Today, I am honored to have Lance Ekum from Jungle of Life writing about his experience choosing to dance his way through his days as part of The Levity Project’s Car Dancing Micromovement. Lance is a dear friend and such a great example of walking his talk….expanding his comfort zone to make a difference in his own life and with the hope of bringing more joy and light-heartedness to our world. Thanks for being here Lance!
photo credit: ooberayhay
“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” ~ Anonymous
Preface
What is that dance in you?
Typical days. Consumed by deadlines. Commutes. Bills. Running errands. Playing family chaueffer.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the mundane of daily living.
Does it have to be that way, though? Does it, really, have to be that way?
What if….
We open ourselves up to the dance that is there within our hearts…that touches upon our soul.
It’s there.
And It Begins
An interesting thing has happened recently.
I have been working with Katie West and Ina Lukas, from The Levity Project, on a micro-movement.
Car dancing.
Dancing in your car. Or…really, dancing on your way throughout your day (however that might happen).
And this is about so much more than just dancing through the moments of your day.
Think about this: Would it feel “normal” to dance in your car (or walking down the sidewalk, or navigating the aisles of your favorite grocery store) ? Or would this feel “weird”, “different”, “being seen”??
Why is it that we hold ourselves back?
There is a dance in each of us. The dance to paint. The dance to sing. The dance to be a mother. The dance to coach that little league team. The dance to join the local community band. The dance to dance. The dance of passion. Passion for whatever it is that makes our hearts sing!
To Dance
Car dancing.
In the garage…in the driveway…it feels so safe…to let my hair down. No one around…and it becomes so easy to be “me”…with wild abandon.
How about…
At a stoplight. Other cars around. Or walking down the street. Or waiting in line for the next cashier.
Exposed.
To be freely expressive. To “dance”. In that place where I wouldn’t normally dance. Not alone anymore.
Raise my arms. Move my body. Bop my head.
Surrounded by others…in the normalness of daily life.
And to dance?
To express joy, to let the music engulf me…is both strange and a challenge.
Why?
Because this is not the expected place to dance? Because others might *gasp* see me? Because no one else is doing this? Perhaps I have created some sort of unwritten standard in my head…one that says I should “fit in”, that there’s a place for everything (and this is not it), that it is easier to not risk embarrassment for the song in my heart.
The Cloud Is Lifted
Doing this thing. Dancing in public…in a non-dance setting. The car. The sidewalk. The neighborhood convenience store.
Doing it.
Dancing. In public.
Wow!
Getting beyond the fear, the wondering eyes, the thoughts in my head.
Everything seems suddenly lighter. The sky is brighter. Aggravations melt away. This mini-celebration does wonders! I feel like the world is “right” and “okay”. I see more of the humanity behind the masks of those around me. Life is good.
And Such Is Life
Car dancing. One small thing. One deeply moving experience.
Life.
Mine. Yours.
How am I living that life? How are you living that life?
There is a dance in each of us. In you. In me.
Something that sets our heart on fire. Something that makes us each dance for life.
What is that dance in you?
Let your dance out. Be you. That incredible, amazing you that sings and dances from your heart!
Join The Movement
The Levity Project is creating a compilation video of YOUR submitted car dancing moments! We have an amazing sampling from all over the world so far, young and old alike – getting
“out there” and dancing. Creating change in themselves. And touching in some way, those who witness this dance of joy. Are you up for it?
**
• Create a short video (10 – 20 seconds) of yourself (and others) car dancing (or dancing in whatever mode of transportation you use).
• Click here to submit your video. (Please submit all videos by Saturday, February 27, 2010)
• Contact us via the
Contact Us page, with your name and location (to be included in the video).
**
NOTE: The Levity Project video, of everyone together, will premiere in early March.
Join The Levity Project on FACEBOOK to join the vision and upcoming FUN!
