Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
- Vint Cerf (B – 1943)
Have you ever had a failure? I have. At times, I have had it all and I have lost it all. Did I learn from the failure? You bet I did, and I remember to today what I learned. I have many friends who failed. The biggest recent challenge was the lockdown during the pandemic. It seemed that success was snatched from us for a while.
Recently, I had a couple enroll on lessons and they were from the midwestern part of the US. They said that their small town never acknowledged the pandemic and they never wore a mask and virtually nothing changed in their lives. This was not the case in LA, NY, and many other cities world-wide.
The pandemic was not a failure, it was something beyond most of our control. The true test was and is how we handled these years after the lockdowns. Many businesses came back even stronger. Some businesses covered their windows and let clients in the back door. Others just followed the rules and found new ways to operate.
There have been times in my life when I did make some big mistakes. Failures of the heart. Financial failures. Failures for not taking advice. Failures for not listening.
At 68, I now look at the successes I have had in my life. I see the positive steps that I have taken with life’s knowledge. I see the mistakes I avoided by listening to the great mentors in my life.
Now, I do not worry about failing or making it in life. I look to the young people in life who are plugged in and excelling. At a major Arthur Murray dance competition, the ballroom is filled with many, many talented and fun young professional ballroom. They are perfectly dressed and with beautiful manners for the ballroom. They have taken many professional dance lessons, purchased their costumes, and they have prepared for the competition floor.
They give me hope and I love to watch their dedication, zeal, and commitment on the dance floor. They are not worried about failure. They are caught up in the moment of dance and are dancing the best they can and trying with every move to get better. They are free and happy. They have moved into the complete dancing experience that makes them great just for competiting.
The young dance couples are hoping to make a semi-final, a quarter final, or even a final. The experienced dancers are striving to move up from level to level, then to the finals and then try to win an entire event. The excitement in the ballroom is palatable and the audience and the competitors watching are cheering for their favorites. It is an unbelievably exciting time and the dancers fill the ballroom with excitement.
If you need a boost in your life, first start taking dancing lessons. Then, dance a spotlight dance. Then a solo dance at a Showcase. Then enter a dance competition. It will be one of the happiest times in your life, and perhaps you will dance for several years, or even for a lifetime.
There is room for you on the dance floor. There is a great partner and teacher just waiting for you. Give it a try. You will be so happy you experienced success through the experience.
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
David Woodbury