Dare to dance...average

The President inspires me. Ok, this sentiment is neither revolutionary nor unique. Our 44th Commander in Chief embodies "role model" as an orator, a leader, and simply as courageous human being.

But I'm talking about the dancing. When he and Michelle stepped into the Inaugural Balls on Tuesday night--in just about the brightest and most visible spotlight one can imagine--they weren't all that great at the foxtrot. Clearly that was one activity that was cut in the rehearsal department, understandably, say, after "delivering Inauguration Address", and "giving crisp salutes".

From my point of view it takes guts to be willing to "dance average", or even badly, in front of people. Especially when you're the President. I may also be saying this because I'm learning how to dance, so as I'm stumbling across the floor and tilting and whirling and occasionally crushing toes, it helps to think that even celebrities and role models can look a little stiff on the dance floor.

Still, one could clearly see that joy and delight in each other that propelled the first couple with slightly awkward steps across a global stage. The pundits may have declared that "the Obamas' performance level dipped in the dance department" (groan), but to me, it was just another example of how this leader and his strong and beautiful partner continue to invite me into challenges that may be just beyond my comfort level. That call me to stretch, twirl first, and let my courage catch up to me afterward. So I'm going to keep dancing, even if I'm average. Besides, I'm in it for the joy.

The image of the Obamas makes me want to make a slight adjustment to Elizabeth Alexander's beautiful innaugural poem: "praise song for dancing forward in that light". Indeed, "what if the mightiest word is Love?" Love that is forgiving, cuts us some slack, celebrates doing the dance imperfectly rather than sitting against the wall. What if as a country, as families, as co-workers, we chose this kind of Love--and to dance into it, swirling, tipping, dipping, smiling...average.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

.


It would be wrong to disparage the rain--we so desperately need it in our drought-ravaged region. But today's weather in Western North Carolina was so distinctly Seattle-like that I was having flashbacks to the interminable days of clouds and wet during the winter months in the northwest. The good news in the southeast is that we are reasonably certain that the dismal skies today will yield to sunny ones before too long. This southern girl is soooo glad to be back!

Though the day was dreary, it also marked the colorful celebration of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, ending the 12 days of Christmas and beginning the season of Carnival--a period dedicated to decadence that culminates in Mardis Gras and the beginning of the more austere season of Lent. Asheville is celebrating in high style with a festive night of costumes, masks, zydeco and great New Orleans fare with traditional King Cake at Ed Boudreaux's Bayou BBQ.

With the current economic situation as bleak as today's gray skies, it seems that the traditional Carnival motto, Laissez les bon temps roulez! (roughly translated "Let the Good Times Roll"), seems a courageous and faithful rebuke to fear and gloominess. It is an invitation to celebration, to abundance, to color, life, dancing and fun. In short, it may be what we need more than anything right now. I'm keenly guarding my attention these days--will I focus on the negative and link my well-being and future to the grim narratives of newscasters? Or keep my gaze open to evidence of a Universe of plenty that is all around?

In the past 6 days, I've witnessed numerous examples of miracles of opportunity and expansion:

• a friend landed a job within 24 hours of posting his resume online
• a neighbor transferred to a better position that is a mile from her house, in an organization where there are "never" openings
• a real estate agent closed on her 3rd home sale in the last 4 weeks
• a friend's daughter was contacted by a former client asking to correct a billing error in which they owed her $6,000.

I am not suggesting that we ignore the suffering, struggle and concern that so many of us are facing in these uncertain times; there are real challenges to be met now and in the days ahead. The brutality in the Middle East continued today, there is violence and deprivation all around. But, at least for today, I choose to put my faith in abundance, in joy, and to nibble a sweet bite of king cake, and declare (if only in a whisper) "Laissez les bon temps roulez!"

May they roll with you and yours as well.