“Dance like no one is watching.
Sing like no one is listening.
Love like you’ve never been hurt
and live like it’s heaven on Earth.”
— Mark Twain
To this end… I have recently been doing my utmost. But you know what? Lately I am learning that it’s often a case of “easier said than done”.
Let me tell you… people DO notice when you fall over on the dance floor. They DO hear you when you sing out of tune… even in the shower. You WILL get hurt along the way. And LIFE… you can be sure… often bears absolutely NO resemblance to heaven on earth!
Really sorry to break it to you Mr. Twain (((chuckles)))
But you know… despite the obvious risks… life CAN be a whole lot of fun. Even if you do sometimes get injured in the process.
Finally… after all these years… I am dancing again. And it is so much fun!
[Read about Living Life to the Hilt ]
After the first couple of classes… with burgeoning confidence… I decided it was about time to invest in a good pair of dancing shoes. Why?
1. To keep me motivated.
2. So I could try to achieve some of the fancy footwork demanded of a budding ballroom dancer [chuckles] on a slick and slippery dance floor without sliding over and hurting myself trying to attempt any/or all of the above in stilettos, sandals or joggers.
and lastly… [but not "leastly"]
3. Because I found a lovely pair of gold Pasodoble’s that I simply couldn’t resist.
You know… boys and their toys… girls and their shoes… [grin]
Besides… my thinking has always been that you should always arm yourself with the appropriate tools for the job in order to achieve the best results. [That's why we artists buy good brushes right?] Okay… it sounded like a plan. And so it was.
I bought the shoes.
Can’t tell you how pleased as punch I was with my purchase as I twirled around the floor… my beautiful new shoes carrying me hither and thither across the floor. But then… just when I was getting the hang of a step… and attempting to execute the perfect turn… those beautiful shoes all of a sudden got a mind of their own… went their separate ways… and I crashed down with an almighty wallop in an inglorious heap on the floor.
Fortunately I went straight down… crashing on one knee first then landing flat on my you know what… and not the alternative… [ie] flat on my back with my legs out from under me. A girl I guess… can be grateful for some such small mercies.
Oooo… ouch… now that hurt! In fact… everything hurt as I sat there in a crumpled heap shocked and unable to get up. [The last time I felt like that was a few years ago after hurtling down the driveway with my son on the back of the billy cart - read the story here]
Finally after what seemed like an age… and would have been less than a split second… someone [have not a clue who] hauled me to my feet and with the music still playing the dancing continued. Now that’s what I call professionalism (((chuckles))) And heck… what stamina. I quite surprised myself. Grin.
Later however… much later… my knee came up a beauty. A huge bruise the likes of which I had not seen since my days on the vigoro pitch in primary school. And my back hurt. But only just a tad. Ahem. Okay then… maybe just a tad more than a tad. At the end of the night I limped sheepishly to the door… my pride tucked neatly in my pocket…. got home… took some magnesium and lay down perfectly flat for the next eight hours (((chuckles))) Next day… all good. And so far… so good.
As for the shoes… well… they will live to dance another day. I took them straight into Theo’s Shoe Shop from whence they came and had the man rough up the soles on whatever the machine is that they “rough up” soles of shoes with there. I made sure that those beautiful shoes were going to stick like glue to the dance floor from that day on.
Now if only we could do that with people.
Life would be so easy. Grin.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so glad to know your physical injury was no more than a bruise, not to mention the embarrassment. That kind soul who got you up off the floor to continue dancing deserved a kiss from the fair damsel. Makes you wonder why they would sell dancing shoes with slick soles? As yes, if we could only roughen up the souls of people and make them stick like glue, life would be just about perfect. Have a great day, Jean!
Good story, Jean, and I’m so glad you weren’t deterred. Some people would blame the shoes and shoot them. Shoes need to be trained, like horses, so they won’t throw you.
Hi Jean,
I commented yesterday, but it shows up for me as “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” Is this something new? Lovely post, by the way, but then I’m sort of repeating myself.
Hi John… thanks for alerting me about your missing comment. Was wondering why it was so quiet around here!!! Thought it must have been something I said. (Uh-oh) Grin.
[Akismet has been acting strange lately... and sectioning off comments for no apparent reason why] I found you and Vernita backstage… and have now reinstated both!
John… if you are repeating yourself I love it that you do. Your support for me here is always very much appreciated!
Thanks Vernita
I must be fairly resilient… nothing much embarrasses me (even when perhaps it should!) LOL
As for the kind soul who got me up… I think HE was the one responsible for me going down in the first place (just a little too much exuberance sometimes in those progressive dances – each partner trying to outdo the next with some added fancy moves) I got caught off guard and sent into a spin I wasn’t counting on. But never mind… lesson learned… and I will be ready next time. And so will the newly roughed up soles of my shoes!
So glad you got the heart (sole) connection… grin.
Hmmm… dancing again tonight. Time to get back on the horse. Heck… why so much easier said than done? But I can be brave. And I still have a whopping great bruise on my right knee as a reminder… so perhaps people will be kind to me. LOL
Well… I got through last night without breaking anything…YAY… and now have the foxtrot, the cha cha cha, the progressive jive, and modern waltz under my belt. Let me tell you… it’s hard work… but a lot of fun. So glad I am saying yes to the Universe… although with the mention of golf I may have to find a diplomatic way to answer the question without saying no… if I am ever going to get any painting done [at all] in daylight hours. Hmmm…. (((chuckles)))
You’re so brave Jean! I wouldn’t even dance at my own wedding, (and I married into an Italian family…gasp!). I’m learning to throw off my self conscience little by little but I”m an introverted coward when it comes to dancing. I envy those on the dance floor…so care free and spirited! And yes, I even envy the ones that fall on occassion and ESPECIALLY those that get back up and dance some more! Bravo!
Perhaps my “soul” needs a little roughening up so I can have some fun too!
Samuel Clemens was the greatest person who ever lived, in my book. Love ballroom dancing, and love women who dance! How bout some pics?? Nothing better for keeping those legs in shape, and it’s fun too. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off….
Hahaha… thanks Mary!
And Nick too… so great to see you here
Mary… not so brave but working on it. Funny how when I resolved to say yes… life simply no longer took no for an answer! I’ve always loved to dance. I learned at school… but sadly DH was not an extrovert like me (((chuckles))
Now that I can dance like no-one is watching… I intend to do all the things I’ve always wanted to do. And I’m on a mission to accomplish everything I can. Yep… I will get hurt. Nothing surer. Especially me who wears her heart on her sleeve [and perilous shoes on her feet!] But I guess if we’re not hurting we’re not living… what do you reckon?
Hey Nick…
He was indeed. Just love the clever wordsmiths.
Pics you say? Heck… now the pressure’s on! I thought I did well to photograph my shoes… [which incidentally went back again to the shoe repair yesterday for rubber heel tips - seems the roughing up wasn't rough enough!] LOL Okay… pics… shall see what I can come up with. Watch this space!