Dancing Not Optional

I am not a dancer. Well, not in public anyway. The most dancing that happens in my life is maybe a quick turn or wiggle while cleaning the house listening to James Bay on Spotify. And in the car. I am a well practiced car seat dancer when I remember to turn on the radio. 

In high school I never enjoyed the dancing portion of the dances. I did like dressing up and hanging out with friends and crowd watching. I'd join in on the Electric Slide or Macarena, but that's about all that you were getting out of me. 

This weekend was my best friends wedding, and well I danced. I danced completely sober, I danced after a couple drinks. I danced with my daughter, who surprisingly has such confidence and joy on the dance floor. I have never witnessed someone dance so energetically with no notion to stop. Well, until some other super fun thing caught her eye. The night was filled with super fun things that meant many trips to and from the dance floor for her. 

I am not sure what this move is called, but she 100% meant every thing about it.

I danced with my husband. I should note that we aren't dancers to the point where we did not do a first dance at our wedding. I am not sure anything we've ever attempted could honestly be considered "dancing." Maybe one day we'll take a lesson or two, or just copy after our dear dancing daughter. 

At least we can take a photo together. ;)

I danced with strangers, in front of strangers, with friends old and new, with the bride and groom. The bride may have informed me that one of my Matron of Honor duties was to dance, but it would have happened anyways. 

I was so happy during this entire festivities it was extremely therapeutic to dance it out. To move in the light fall air, in a beautiful flowing dress, under the lights of a romantic and fun evening and dance. Just dance. I was not concerned with what moves looked good, it just felt good. The energy of such love and happiness for the newly married couple, for my best friend in particular who has found and claimed love and family, to just flow out. My heart and soul were overflowing with love and happiness for her, and I simply could not contain it. I needed to dance. 

Despite knowing there is video evidence of said dancing, I am happy it happened. I feel somewhat less self conscious and more confident that dancing does not have to be a mental choice for me anymore, but a physical reaction to the environment. Dancing can be a reaction to the love and connectedness of myself with others, the evening, the universe, the joy deep within me for others and maybe even myself. 

Plus, I checked off a bucket list item I didn't even know I had. I danced with a hedgehog. 10/10 would recommend.