“Write Yourself into Your Best New Year!”

Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                      

Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica

It’s about this time in January when we stop greeting each other with “Happy New Year!” I love the greetings early in the New Year. It’s a wonderful way to say hello to everyone we see as we ask how their holidays were. There is always a kind and thoughtful exchange in all our hellos and happy smiles.

As February approaches, we turn our eyes to Valentine’s Day and thinking of cards we need purchase and where to hide our heart-shaped boxes of Valentine chocolates and stuffed teddy bears.

For me, as a dance studio planner, my thoughts are on our Dream Sheet of activities for 2026, our March and April calendars, and our International Dance Festival in May and June. I am planning all the dance competitions for the year and even planning the Arthur Murray dance trip to Paris and London in August which is quickly selling out!

My personal life is planning September and October when I turn 70 and then celebrate my 50^th year with Arthur Murray as a dance professional. I guess I live in the future, but that is how the fashion, sports, music, and theater seasons work. Always planning ahead for the next season of dancing.

For about two years, I have been truly writing myself into this my best year in so many ways. Getting my health stronger and stronger as I approach 70. Getting my weight down, eating better, and now for several months, sticking with my exercise plan that is changing the way I look, feel, and move. I have been writing “Good Health” into my best year of 2026.

As for my career, I am writing in the best memories of a half century with Arthur Murray.
Remembering all the great dance experiences, the life-long friendships, the wonderful dance events, and the dance travels around the world. I am so thankful for a lifetime with Arthur Murray.

I am even writing in the next years of dancing. I have no plans to quit my dancing and being a studio owner. As long as I have all my marbles, and I have the strength to use my body to dance and teach, I will continue until they throw me out the front door!

What are you writing into your new year? Happiness, health, travel, family, faith, new adventures, continuance with your current life or positive changes in your lifestyle and habits?

Have your written down your dreams, hopes, visions, and all the great possibilities of joy you want to have in your life this year?

I have written my dreams, and I am continuing to add to that list. I want to be the best version of myself in every way. Give back to others with support and knowledge and experience. Continuing a healthy lifestyle. Staying with my love of books and reading.

To live with the magic of music all around me. Keep a lovely and long-lasting loving home life with Joel and our two little kitties. Staying in touch with my family and close friends.

Write more notes to others, say thank you more often, and offering a listening ear whenever needed.

For my dancing, I want to maintain my skills of instruction and movement on the dance floor.

To practice more times of meditation and silence in my morning reflections. Letting go of fear, anger, unforgiveness, and forgetting the bad, healing with the good. I often wondered what getting older would be like and losing my memories. Little did I know that the memories I would first forget were the bad memories, and then perfectly remember the wonderful, glorious moments of life, love, family and friends. The past will take care of itself. I go into the light of the future with outstretched arms, not looking back. The past is the past. The future is our hope.

As I as writing, I realize that my daddy lived 24 years longer than my current 69 years! That’s a whole lifetime. I’m going to make my future a great journey. Come along with me. Live, laugh, dance, love and embrace the light of all the possibilities ahead.

Thank you for reading!

“Steps & Kicks in ‘26”

David Woodbury