Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
Writer and philosopher Robert Pirsig on Enjoying the Journey:
“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end, but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place, the snow is less visible, even through closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goals is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.”
Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
All my life I have strived to get ahead. I’ve tried to be the best in all areas of my Arthur Murray life. I have only thought of “striving to move forward” and not look back lest I turn into a pillar of salt! Planning, having goals and dreams and moving forward at all costs. And this I did happily. It was all I knew.
Along the way, I learned the lessons of speed, restlessness, being winded and exhausted. I did not know about every step being unique, the delicate details of leaves, rocks, and snow. I knew about them, but I was truly always thinking ahead.
When at my peak, surgery changed my life. At a peak in my life, three close deaths seemed to sweep my life away. Major changes in all areas of my life hitting quickly. I had to truly stop and look at where I was.
Then life turned around again for me with the best of the best in all areas. At the peak of that mountain, the pandemic closed our thriving business for 90 days, 3 months reopen, then 80 more days closed again. I was forced to rethink my life, love, business and how I lived.
Now, having just entered the year where I will turn 69, I have an unusual peace about the “mountain”. I still love the challenge of business, I still love my personal life, but my body has changed and is telling me to let go of things that bother me. My motto is “I’m over it”. I want to climb my mountain relishing each step. Looking at each leaf. Watching the snow. Smelling the rain. Enjoying the seasons and the sunrise and sunset.
Do I still plan on accomplishing more? Why, yes. My laptop is always with me as I have started to write my book again with a passion. I still want to accomplish more, but I don’t want to be angry, or upset, or restless and exhausted on my journey. Why should I? Why can’t I just let go and not let “the noise of life” distract me?
I am going to enjoy the rest of my journey. My daddy lived 25 years beyond me. I have a full lifetime ahead of me, God willing. I want it to be a good lifetime full of hope and peace and good health.
So, off I go. Still dancing with Arthur Murray. Still having hopes and dreams for our school and for the future. I’m still excited, not exhausted. Still planning on great things happening in the future. I still love to dance!
I’m very happy when I am dancing. I think at my age that dancing is excellent for my health and good for my body and still really a lot of fun for me. Dancing puts me into the moment.
Are you enjoying your journey of life? Are you enjoying the moment you are in right now? Get this, it’s all we have. This instant we are in is precious. In this second of writing, I am happy and thankful that I have a passionate desire to write that is growing into something much more in my life. In this flash of time, I am happy (with all but my bad typing) and I am at peace. Is everything perfect in my life? All I can say is that this is a perfect moment and I was able to grab it by the tail and type it out for you to read.
Enjoy the journey. Let’s enjoy it together!
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
David Woodbury