When last did you pump up the volume and let your hair completely down to one of your favorite dance songs? I don’t know about you, but for me, doing that every now and then allows me to put aside the weight of the life you carry around daily. For me, it puts me into a momentary bubble where everything is just great and I can let off any steam through happy, sometimes wild, movements.
Dancing has been a part of human culture for centuries, we have used it as a form of celebration, as part of rituals, and then in social gatherings as a way to relax.
Today on the way home Taigen asked me to play his current favorite song from my phone, from the moment the music started he didn’t stop moving, his hands were waving, his head was bopping, his legs were flapping, his whole body, in fact, was just one big movement! He loved it, and so did I!
As I watched him just enjoy himself this thought came to me, he didn’t care how he looked or who saw him, he had no concern for other people’s opinions about him, he loved the music and he showed it.
I want to relate this to each one of us. You are born as a unique individual, your own characteristics, your own personality even your own likes and dislikes, but as you get older society will try to conform you, shape your ideas into something “they” deem as acceptable. You will be bombarded by adverts portraying “beauty”, people will tell you left, right and center how to act and at times even try change how you think.
Having said that I want to emphasize two things:
- Find out who you are! Own it! And then love it!
Make it a journey, make it a personal one! Take the time to think about yourself. What do you like? What don’t you enjoy? Where are your strengths? What aspects could you improve on? Answer these questions honestly and without haste. Do this exercise without considering what anyone else may think. Once you have done this sit back and take a look at the observations you have made, do they leave you feeling comfortable? Where necessary, make some changes, but ultimately you need to own yourself and more importantly, you need to love yourself!
2. Surround yourself with good
It is not only impossible to escape the influences around us but it is also necessary that we have these influences (Book of Mormon – 2 Nephi 2:16). So, we can’t escape them, what now? I want to share a passage of scripture that I love, and that can be used to guide you when faced with a choice. It is found in the Book of Mormon, in Moroni chapter 7.
“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know god from evil: wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent for by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one;”Moroni 7:16-17
Now it is up to you to surround yourself with things that influence you to do good, things that uplift and encourage rather than belittle and tear down. Become aware of the books you read, the movies you watch, and the company you keep.
Today I was taught a profound life lesson by a 2-year-old! A lesson I had been taught before but reminded of while enjoying my carefree little monkey dance like no one was watching, that I am grateful for!
ShellyB - Gr8Ful Me 