Pure Joy

    I realized recently, with the help of my almost two year old son, that I've been doing the dishes with entirely the wrong attitude. I blah through them because it's a chore I'd honestly rather avoid. Clearly, it's the best part of the day since you get to play with a sink full of bubbles and move water from one container to another to another... does life get more fun than that?! If so, consider yourself lucky.
    I've always taken pride in the fact I'm easily amused. Laugh all you want, but it makes my days genuinely fun. Some people say I'm childlike in that way (and/or naive) but I've gotta tell ya' - I've got nothing on children. Kai (my son) can laugh 'til he's red in the face if I give him a certain "I'm gonna get you" look. I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard - though laughing at him laughing comes pretty close. 
    I won't even tell you how excited he is to brush his teeth everyday, for fear you'll be bummed you weren't invited to the party. My point is, having kids helps you see things with a fresh pair of eyes. Let me save you the cost of diapers and tell you what I've learned:
    1. Chase is the best game ever.
    2. Hide-n-seek is second.
    3. When mom or dad gets home (from work, or the store, or taking the dog for a walk) it is an event worth Celebrating!
    4. We all started out as "morning people". (Can't say I kept that, but they're doing their best to help me remember.)
    5. It's important to say good night to everyone. Even the dog.
    6. Bubbles are AWESOME! (They really are...even at my age).
    7. Sometimes we just want to be held.
    8. Vacuuming is fun and should be done daily.
    9.You don't need a reason to go outside. Being outside is reason enough.
    10. Someone is always watching... and learning.
    They are all important, though only a few can be related to dancing. #7 Guys. Read it out loud. Embrace it. Do it. (Yes, I'm still talking about dancing). And #10 obviously. Someone is probably watching you dance (even when you don't want them to). And what will they be thinking? Will they think, "Wow, they suck!" - let's hope not. (If you're that audience, try not to be so negative - you're bringing us all down). Could they be thinking, "How does s/he do that?" Better. Or maybe it's, "Damn, they're having the time of her lives!" Aah, now we've hit it.
    Honestly, what other people think shouldn't effect your dancing. But we are human, and when we see we have an audience, we want to put on a good show. Know a good salsa show (or any social dance) is always a two person gig. You and your partner. And it's only going to look good if you're in the same show. You can't put on a romantic comedy if you're partner is thinking thriller. Watch each other. Learn from each other. And most importantly: play with each other.
    Now, I have some dishes and bubbles to play with. Eat your hearts out!  See you on the hardwood;)