No 22 Changing Lives through Dancing
By David Earl Woodbury
Friday, May 27, 2016
“The only guide to man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions. It is very imprudent to walk through life without this shield, because we are so often mocked by the failure of our hopes and the upsetting of our calculations; but with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the ranks of honor. – Tribute to Neville Chamberlain; 1940”
– Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British Politician
Well here we are on the other side of the inaugural Sand and Sea Ball 2016! We did it and sold out our first year and the whole event was spectacular. Our small but might core team pulled off a huge and mighty event. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to everyone who attended and all those who participated. We are preparing for Sand and Sea Ball 2017 and know it will be even bigger and better!
My shield of conscience was always with me each day preparing for our event. The late evening after the event was over, I could not sleep. It would not come to me. Then in the morning I realized that I was not awakening with “I need more sponsors” “I have to sell more tickets today”. That had been my purpose for so long that I felt a great empty space in my heart. My conscience had led me to do my best and produce the best show that I could.
“The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble image of yourself.” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright
My co-chair, Beth Hansler, always help up that mirror in front of me and we always looked at our “best selves” and we never lost hope that we would succeed. I must admit, Beth was the strongest of us and the best keep her dream focused. She was my compass to my true North of success.
“It is a good thing to be rich, it is a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends.” – Euripides (480-406 BC) Greek Playwright
Now at the end our one journey, and the new beginnings of many more, what truly matters to me is that we helped change lives through our efforts, and that I made friends for life through the event. What I learned about people and organizing is invaluable. I would not trade a minute of this great experience for I am a changed man today and a better person from the experience.
“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) 32nd President of the United States
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live a life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
– Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862) American Philosopher and Writer
At the end of the Sand and Sea Ball, during my thank you’s, I said “Dreams can come true”. I had a few dream killers along the way (sometimes that being my own self!) Yet I learned that even those who doubt you will bask in the success in the end and they too will be blessed from all the hard and work and effort. Enjoy the joy of achievement and continue to advance in the direction of your dreams. You will have a happy day coming your way and a sense of fulfillment that will last a lifetime!
Happy Dancing,
David Woodbury
DavidEarlWoodbury@gmail.com (email me if you like my blogs!)