Keep Dancing!

"I get up. I walk. I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing."

-- Hillel

Hillel's journey parallels our own exactly. Except that some of us whine "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up," even when we can. And many more of us get up, but have long ago quit dancing.

Falling down is a given. Getting up, while not mandatory, is a damn good idea. Lying there bemoaning your fate never got anyone anywhere.

But dancing, dancing's the key! While the falling down and getting up are a part and parcel of life, it's dancing that makes life worth living; it's boogying your butt off that makes life fun. Give up dancing, and you've given up truly living.

So dance with a partner or dance alone. Dance the steps you learned when young, or do that whirling, hippie, free form dancing that you see at jam band shows.

No matter. It's not a contest. It's not something inane, like Dancing With the Stars. It's life. And it's meant to be a celebration, a party.

Dance on and on and on.......

Celebrate Daily!

"Neurotics depend on holidays, weekends and days off. Those who cultivate appreciation celebrate daily."

-- A. Sujata

Christmas is but one day. As is Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. At least with Hanukkah you get a whole week! But still, the days we set aside to celebrate and appreciate life are few and far between.

What about a glorious Tuesday in October, or frozen, sleet-filled Thursday in February? Aren't those days worth celebrating and appreciating, as well?

I've got this theory that Tuesday is, for most people, the most boring, blase day of the week. Wednesday is Hump Day, at least, and Thursday is just a day away from Friday. (And, hell, if you're in college, Thursday is the start of the weekend!). Tuesday, though, is all but forgotten and unappreciated. If you can enjoy Tuesdays, if you can have one helluva good time each time Tuesday rolls around on the calendar, then you're well on your way to living a life of gratitude and joy!

It's easy, though, to go through life on autopilot, especially when you indulge in routine, boring, and uninspiring activities. But sometimes, the activities themselves are not to blame -- it is the routine, boring, and uninspired mindset that you bring to the activities.

You can remedy this sad state of affairs by making change from the inside out, from the outside in, or both. Every yogi worth his loin cloth has told us "change your mind, change your life." And, of course, it's true. The consciousness you bring to an act greatly influences the amount of joy you receive from the act.

But the opposite is also true -- change your actions, change your mind. Doing things that you have a natural predilection for, an inherent attunement with, also produces joy and raises your consciousness.

The assignment is simple -- find something to celebrate today. And tomorrow, and the next day, and on and on, each day an attitude of gratitude and another celebration. Don't let your boss, your calendar, or your social group determine the days on which you can appreciate and celebrate life! Living for the weekend means 70% of your time is spent waiting to live!

Celebrate now!