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Contra dancing
December 10, 2005
We just got back from going to our first Contra dance. We both had a great time. This link has a great description (better than the one I posted before). I was pleasantly surprised that Damien liked it too, since I am more of the folky in the family. It was great exercise, we met new people, listened to live folk music and just plain old had fun - recommend it.
As an added bonus our babysitter took awesome care of our kids. She is our family friend and truly loves our children and looks forward to spending time with them. With her she brought caramel popcorn, classic children's Christmas movies and a craft - a book the kids made for us. She is such a blessing to us and our kids love her.
So, a wonderful night overall. Thanks Damien for the great birthday outing!
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becky on Dec. 13, 2005, 12:22 a.m.
I don't know if anyone knows this, but one of our friends gave us 'dance lessons' as a wedding gift. We learned the 'Cha Cha' and the 'Rombah'. It was so fun, we met new people, looked silly and loved every minute of it! If we ever had the opportunity to take lessons again, we would defiently not pass it up. I'm glad to hear you and Damien are enjoyed this outing...it really is a 'new culture'. Thanks for sharing Renee.
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barbara on Dec. 11, 2005, 8:09 a.m.
Many years ago, when we were living in the log house, Dad and I decided it was time to take two step dance lessons. Country dancing is 'in', in Alberta. It was so much fun. It was an outing and a 'date'. After class, we had coffee in the restaurant with the other dancers and the dance instructor.
So we practiced at home. We danced and giggled and laughed our way around a big circle around the kitchen, livingroom, and diningroom, to lively country two step tunes. The kids watched in wide-eyed silent wonder from the balcony at the top of the stairs. There was much whispering and meaningful glances in our direction.
Finally, I just had to ask. "Your Dad and I are taking dance lessons and we need to practice before our next class...so what do you think?" Someone from the top of the stairs said, "We think you guys have gone crazy!"..... Oh, well, it was INSANELY FUN!
Well, these days we are deep into reading Deepak Chopra. The latest book of his that we have been reading is "Grow Younger, Live Longer". He writes about the youthful mind, a mind that is dynamic, vibrant and curious. A mind that is enthusiastic, spontaneous, fluid and adaptable. A mind that is awake to all possibilities and is not inhibited by established norms. It does not allow itself to be trapped by boundaries that overshadow the unity of all things. It naturally sees the interrelatedness of life and is able to flow with changing situations and circumstances without resistance. A mind that is adaptable.
A youthful mind is a growing mind. It is dedicated to continual expansion and learning. a youthful mind thrives on new experiences and new knowledge. Experience combined with knowledge leads to wisdom. Make a commitment to learn throughout your life. Here are a few of Deepak Chopra's suggestions to keep your mind growing:
Read--the classics, novels, Shakespeare, science fiction, fantasies. Try genres you do not usually choose.
Read poetry--Rumi, Tagore, Hafiz, Blake, Longfellow, Frost, Ginsberg, and the modern poets.
Read spiritual literature--the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, the Dhammapada.
Take classes at your local college.
Learn a foreign language.
Take piano/guitar lessons.
LEARN TO DANCE.
Take art classes.
Learn to cook.
Take writing classes.
Join a choir.
Take pottery classes.
Learn a new computer program.
Take a poetry-writing class.
Go to workshops--on love, on human potential, on success, on spirituality, on health.
Take horseback-riding lessons.
Take a photography class.
Visit new places.
Travel to foreign lands.
Go to museums and art galleries.
Watch foreign films.
Go to concerts.
A youthful mind is playful and lighthearted. It laughs easily, genuinely and with abandon. Play is literally an opportunity for re-creation...an opportunity to recreate yourself. When you play with abandon, you enter into the present moment. You let go of the past and forget about the future. When you are playing, you lose track of time. the timeless domain of play is the realm of Spirit. Spirit is innately playful.
The ego, on the other hand, is serious. It is solely concerned with power, control, and approval. The ego is easily offended. Whatever arrogance or self-importance people may project, if they are dominated by their ego, their underlying experience is one of fear--fear of losing control, fear of losing power, fear of losing approval. This fear leads to seriousness and the tendancy to be easily offended.
When you shift your internal reference from ego to spirit, you relinquish your need to control, cajole, withold, seduce, and manipulate and simply allow the universe and life to unfold. This creates a natural state of ease, which predisposes you to lightheartedness and laughter.
Laughter is the best medicine for body and mind. Scientific studies have shown that laughter can enliven the immune system, raise pain thresholds and ease depression. Be encouraged to have the intention to lighten up and be open to the wonder and delight of living a human life. Remind yourself, remind your friends, and remind your loved ones not to allow terminal seriousness to consume the life force.
Deepak Chopra's Suggestions for Playfulness and Laughter:
Spend time with children
Go to toy stores
Play with your animals
Go to an improvisational theater show
Watch funny movies
Go to a comedy store
Rent old Candid camera episodes
Watch Marx Brothers movies
Go to the beach
Take a ski trip
Watch 'I Love Lucy' reruns
Ride your bicycle
Go bowling
Rent Rollerblades
Go to a baseball game
Start a pillow fight
Tell jokes
Play board games
Tickle someone
Have a staring contest
Throw a costume party
DANCE
Have a tea party
Go to an ice cream shop
Bake cookies
Blow bubbles
Play miniature golf
Go to the batting cages
Watch people at shopping malls
Go to an amusement park
Paint with watercolors
Rent a sailboat
Go on a picnic
Make up lists of fun and playful things to do
Laughter is a symptom of spirituality. Laughter is the flow of love, coursing through your body. Laughter is the nectar of present-moment awareness. So play (dance) and enjoy. It will keep you young in body, mind, and soul.