Welcome Back to Dancing at Arthur Murray
Week 28 7-10-20 Welcome Back to Dancing at Arthur Murray
Dream with Open Eyes
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.”
– Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888 – 1935)
British author, archaeologist, military officer, and diplomat
Do you remember the day you were told to stay home at the beginning of the lockdown? Do you remember when your friends who are front line workers still had to work and put their lives in danger? (They are still in danger). Did you have to close your business? Did you have family and children who had to work and study from home? Did you attend Temple, Mass, or other religious services by livestream?
Remember when your dreams were challenged? Remember when the lockdown was extended? Then, 14 weeks later the events that sparked the protests and the riots and the businesses who were just getting ready to reopen and couldn’t?
Those days were the days I had to dream with my eyes open and jolt myself awake to a new reality that I did not understand and could not comprehend.
During all this time, Joel Rieck was teaching over 100 group classes from our living room starring our kitties who loved to join in with Joel. We turned our home into a recording studio for all the lessons and groups and parties.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.”
– Chris Watson (1867 – 1941)
Australian Prime Minister
We learned from our online lessons that many felt isolated and that dancing was such a joy in their week and a great way to focus on something positive. We were all fighting a battle with something could not see or understand. The virtual dance lessons were a magic relief during the lockdown for all of us.
“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.”
– Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)
American Writer
I am always amazed that Helen Keller is listed as an American Writer. She was unable to speak, was deaf and blind. Yet, she became an American icon. When her inner light was lit, and she began to learn and communicate, she became known as a brilliant speaker (she had learned to speak the best she could) and writer. Here she wrote of not letting our deficiencies master us, but produce patience, sweetness and insight. I pray all the things happening in the world are producing these traits in my own life!
“The most that we can do is to hope for the best till we know the worst. Of course, we shall make the best of the worse when it comes.”
– William Dean Howells, (1837 – 1920)
American realist novelist, literary critic, and playwright
The great thing about dancing during the pandemic is that we can make the best of the worst situation. Dancing may be done online, in person in many different various ways, and the dancing brings music and movement into our lives. Dancing releases a special joy to us when we study, practice, and move together.
“We are fallible. We certainly haven’t attained perfection. But we can strive for it, and the virtue is in the striving.”
– Carlos P. Romulo (1899 – 1985)
Phillipine Diplomat, Aide-de-camp to Gen. Douglas MacArthur
I’ve always been a perfectionist. But that has pretty much beaten out of me in the past few years. Perfectionism is not striving for an end result. It is the process of an uplifting and positive journey to perfectly finishing a goal. I’ve learned that perfectionism is fueled by constant change and constant new twists and turns. I do strive to get things right, but I still want to be laughing, smiling, and not be alone at the end of the effort.
A Challenge: call your Arthur Murray Dance Center in your area and take an online lesson or go in for a personal session. Wear a mask. Let them take your temperature and go through all the procedures to keep you save during this time. Once you are settled and have decided on how you are going to learn, then just for a few minutes, give yourself over to the dancing and let go. Dance away the tension, the fear, the unknown and let your body move to the music. You’ll find that it is very healing, and you’ll even have great exercise and a little fun!
Come back to dancing at Arthur Murray! You’ll be glad you did!
Remember, we will make it through all this. It will get better…and it will!
Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting Arthur Murray Santa Monica as a small business in Santa Monica! We appreciate you!
Love you all,
David Woodbury