“Keep Yourself Clean and Bright!” Changing Lives Through Dancing
Week 30 7-23-21 “Keep Yourself Clean and Bright!”
Changing Lives Through Dancing – by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Dance Center of Santa Monica, CA
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”
– George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)
Irish Playwright
Sometimes it’s hard to see through the window of the world. Sometimes it’s just like following a big truck on a dirt road in the pouring rain. Your windshield is being plummeted with rocks, mud and dirt and you are just desperately trying to see your way and you must follow that huge truck in front of you.
Yet, when a new day dawns, we wash our cars and drive down a paved road in the bright sunlight without a memory of the previous ride in the mud and rain. We see clearly once again.
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
– Lord Byron
(1788-1824) English Poet
My Mom, J. Clair Woodbury, always said “Keep a little song in your heart”. Some of my best memories of my Mom are when we laughed together. We could tell each other anything and we would laugh so hard at the foibles of life. We’d laugh so hard that Daddy would join us and we’d all laugh until we had tears in our eyes. This laughter continues to be a wonderful medicine for me even today.
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.”
– Benjamin Disraeli (1804 – 1881)
British Prime Minister
When my Daddy, Troy Woodbury, passed away, he had a beautiful wooden plaque with an engraved brass plate on it beside his bed. It read “You are my life’s hero”.
Daddy loved that plaque and he knew that he was my #1 hero in my life. He continues to be that hero today. Daddy was a leader, a servant to many, and a mentor to all. His memory always nurtures my mind to always greater and higher thoughts.
“Until one is committed, there is always hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one element of truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans – that moment one commits oneself, then providence moves all.”
– Johann von Goethe (1749 – 1832)
German Poet and Dramatist
Keeping our minds bright and clear during the times we live in requires commitment to our hopes, dreams and goals. Making a commitment means closing the back door. Wall it up so there is no turning back, no hesitancy or doubt our fear. Once this ultimate commitment is made, providence will take over and sustain us with strength and courage.
“Do what you can where you are with what you’ve got.”
– Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919)
26th President of the United States
This blog is written in the 4th wave of COVID-19 in LA County. Even with the two lockdowns, mask wearing and three available vaccines, we are still in this boat. I cannot change what is happening, but I can encourage others, inspire others, and empower other through positive thoughts and words. At this time, we truly must muster all the courage and strength that we have and get through this together.
“The past cannot be changed. The future is still in your power.”
– Hugh Lawson White (1773 – 1840)
American Politician
We will be talking about this pandemic for the rest of our lives. It is a part of world history is a global experience that has been felt by everyone. We cannot change the past, but the future will be full of hope, promise and new dreams and goals to achieve.
Keep your hope. This will get better and you are going to make it my friend!
Love you all,
David Woodbury
info@dancingsantamonica.com