Monday Manners: Dance Like No One’s Watching

My husband sent me this article this morning, from someone he works with…

DANCE LIKE NO ONE’S WATCHING

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a new car, when we move into a bigger house, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, “For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend time…and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting till you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you get married, until you get divorced, until you have kids, until then kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until the new car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first of the month, until the end of the month, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink, until you’ve sobered up, until you die, until tomorrow to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy… Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thus the thought for the day:

Work like you don’t need the money,

Love like you’ve never been hurt,

And Dance Like No One’s Watching.

And here’s an excerpt of the hubs’ response to me…and it’s so true.

“Even though I didn’t feel great, and I know E and W didn’t either, this weekend was awesome. A wholesaler sent this to me today, as a Thanksgiving week thought. It reeks of a forward (maybe one you have even read before), but I enjoyed it. I remember thinking Saturday when we were making waffles, running errands with W, hosting the birthday party, then relaxing at a clean home watching football and eating comfort food together, that we will look back at days like Saturday and say that they were the best, despite our small house, colds, etc.”
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E’s birthday week was a success! Everyone had a great time on Saturday, and the rest of the day, we all got some much needed rest.

Celebrating E on her actual birthday, last Wednesday.

At E’s Thanksgiving Feast, last Thursday.

Ready for her birthday party!

Literally drooling on her cake, when she tried to blow out the candle.

I wore the Vineyard Vines Jacqueline Shirt in Woodstock plaid, that I featured here. Loved it.

I was even able to play on all the bouncy houses and slides, and it was still comfortable.

Attacking her Dora and Diego cake!

All the party-goers’ shoes. Can you spot W and E’s??

Even W got a little something special, for being such a great big sister that day.

On Sunday, I went and visited my friends at the hospital. She just had her sweet baby boy this past Friday. I still can’t get over how quickly they grow, even L at 9 weeks is HUGE compared to a tiny newborn.