Shut Up and Dance With Me

Last week, my life lesson came from a roller coaster. This weekend, it was from the dance floor.

Most of you have probably heard the great new song by Walk the Moon, "Shut Up and Dance," and been transported back to your childhood. One of my friends said it sounded like it came right out of The Breakfast Club, and I have to agree.

(There's also a really great montage of dance scenes from movies set to the song - if you haven't seen it yet, I guarantee it will make you want to dance around the room!)

While I did not get to dance to that particular song this weekend, I did get to dance at a fundraiser for the Alamance County Service League, of which I am a member.

Last year, I co-chaired our spring fundraiser, and spent months planning and worrying, and making sure each detail was correct so the fundraiser would be a success.

This year, it was someone else's turn to chair, and I just got to go and have fun!

I invited several friends to join me, and ended up with a table of women who had left their spouses at home. The DJ called us the Single Ladies all night long, which made the evening even more fun.

When the music began, several of us danced. And not the slightly bashful, I hope no one is watching me, kind of dancing. No, we acted like we were young girls dancing around in our bedrooms at a slumber party (the actual scene that comes to mind is the one from 13 Going on 30 when they're dancing to Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield.")

We were not shy. We sang along. We shook our groove things.

I am not a great dancer. I do not have natural rhythm. But I do have so much fun dancing.

This kind of dancing, the kind where you just lose yourself in the music and don't hold back, doesn't happen all the time. Little kids dance that way. Sometimes, adults do too, at weddings, or class reunions, or, in my case, at a fundraiser.

That kind of reckless abandon, losing your self consciousness, being in the moment, having fun and not caring what others think of you, is something we all need more of in our lives.

So dancing may not be your thing. Perhaps no amount of alcohol would make the dance floor your friend. But there is some other way you can let loose and live life to its fullest.

Maybe you would love to go skydiving, or whitewater rafting, or zip lining, but you have always found an excuse to put it off.

Or maybe you need to make mud pies and jump in puddles this spring with your kids. You remember when you were a kid, and there was nothing more fun than playing in a warm spring rain? Recapture that feeling!

Or go with your kid to the local ice cream parlor and order a decadent treat, like a banana split or a big sundae. Too often we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and the sight of your kid's eyes when they see that big sundae or banana split appearing in front of them is definitely a pleasure.

Have you always dreamed of learning to play an instrument, or take a ballroom dancing class, or becoming a knitter or crocheter or a quilter? What is stopping you from your dreams?

"Oh, don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back,"
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"

Last week, I rode a roller coaster. This week, I danced with joy. I cannot wait to see what next week brings.