I sat down to write about the domino effect. About how one small positive change made today can be the domino that sets off a cascade of other small changes that lead to a happier, healthier life down the road. One domino…but then I started humming Van Morrison’s Domino, and then I had to look up the lyrics to Domino, in case they somehow related to the afore-mentioned domino effect idea (they don’t really, but man, I love them), and then I had to listen to the song, and then I was dancing up a storm and that seemed so much better than anything I could write.

When was the last time you had a dance party in your living room? Or went out and danced? It’s been a while for me. I’ve sort of half-danced a little, while listening to music and cooking at home, I’ve sort of half-danced in one tightly-packed spot while listening to live music, but I haven’t really cut loose and DANCED in a while. It felt good. It made me think of going out, hitting the town, and dancing with my girlfriends when I was younger (I miss those days sometimes). It made me laugh. It made Seymour look at me quizzically, “what are we doing?”, and then join in with some raucous barking.

It made me think.

It is so easy to organize much of life around doing what we should. Or doing what we shouldn’t, but having a sense of guilt about it. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of the “shoulds” bring me pleasure, and make me feel great (I’m thinking here of getting a good night’s sleep, or doing a workout), but they aren’t solely about pleasure. They often have a purpose – keep my body and mind feeling good, ward off depression or laziness, maybe lift my butt. I cherish these behaviours as a part of what makes me happy, and I challenge myself not to be obsessive about them, to allow them to ebb and flow depending on how I am feeling on any given day. And yet. It is a rare day indeed that I don’t resist jogging before I’ve started it. I am always thrilled once it’s over, proud, sweaty and happy, but I have to cajole myself into it just about every time.

But dancing? To something thumping and happy with drums and horns and all that? Ain’t no “should” in sight! My body is moved to move! Joy fills me up and I am laughing again. Which makes me think I need more of that! More of those joyful moments. Not in a “I should take a dance class every week” kind of way, just in a “seize this silly moment right NOW” kind of way. Perhaps also in a “make room and time for these moments to arise” kind of way. Notice what arises, follow your curiosity, make space and time to allow for going down a rabbit hole that brings you to dancing in your living room with your dog. It’s good.

So instead of dominos, I find I am writing about space today. About making time and space in your schedule for joyful surprises. Making time and space in your heart to hear when those surprises are calling. Making time and space for listening to music – LOUD! Making time and space in your living room for dancing.

These moments lift us up, fill us up so we have more to offer in the rest of our life.

And if you feel like listening to a little Van the Man, here you go.

And if you feel like seeing a little 70s Cool Cat style while you listen, maybe try this one.

Let’s get this party started.

☺