We lived in a two story small house—no running water when I was a small child. a pump in the back yard– finally had cold running water in the kitchen with a bucket under the facet–a pot bellied stove in the living room–a coal cook stove in the kitchen–cornbread out of that oven was to die for. Mamas fried chicken too!!
Now–tell me about a recession. Hey who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Fifteen children in this set of conditions and never complained!! [Mama never called a child a kid–and would not let us kids are goats.
Your son needs to know that no matter what he decides to do with his time here he will forever be gratefull for having learned how to dance because sooner or later it wil pay great dividends and Put the joy into life when time are hard. NOT TO MENTION HE WILL HAVE ALL THE GIRLFRIENDS HE CAN HANDLE AND THEN SOME–wow!!hEY GUY–DANCING IS NOT JUST AN EXERISE BUT A LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE AND LIFE AND MANNERS . Not to mention the friends one receives from going dancing–{no strings attaached} unlike some fields of entertainment.
So–do it and have fun swinging. Yea for you!!
bye for now –Aggie HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL !!WHO READ THIS COMMENT
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What a lovely email! Thank you! I never thought about dancing being a gift to myself, but it is true. And it most assuredly is good for my soul. You are doing a fine job with your emails and I appreciate them.
Jackie
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