David Earl Woodbury
No 21 Changing Lives through Dancing
Friday, May 23, 2014
Time for a “Re-Set” in your life!
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected
without trials. — Chinese proverb
Sometimes we ourselves are the only scripture or inspirational text others will ever read. To some, we are the only “owner’s manual” of life that they will read. We are the “how to” instructions for the software of life. Our words, actions, and behaviors are the “Google” of how to live to many of those around us.
What a responsibility and opportunity. For me, I live, worship, and work within a one mile radius. I see our Arthur Murray student family sometimes when I walk out my door for a run, walking down the street, in the market (tip: dress better at Von’s), in restaurants, on a date. Sometimes I am a Hospitality Minister at St. Monica’s Parish and I am assisting a student. Sometimes I am a Eucharistic Minister giving communion to an Arthur Murray student.
How do I live my life? I have to be the same person at all times. The joy of life and a smile are becoming more and more important to me as our Arthur Murray Dance Center continues to grow.
Who are my mentors who teach me this? I see my life guides often, and they are always the same great people, same great attitudes, same great leaders all the time. They never let me down, and I see them in all types of situations. I strive to be that same great man all the time.
How do we keep a smile while we are being polished by friction in life, as we are going through trials? I learned from my great partner Jim, that “It will get better” as we live. Having been someone who has been through the “Dark Night of the Soul”, I mistakenly thought that this was a one-time event in life. That is not the case. As we drive through the mountains, we often enter and exit tunnels that enable us to drive to our destinations. The tunnels enable us to travel from one great place to the next.
If we do not know the route, sometimes the tunnels come upon us unexpectedly.
We don’t know how long the tunnel will last, yet, we know there is an end and we will once again enter the light.
The Lærdal Tunnel in Norway is the world’s longest road tunnel, it’s length is 15.1 miles. The Seikan Tunnel in Japan has a 14.5 mile long portion under the seabed. In today’s world of modern marvels, we can engineer tunnels that will connect us and save us time. Perhaps in our lives, we can “engineer” ourselves to know how to go through the tunnels of trials that strengthen our lives and learn to manage them.
If we want change in our lives, we must be the catalysts to make it happen. We must become self-starters and leaders and guides to those who are unable to get through their dark tunnels. Be a good life engineer and put light in your tunnel and use it as a pathway to great changes for you and for others.
Thank You,
David Earl Woodbury
Next Week: Why everyone loves to dance!