Dance Like No One is Watching
September 24, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: Ginnie 
Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like it's heaven on earth.
--William Purkey
And we did, as most of you already know! For over two hours straight, Astrid and I danced our feet off at my nephew’s farm wedding in Michigan. It was our first time to dance publicly in our 5 years together, with my extended family watching (as I mentioned here).
Michelle, the official wedding photographer, said, when she found only 5 images: “I'm sorry - I thought it was more. Maybe I was just watching the two of you dance and not clicking the button as much as I thought!!! Haha.” So, she, too, was watching.
Now, a fun, God-honest story: When Astrid looked at her watch at one point (a different kind of watching), it was supposedly 9:12p. Unbeknownst to her, that’s when her watch had stopped. So you can imagine her disbelief when I told her shortly thereafter it was 11p. She had thought the night was still young! You and I know, of course, the Wood Elves played a lovely trick on her just to keep the magic alive. She is, after all, the stronger dancer and knows how to lead...ME! Heaven on earth.
That was Saturday in Michigan. How could anything ever top that!
The next day we flew to Atlanta to be with my kids and grandson. As daughter Amy was preparing supper, with lovely music playing in the background, Nicholas, now 12, said. “C’mon, G’ma. Let’s dance!” He had not been at the Saturday wedding but was perhaps remembering from a year ago how we had danced at the cabin. At one point he rested his head against my chest (here)…as though he didn’t care a whit he was dancing with his g’ma, while Mommy, Dennis, Astrid and Uncle Mark watched!
And just like that, it was once again heaven on earth.
How does this happen? Something so simple becoming so powerful. Losing self-consciousness. Blowing all caution to the wind. Going for broke. Giving no regard to what anyone else thinks.
Is it a choice we make in an instant? Is it as easy as flipping a switch? Does someone have to give us permission? Do we need guidance…or does it come from a place deep within us since the foundation of the world?
And why doesn’t it happen more often? If we’ve tasted it before, why don’t we just jump at every chance we get? Who told us we couldn’t do it? When did we start believing we had anything but magic at our fingertips?
And where is it written we can’t make heaven on earth? Who said we couldn't decide for ourselves?
On Facebook, before leaving, I saw the following and smiled, anticipating what had already been set into motion by all of you who cheered us on:
So, I took your advice and danced like no one was watching.
My court date is later this month.
Thank you…and smile like you mean it! :)
Reader Comments (35)
Looking at these photographs of you and Astrid dancing, and reading the joy I see in your words, all of this contributes to make a little bit more of heaven on earth even if I am just watching ;-)
once in college, a funny girl who never really talked to me in school, nodded at me at a karaoke beer bash, and i nodded back and we were up in a flash and ran toward the stage together, i didn't even look at what she was doing, i just climbed on the speaker stacks on one side of the stage and danced to the song with my eyes closed (heaven on earth) and i just assumed that the girl who nodded at me, also knew just what to do and was dancing her heart out on the other speaker stacks... it was quite the magical moment that i'll never forget, even if it never happened that way, and everyone was pointing and laughing at me haha
Good for you!. Weddings are for sharing the happiness of the bridge and groom, and if they provide music for dancing, then you are entitled to share your happiness by dancing and having fun. One might almost say it is your duty to make use of the music. Home is a place to relax in and be yourself, and as a guest to follow the lead of the people who live there. Your grandson wanted to dance, so of course you had to follow him. Seems to me that you and Astrid did all the right things - you had fun and relaxed. Good for you again!. That's my two cents worth!
Puts me in mind of an old Rick Nelson song. Garden Party. The chorus goes something like.
It's all right now ,
I learned my lesson well,
you see you can't please everyone so,
you gotta please yourself.
I think there are moments of joyous flow - when everything stops..and time takes and self-conscious awareness take on no meaning. What fun - for the two of you...and for you and Nicholas as well!!
So much energy and love and joy!!!
well done ! Good for you
I thought I had commented, but perhaps I wandered off before hitting publish.
The love between you and Astrid shows in each shot. What marvellous keepsakes of a wonderful evening. I also love the image I have in my head of you and your grandson dancing. Magic to be cherished. In both cases.
So good to see you and Astrid jiving to the music and having the time of your lives, Ginnie. The five images Michelle shot are just wonderful and ones you're sure to treasure.
Why don't we take every chance? An excellent question, and one we could ask on a daily basis. I'm gonna ask it. Thanks for your uplifting post and crucial reminder!
What fun! and what beautiful, toned shape you girls are in ~ must be all the dancing and living life to the fullest. I think of you as always jumping in and giving it your all and your sweet grandson is learning that from you, he didn't hesitate to dance with you, he knew & remembered how much fun it is!
I love Bill's mention of "Garden Party". When that song was popular, I never gave it much of a thought. Today? It's one of my favorites, because I know the truth it expresses.
Too often, people confuse "pleasing oneself" with something else, something more akin to selfishness or self-centeredness. It isn't, at all - and learning the difference is one of the first steps toward creativity!
As much as I enjoyed seeing and reading about you and Astrid dancing at your nephew's wedding, I was absolutely blown away with the images (and thought) of you dancing with your grandson. Perhaps its because I spent so many years teaching middle school aged students. Perhaps I was thinking of my own grandsons. But whatever...WOW! What beautiful moments. You are 'something else, Ginnie!" Yup! Heaven on earth.
A lovely story and photos, and a great lesson. Thanks for sharing your joy... LB
i am late to the dance...but was instantly carried into the moments of dancing love that stopped time. not mercury in retrograde fooling with electronics this time. this time just the idea that love trumps time made me do a monday jig.
great post, ginnie. thanks.
This makes me smile like I mean it! Dancing is one of life's most underrated activities in my opinion, and when it is with someone you love, even better!
I'm so happy to hear the joy in your words.
Oh Ginnie, how absolutely wonderful! These pictures of you and Astrid dancing just rock!! It makes me really happy, and I'm happy for you both!
We intended to dance at the wedding, no matter what. We did, we shared in the joy. We had fun. I never thought about 'what will they say'. My experience is that people will talk any way. Damned if we do and damned if we don't. Life it too short not to enjoy, we enjoyed, we did what was right for us.
I was amazed that you 'followed' me in every dance, even when one of my favourites songs was played... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk
You are my 'Dancing Queen', you can be proud of yourself. We will keep dancing, whether they watch or not.
I think there are no answers to all of your questions. Dancing is within us and there is no good or bad in this.
Again a wonderful post and I am so glad that Michelle took the pictures.
What wonderful, beautiful joy! And yes - why DON"T we do it every day - that complete abandon of ourselves and our fears of what others might think. A strong lesson in living.
What a lovely post I was smiling all the way through. I do rather like that trick the wood elves played :-)
I'm applauding and smiling and doing a happy dance for you here! I love your question, "when did we stop believing we had anything but magic at our fingertips?" Love it.
Maybe we all need to rely on that trick from time to time ... just stop the clock! I wonder what we might do with abandon?
This is still so brilliantly wonderful. You got to dance with both your loves. And pictures to prove it! I am so happy to see Michelle's photos of you and Astrid at the wedding (a little preview of more to come!).
I know what you mean, questioning why this doesn't happen more often. I rarely think of dancing, something we did not grow up doing (forbidden!). But I want to change it! I'd better get practicing with Don so I can be ready for James. :-)
Two rocking spirited women!!!!! I really love the close up of your gentle hands, and the strongest gaze between you. It is heaven on earth when some one knows how to lead you, lucky you Ginnie:~)
This set of images, like the ones of your grandson dancing with you, convey a profound sense of "Ginnie at her peak".
I, for one, am delighted to take vicarious pleasure from the joyfulness that overflows and spills off each montage.
These are definitely "keepers", Ginnie.
Oh ha! Wonderful! I knew that this would be a wonderful, loving celebration for your family and for you. Dance away!
Those are magic moments indeed -- the ones where we forget ourselves, and judgement and embarrassment are tossed to the wind. I do think such things just happen. Some people try to force that feeling back with a bit of drink or substance magic, but it's never the same. I'd love to know the answer of how to make it happen more often. Or is the real question how to LET it happen?