“Happy New Year!”

Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                      

Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica

A new year is ahead for us. I can’t help remembering January 7, 2025 with the Palisades Fires, so close to our Arthur Murray Studio, and even much closer to our home. It was a day, a week that changed the Palisades and our city. A rough time.

Now, we are going to have a “SUPER January” in 2026. We’ll have the best January in the history of our studio. We have many plans, dreams, hopes and a great vision to make ’26 an outstanding year.

Perhaps your 2025 was the best in your life. Perhaps you had some challenges and trials along the way. By reading this, you have made it this far, and we will all make it through to a joyous new year.

In October of 2024, I read (I love to read), a book that stated, “perhaps you’ll read 50 books in a year”. I stopped reading and made this note “50Books’25” and I was on my way.

I asked family and friends how to do this and I received over 10 lists of books. I ended up with over 180 great book ideas and I was set for January 1^st! I was so full or doubt, I did not think I could read 4 books every month and I questioned my goals.

My first book was on January 1^st, and I went on to read 23 books in January. Then, I read 50, then 100, and now I have completed over 150 books in 2025! It’s been a great journey.

Also, from January to now, I have lost and kept off 70 pounds. It just seemed to go along with the book journey. The weight loss is harder than the reading and I must stay vigilant with my eating, just as I mark my reading.  Now, on to “50Books’26”.

Remember, it does get better and it will get better!

Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!

“Steps & Kicks in ‘26”

David Woodbury