Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica
“Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the
beautiful things that make you, you!”
-Beyonce
Why shouldn’t we have joy, happiness, and satisfaction in our work and while at work?
Every action we take at work should lead us to fulfillment, even our mistakes!
What makes one happy? Is it everything being perfect and all circumstance working out? Or is it giving a smile to someone during the day? Sending a card in the mail?
To each of use, happiness at work or at home is unique and individual.
If I want happiness in my life, I must make a commitment to make my own happiness. Abraham Lincoln said, “People are about as happy as they choose to be.”
I wish to welcome happiness as a daily visitor, rather than a distant friend.
Where is my happiness now? Well, after almost 50 years dancing with Arthur Murray Dance Studios, I have a lifetime of glorious memories and a huge family of friends. I have been lucky in my career. Always surrounded by amazing dancers, mentors, friends, students, teachers and coaches, franchisees and our wonderful home office leaders.
The memories of all the fantastic students I have taught over the years brings me great joy and happiness. Whereas I once was the young teacher with my older students, I am now the senior dancer surrounded by younger people. I can still cut a rug and I am not shy about demonstrating that to a young student or instructor.
When life’s clouds have rolled in and I have wallowed in misery, my career with Arthur Murray Dance Studios has always been there for me for comfort and support.
Now in this part of my work journey, I feel a newness and freshness that has been growing over the recent years. Has it all been easy, no, rewarding and satisfying, yes!
Now when I chat with new students and staff, I seem to know exactly where they are in their dancing and life journeys. I always have a great memory that I can share with others that seems just perfect for the person and the occasion.
Am I seeking to be happy? No, I’m not. I’m quite fulfilled, and I have the longevity of years in my work and life to sustain me. I have found what makes me happy. Sharing a meal, telling a story together. Having a laugh and a hug. Listening to someone and even sharing tears at times. To me, happiness now is the sharing of love and wisdom with others. As has been said, “You can only wear one coat at time”. There is just so much stuff you can have and having less is often easier in life.
Happiness is in the moments I have lived, the moments I remember, and the “Golden Moments” that I know will always come to me in some form every day.
Beverly Sills, the great American Soprano of world acclaim, had two amazing quotes.
“I can’t be happy every day, but I can be cheerful”
“Everything you need you already have. You are complete right now, you are a whole, total person, not an apprentice person on the way to someplace else. Your completeness must be understood by you and experienced in your thoughts as your own personal reality”.
Let’s always meet on the sunny side of the street.
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
“Dance & Thrive in ‘25”
David Woodbury