I come from a long line of dancers. We all love music and can't sit down when there's a song we love. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a skilled or trained dancer. In fact I have never had a lesson in my life. Nobody in my family has but that doesn't stop us. We are usually the first on the dance floor and the last to leave.
My brothers and sisters and I come by it honestly. My mother can't sit still when she there's music and although she is in a wheel chair now, she has been known to have a few dances in that chair. Last year at my brother's wedding she "danced" so much she had very sore arms for weeks afterward. At any wedding or reception where there is music our family is dancing and having a good time. Some of my favorite memories of my parents are them dancing in our living room.
Our girls seem to have inherited that love of dancing. They met last Thursday night in Toronto and went to a 90's dance party. They got on the dance floor at 10 pm and didn't leave it until 2 am. When I say they didn't leave it, I mean; not for a break, not for a drink, not even to pee! I was so happy to hear that story.
The last couple of years have been hard on me in many ways, but one I seldom mention is I couldn't dance. Lack of balance and nerve pain does not inspire dancing. With something like forty falls it would have been dangerous to even attempt it. My body just did not move in that way for a long time.
During that time my husband had played in a band many times and many times I'd go out to watch him play. I watched as others went to the dance floor hearing their favorite songs and unable to sit down. For me it was an awful feeling. I would sit there and want to dance so badly, but just could not. Many times I was asked to dance and just had to say no and that made me feel even worse. The wives of the band members are such fun loving people and love to dance, so often they were on the dance floor too.
I remember one night in particular. It was a fiftieth birthday party and the band was playing and everyone, I mean everyone was dancing. I wanted to so badly. It was close to one of my upcoming surgeries and I was in a lot of pain. I had considered not going, but I wanted to be there for the birthday girl and at least stay a while. It was a tough night. I felt on the outside looking in. Not only could I not dance, I needed to sit and while some didn't dance all night they stood and watched the band. I remember thinking this is why some people don't like parties. I couldn't find a way to fit in.
That night and many others after, I decided I was determined, I would dance again. I knew in my heart that music was a part of me and I needed to heal well enough to be out on that dance floor while my husband played. It didn't happen for a long time. Then four months post op Barry's band was playing and we were all out watching. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. I was sitting knowing I wasn't ready yet when Jerri's boyfriend Shayn took my hand and brought me to the dance floor for a slow dance. It was so sweet of him to see how badly I wanted to dance and he saw an opportunity. I was a nervous wreak. So was Barry I could see it in his face. There were so many people - we were afraid someone would bump me and I would crumble. Shayn was hanging on pretty tight so I knew that wouldn't happen.
It was there and then I made a solid plan. The band was playing again in six weeks. I had six weeks to get stronger and be up there on my own steam.
Six weeks came and went. I went to Physio, twice a week and saw an osteopath another time during the week, and I worked my exercises at home. I'm happy to say, last Friday with my sister Mary, friend Lynn and daughter Jerri there to support me I was on that dance floor. I not only was on that dance floor, I hardly left it! The wives of the band members, Darlene and Mannon were up there with me and all those doctors, surgeries and rehab seemed a million miles away. What a fun night!
Probably needless to say I paid for it the next day, and the next, etc. But when I went to Physio I told him I had actually earned my aches, pains and muscles spasms this week. He asked me how, and when I answered I heard the most genuine belly laugh ever. With a shake of disbelief, he started working on me. At my osteopath appointment, I had to explain the damage, and from him I got a huge smile and a high five!
Life is meant to be lived. It is not always easy, but it can be fun if you take advantage of the moments of celebration. Sometimes they are birthdays, anniversaries but sometimes they are ordinary days in which you can dance! I hope you dance too, when you can.
Here's my inspiration for me as a senior. Watch it to the end it is so perfect.
My brothers and sisters and I come by it honestly. My mother can't sit still when she there's music and although she is in a wheel chair now, she has been known to have a few dances in that chair. Last year at my brother's wedding she "danced" so much she had very sore arms for weeks afterward. At any wedding or reception where there is music our family is dancing and having a good time. Some of my favorite memories of my parents are them dancing in our living room.
Our girls seem to have inherited that love of dancing. They met last Thursday night in Toronto and went to a 90's dance party. They got on the dance floor at 10 pm and didn't leave it until 2 am. When I say they didn't leave it, I mean; not for a break, not for a drink, not even to pee! I was so happy to hear that story.
The last couple of years have been hard on me in many ways, but one I seldom mention is I couldn't dance. Lack of balance and nerve pain does not inspire dancing. With something like forty falls it would have been dangerous to even attempt it. My body just did not move in that way for a long time.
During that time my husband had played in a band many times and many times I'd go out to watch him play. I watched as others went to the dance floor hearing their favorite songs and unable to sit down. For me it was an awful feeling. I would sit there and want to dance so badly, but just could not. Many times I was asked to dance and just had to say no and that made me feel even worse. The wives of the band members are such fun loving people and love to dance, so often they were on the dance floor too.
I remember one night in particular. It was a fiftieth birthday party and the band was playing and everyone, I mean everyone was dancing. I wanted to so badly. It was close to one of my upcoming surgeries and I was in a lot of pain. I had considered not going, but I wanted to be there for the birthday girl and at least stay a while. It was a tough night. I felt on the outside looking in. Not only could I not dance, I needed to sit and while some didn't dance all night they stood and watched the band. I remember thinking this is why some people don't like parties. I couldn't find a way to fit in.
That night and many others after, I decided I was determined, I would dance again. I knew in my heart that music was a part of me and I needed to heal well enough to be out on that dance floor while my husband played. It didn't happen for a long time. Then four months post op Barry's band was playing and we were all out watching. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. I was sitting knowing I wasn't ready yet when Jerri's boyfriend Shayn took my hand and brought me to the dance floor for a slow dance. It was so sweet of him to see how badly I wanted to dance and he saw an opportunity. I was a nervous wreak. So was Barry I could see it in his face. There were so many people - we were afraid someone would bump me and I would crumble. Shayn was hanging on pretty tight so I knew that wouldn't happen.
It was there and then I made a solid plan. The band was playing again in six weeks. I had six weeks to get stronger and be up there on my own steam.
Six weeks came and went. I went to Physio, twice a week and saw an osteopath another time during the week, and I worked my exercises at home. I'm happy to say, last Friday with my sister Mary, friend Lynn and daughter Jerri there to support me I was on that dance floor. I not only was on that dance floor, I hardly left it! The wives of the band members, Darlene and Mannon were up there with me and all those doctors, surgeries and rehab seemed a million miles away. What a fun night!
Probably needless to say I paid for it the next day, and the next, etc. But when I went to Physio I told him I had actually earned my aches, pains and muscles spasms this week. He asked me how, and when I answered I heard the most genuine belly laugh ever. With a shake of disbelief, he started working on me. At my osteopath appointment, I had to explain the damage, and from him I got a huge smile and a high five!
Life is meant to be lived. It is not always easy, but it can be fun if you take advantage of the moments of celebration. Sometimes they are birthdays, anniversaries but sometimes they are ordinary days in which you can dance! I hope you dance too, when you can.
Here's my inspiration for me as a senior. Watch it to the end it is so perfect.
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