Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica
How in the world does one “go confidently in the direction of their dreams?” That seems so out of reach sometimes. It sounds so pie-in-the-sky, but get this, I could use a little bit of pie right now.
All my life I have been driven by my dreams, hopes, aspirations, visions, and imaginations. For almost 50 years with Arthur Murray, I’ve had goals set before me. As a new teacher, I would have goals given to me that I couldn’t believe that I could ever achieve. My executives gave me my goals, believed in me and knew that I could accomplish them, and I did!
So how did I do that? Well, I was so busy doing the good work that I did not have time for doubt. I did not think of the success, nor of what I was accomplishing. I just did the work at hand and I did it with all my heart and soul. Now, so many years later, I still work as if my life depended on it, and truly it does depend on the good work!
Today the best way to go into your dreams is to do it with all you mind, body, and soul abd spirit. Whenever I interview a dance instructor, I ask what their dreams are. What is their plan to achieve their dreams and what will it take to make that happen?
Sometimes you find diamonds when interviewing. I have chatted with possible new staff that have said, I want to help your business grow and prosper and be an asset to you. I want to give great service to all the students here and help support the staff. My goal is not to just have this as a job, but to treat this as if I were to be an owner or an Arthur Murray Studio someday. And guess what, I have seen them years later at meeting as owners of their own franchise! They did it!
So, what do you do if you’re at the other end of life? You have been and are still successful. You have made your mark in life. Where do you go from there? Well, my oldest sister, who is 82, said to me that my greatest achievements are ahead for me (I’m 69). She said to keep my mind open and see the success that would be ahead for me in my 70’s and 80’s. I believe her, and I think that it will be in the form of writing and speaking.
Perhaps what I am writing is that you can have your hopes and dreams if you are 8 or 80. Just keep nurturing them. Read, study, surround yourself with others who are living your same dream. Ask questions of those who are doing what you want to do. Ask them how they found their dream. How they achieved their dream. How they overcame trials and tribulations. How they have handled success in their lives. Ask what their future goals are!
Encourage those who are motivating you and thank them. You’d be surprised how thankful your mentors are to receive your praise and adoration. Sometimes, they will give you a diamond of wisdom just for your recognition and kindness toward them.
My own advice now, and always, is to “listen to the still small voice” in life. You may call it a hunch, an intuition, an unction, but I get them all the time. I hear a whispering voice all the time in my heart that tells me to say a word of hope to someone. It may be a word of caution that tells me to not do something, or a word saying to say or do something in that very moment or in the near future.
For me, with my quick mouth, I often hear a strong inner voice that says “don’t say anything”, and I don’t, and I remain quiet. This has proved to be very valuable in my life.
You can achieve anything in your life. Let the right thing come your way. Learn to hear, see, feel and know what you should do. Perhaps the world will come from your mentor, or listening to a stranger you gives you a word of wisdom. It may be listening to someone or reading something that gives you an inspiration. This happens to me all the time now, and I write it down and then do it. My life has changed and been so very blessed through the words that come to me.
When you are about to sleep at night, say aloud that you will have sweet dreams all night. That your dreams be filled with joyful and edifying thoughts. That there is no darkness in your dreams. Then, be open to your dreams speaking thoughts and ideas to you. Keep a pen and paper next to your bed and write down your dream and the message from your dream the moment you awaken.
It’s never too late to have a new dream or maintain a dream. Take a walk and let your heart dream. Write it down your thoughts and then share those dreams with a friend or your special mentor. Feed that dream and see what great things will happen in your life.
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
“Dance & Thrive in ‘25”
David Woodbury