Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica
“There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up”
– Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
This quote awakened many memories of life and dancing for me. There are so many great interpretations of this.
In life, I see this as pushing down to pull ourselves up, higher and higher. I see the pulling up as lifting others up around us with our higher powers.
For me, pushing down was always pushing down my doubts and fears. Thoughts that I was not good enough and that I couldn’t achieve my dreams and goals. I have learned, especially now that I am almost 70 (young to some readers) to push away negative thoughts before they “stick” to me. Now for the next two years of my life, I have many big life goals. I have decided to release, let go of, push down or away any negative thoughts. I just don’t want them, and I have the freedom to make this decision to fill my mind with positive, life-giving thoughts.
The results of these positive thoughts for the next two years (and beyond) is that it makes me stronger in helping others realize and achieve their dreams. I think that inspiration is like fresh produce. It’s lovely to purchase, but if you’ve ever found an old bag of lettuce in the back of your refrigerator, and you pull it out, immediately you’ll feel the squishy bag full of spoiled lettuce.
Inspiration is the same way. If I don’t use my inspiration and share it with others, it will go bad. Ever opened up your bread box only to find old bread has molded? We have to use the energy in our lives to get more energy and stay fresh.
I think that is part of the “pulling up” is exerting one’s strength. Why have I written so many hundreds and hundreds of blogs over the many years? I’ve just had so much inspiration weekly that I’ve been inspired share it. I am compelled to write down what I hear, see, feel, and experience, and what I learn and hear from others.
I keep a 3X5 card and a pen in my pocket all the time. I’m always hearing words of wisdom from others, and I write them down for blog ideas. As I read, as I’m out and about, as I listen to others, I hear magical phrases that I know must turn into a blog.
I have a separate file in my phone just to keep my new blog ideas. I’m on the hunt so to speak and I look and listen and write notes all the time.
As my working life evolves, and as I grow older, I will complete a book that I have already written much of, and I have the chapters and the title ready. It the future, I will share all these thoughts in a more compelling way.
When I share my strength with others, it comes back to me 10-fold immediately. Since many of my mentors have passed on, I have found myself stepping into a mentor roll in my life for others. There is an inspiration in my heart, mind, body and soul that demands release. I’m always delighted to help someone in their life, weather by just listening to them, or adding words of wisdom that I know will help in their current situation.
Push down and you’ll be able to push yourself up. Pull yourself up every day and stand tall and conquer life. You’ll find you can push others up and pull them up to new heights in their lives. “It will get better!”
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
“Dance & Thrive in ‘25”
David Woodbury