Live a Little or Go Dancing with the Stars

Live a Little or Go Dancing with the Stars 

dance cirrhosis hcv
Get up on the coffee table and twirl?

Live a little or go dancing with the stars, or another title might be Dancing with the Scars. More on that in a minute.

This blog is going to present you with the option to shift gears and loosen up. Get ready because I’m going to ask you to do some brainstorming on how to play a wee bit more. Are you ready to learn how to live a little or go dancing with the stars?

I’ve been thinking: When was the last time I let go and had some fun? When we are dealing with serious health issues, it is easy to get into that “hunker down and survive” mode. Sure, that is important. It takes a lot of discipline and inner strength to forge your way through a tough Hepatitis C or Cirrhosis diagnosis. I’ve been there – for over 3 years. Looking back, I am amazed at my own tenacity. I don’t know where you are in your journey, but I wonder if you need to take some time to loosen up, let go and live a little?

I am one of the most playful people in the world. You read my last blog then you know: give me a pear tree and a couple of grandkids and I have a hootenanny!

We have all watched as kids play outside and wonder where they get all the energy. I got to watch some kids on a trampoline recently and they kept bouncing for about an hour. Just jumping and falling down – laughing – then doing it again. When they came inside for the evening they were tired, but happy. Now, I am not suggesting that you go get on a trampoline – but if you feel like it, by all means do it!

You will not believe what I’ve been doing for the last week. I signed up for a week of Creative Movement in Education classes. I filled out an online scholarship application – and I got it! Round trip expenses paid with all the bells and whistles.  It felt like I was dancing with the stars!

Getting away to play and learn was such a relief for me. This was not a solemn retreat in the woods. This was work to spruce up my lesson plans and help students with their reading and math skills. I actually attended 2 workshops back to back. This blog is about the 1st one. I lived it up big time!

What holds you back from living it up?

Being concerned about what others will think.

Feeling too sick to have fun. (Find something within your range of ability)

Not having enough money.

Too many important things to do.

The inner voice that says you should be doing something constructive.

Maybe it’s time to brush away any doubts or lack of get up and go. Just do it!

Think about what things you love to do and look for opportunities. Brainstorm your own list or start with this one:

Look in your local community calendar online.

Check out the happenings at your library.

Write a love letter to yourself.

i love me notes
Dear Me, You need to live a little and go dancing with the stars.

Go to the chamber of commerce website for your city and find a tourist attraction.

Go to the dollar theater. (take your own healthy snacks)

Find out when there is free admission to a museum or art exhibit.

Go to Goodwill and buy some fun clothes that you would NEVER wear in public. Surprise your family.

Look up a new recipe and go get the ingredients.  Send me pics!

Go for a day ride on the city bus, getting off and walking around places you have never visited.

Write a poem or a story. (let me publish it on Your Best Friend’s Guide)

Go on a weekday and sit in an empty church.

Pick up some fall leaves and lay a sheet of paper over them to color the outline.

Go eat lunch at the student union.

Look up a schedule and take a class. (check into auditing a class for free or get a scholarship)

Write a love letter to yourself.

Buy a harmonica or a kazoo.

Make a list of 10 things you are good at.

Write your favorite quotes on sticky notes or index cards and hang them in your home.

Call someone you haven’t talked to in person for a long time. Schedule a lunch.

Go to the bookstore and splurge on a cup of coffee and read for a few hours.

Go try out a class or service at any church

Hug a tree.

hug a tree hcv cirrhosis
This tree looks dead, but it just needed a hug.

Take pictures of yourself having a blast, or of something you have created and email or send them to me on facebook. I’d love to make a collage of your adventures!

There is a time to be reflective on what actions we are taking. There is also a time to enter into the joy of everyday life.

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens.  Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you Dance.

 Lee Ann Womack – Click here for Youtube

Put on some music and dance. I’ve always loved to dance. My daddy used to put on Tchaikovsky albums and sit in his armchair with a Coors beer. My sisters and I put on our fanciest slips. (all girls wore big laced net petticoats under our dresses in the 60’s) We would stand on the coffee table or a footstool and twirl like ballerina’s. I also spent hours pretending that Fred Astaire was lifting me through an intricate dance routine. By my teen years, I wore go-go boots and danced like Goldie Hawn while my brother and his friends practiced with their garage band.

I’ve always been dancing to some crazy beat. I can do the Dougie, go Gangnam Style, and even dance the polka. Do I look good doing them? That is the best part – I don’t even care. I just dance.

During my Creative Movement workshop, I cut loose in a way that I had not done since the diagnosis. The workshop leader’s name is Kelly Doremus Stuart and she crammed so much action and activity into every 14 hour day. We were invited to play and learn and THEN take those tools back to our classroom. My students are in for a big surprise tomorrow. I sure have missed them and have some great new material to present that involves moving across the curriculum. Kelly became a cherished friend over those 4 days. We had great conversation and laughed our butts off over every meal while I ate my liver loving diet.

This blog was quick to write and filled with enthusiasm. I missed my best friends! It would be awesome if we could all go to a workshop filled with instruction for living and learning together. I hope this inspires you to live a little and go dancing with the stars. If you are on treatment, dealing with the pain of a procedure, or just feeling achy I want you to do me a favor: Choose the least strenuous thing on your list and do it today. I’m curious about how you will kick up your heels. I love you with all my heart. Karen:)

Pics via betweenwomentv.com,  nfw.org,

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13 thoughts on “Live a Little or Go Dancing with the Stars”

  1. I was wondering were you have been. Glad you had such a fulfilling adventure.

    I have to work on fun-loving living – so thank you for your example. As always, you inspire me.

    I started seeing a counselor recently at the request of my PC Doctor. He asked me – point blank – what do you do just to have fun? Just for your own piece of mind.

    I couldn’t answer him. I don’t know.

    I guess I have some things to work on.

    1. Joe –

      You know I love you. I am totally laughing out loud though: “I guess I have some things to work on” was your last line. We are a lot alike, aren’t we? We tackle life with a lot of gusto. Maybe it’s our generation?

      It is going to be interesting to see what FUN things you come up with. Doctor’s orders. haha! I’m glad that I’m not the only one who is making a concentrated effort to live a little.

      Let me know when you come up with an idea for some far out fun!

      Love you, Karen:)

  2. Karen, I really enjoy your inspiration .. Today it came on a day I needed it most. I really love you ♥ You have a gift and you use it beautifully ♥

    1. Thank you so much Jody, You are always so encouraging to me. You are another one who takes life, and your illness seriously. That’s a good thing – but I hope we can all learn to find some silliness and joy.

      I’m happy that it hit you just right today. You’re always in my heart.

      xoxo Love, Karen:)

    1. Brady –
      So are you dancing with the stars or is tree hugging more to your liking? 🙂

      One of the things I do with my sticky notes is affirm myself. We can’t get enough good words, can we?

      Thanks so much for stopping by and the uplifting blog! I hope your day is awesome.
      Karen:)

  3. Hey Karen,

    Well I’m so glad the workshop was a good one because sometimes we regret having made that decision after the fact. Boy have I say through some boring ones in my time.

    Really glad you learned a lot and enjoyed yourself.

    Your suggestions for kicking up your heals and just having some fun are great. I don’t get out near as much as I use to but in all honesty, I’m so happy where I am. I also have my Mom I spend everyday with so it’s not like I’m twiddling my thumbs.

    I get together with family each month, I’ll go listen to some music from time to time and even in September the whole family went dancing. That was SO much fun. My Mom even came and she loved it.

    Glad to have you back and I’m sure your kids are happy too! Have fun with those lessons now .

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted…Jon Morrow Told Me It Is Okay To StealMy Profile

    1. Adrienne –

      I’ve sat through some dull workshops too. This one was tops and helped me to step back and take a look at how to have more fun on the job and at home.

      I’ll be honest, I envy you being able to work from home. You’re one of the busiest people I know, but you always make time for family, friends, and fun.

      Your family get togethers sound like a blast! It makes me want to show up as a long lost cousin! haha!

      Have a great weekend!
      xo Karen:)

  4. Hi Karen,

    This post came at a good time because I had just been thinking in the last few days how I don’t have a lot of fun anymore–especially with my youngest kids. With a contested divorce and full time school for me to help me gain my own livable income, it’s easy to let that steal my joy.

    Thanks for the great list!
    Yolanda DeLoach recently posted…Are You Hiding in the Bushes?My Profile

    1. Yolanda –
      I hope you have some fun with the list.. and add a few of your own. You’ve got a lot going on this year! The holidays can be challenging during times of change. I have figured out that you are not the kind of woman to let it steal your joy for long. From reading your blog, it appears to me that you are in pursuit of joy!
      And YOU will find it, of that I am certain dear friend.
      Blessings to you today,
      xoxo Karen:)

    1. Cliff –
      You’re so welcome. Our society is based on going full blast all of the time! While it’s great to see people use their creativity in so many areas, I fear that the ability to relax and play is ignored.
      I’m glad you liked the creative ideas and I’m just betting you are the kind who will use them to live a little this weekend!
      Thank you for your kind words,
      Karen

    2. Cliff –
      I am so sorry to see that my response didn’t show! But I do try and browse through during free time and take a look around. I’m always glad to see your comments and am so glad that you found a few that are useful to you!

      I teach high school and my kiddos are too ready for Christmas break. I’ve plugged a movie in and am looking forward to using a few of my own ideas starting tomorrow! I hope your holidays are filled with joy and dancing!
      Karen:)

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