Week 40, 10-1-21 “It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes”

Changing Lives Through Dancing – by David Woodbury                                                                          

Arthur Murray Dance Center of Santa Monica, CA

 

“It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.”

– John J. McCloy (1895 – 1989)

American Lawyer and Presidential Advisor

 

Many years ago, I was at a Woodbury family event at the Heritage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee right across from the State Capital Building. As we all shared a toast, I saw my Daddy have a glass of champagne. My father never had a drink and never drank at all. In astonishment, I said, “Daddy, you’re having a drink” and his replay was “I realize that I was not always right all the time in my life”.

 

This was astonishing to me because he was a retired Colonel in the US Army. Daddy was always right about everything. I remember we toasted and drank champagne together and this gesture has meant so much to much to me.

 

Our friendship deepened over and over until Daddy passed. I have also learned to say I am not always right and I often need to apologize. Hopefully it’s never too late.

 

“In order to discover new lands, one must be willing to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”

– Andre Gide (1869 – 1951)

French Writer

 

During the covid pandemic, I have seen the business world and the arts world turn upside down. If you don’t reinvent yourself in today’s world and adapt you will not make it. I printed out our party announcements tonight and I realized that I have not printed them since March 6, 2020! We had our biggest Arthur Murray Dance Party in 20 months!

 

Although “normal” seems like a long time ago, I did not completely loose my memory of the sight of the shore.

“I run great risk of failing. It may be that I shall encounter ruin where I look for reputation and a career of honor. The chances are perhaps more in favour of ruin than of success. But, whatever may be the chances, I shall go on as long as any means of carrying on the fight are at my disposal.”

– Anthony Trollope (1815 – 1882)

English Novelist

 

In navigating the “new normal”, we have not have a handbook to guide us along the way. Closing, opening, closing, opening, new health directives, rules changing almost daily, the new variants coming out. There were many days I just had to “go back to dancing” and not look back.

 

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”

– George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)

Irish Playwright

 

Well, our circumstances certainly have changed, and continue to change. But now we finally see things changing for the best and going in the right direction. We are making it happen and for the first time in a long while, I am completely full of hope for the rest of the year and looking forward to a bright and successful year of dancing in 2022!

 

Don’t give up. It will get better!

Keep on Dancing,

David Woodbury

info@dancingsantamonica.com