David Earl Woodbury
No 12 Changing Lives through Dancing
Friday, March 14, 2014
The Payoff of Passion
A day dawns, quite like other days; in it, a single hour comes, quite
like other hours; but in that day and in that hour the chance of a
lifetime faces us. — Maltbie Babcock (1858-1901) American Presbyterian Minister
Today in our studio meeting I said, “I don’t know why I have so much passion running through my veins and guiding my life”. Victor, one of our wonderful teachers said, “During the Big Bang when the stars exploded, some of that magic dust blew into you” and I choked up in the meeting. It was such a sweet comment, and I truly do feel that magic feeling all over me.
Along with this passion comes the laws yin and yang. This is how opposite forces are interconnected and relate to one another. They give rise to each other as light and dark, high and low, hot and cold, fire and water, and life and death. It seems to be a rule of life that the highs and lows of life work together. I have great highs, and great lows. One thing for sure, it does teach you how to do a dramatic Tango and an exciting Bolero. Use those emotions in your dancing to touch your audience!
Destiny, I feel, is also a relationship – a play between divine grace and willful self-effort. Half of it you have no control over; half of it is absolutely in your hands, and your actions will show measurable consequence. Man is neither entirely a puppet of the Gods, nor is he entirely the captain of his own destiny; he’s a little of both. We gallop through life like circus performers balancing on two speeding side by side horses – one foot is on the horse called fate, the other on the horse called free will. And the question you have to ask every day is – which horse is which? Which horse do I need to
stop worrying about because it’s not under my control, and which do I need to steer with concentrated effort? — Elizabeth Gilbert, from Eat, Pray, Love
One of my favorite Verdi operas is La Forza del Destino, The Force of Destiny. Just listen to the overture and you will realize how destiny shaped Verdi’s life and music. Destiny, I am learning, is a relationship with life. Many years ago someone ready my future. As I saw her face, I asked “Am I in charge of my future and can I shape my future?” She said, “Yes”, and from that moment on I have practiced the dance with destiny and being the captain of my own ship on the sea of life. Captains can avoid bad weather on the seven seas, they know the hidden dangers of rocks and reefs, and they are able to battle against pirates who try to steal their treasures. Yes, I am now a good captain in the oceans of my future.
What is the payoff of passion? Gabriela Young, my partner, says to be present and be in the moment. I think that is right. Learn from the past, love the moment, and be excited for the future. Relish each moment, good or bad, for destiny is the sculpture of the creations of art that we all are. We are molded, shaped, and formed into the amazing people we are today by the challenges and blessing we experience in our lives.
What is your destiny? What is your passion? Live the moment. Live, love, laugh, cry, hope, achieve, learn. Move forward and leave fear behind.
Thank You,
David Earl Woodbury
Next Week: The Time Machine!