Dancing!!

So all week I've been thinking..."what in the WORLD am I going to write about this week?!"  I thought about doing something deep and profound, but I've gotten pretty deep in some of my last posts. I thought about writing on my favorite accessory or beauty product, but that just sounded so lame to me.  So I put off blogging all week until BAM! it hit me...

For those of you who don't know me, I work in Student Affairs and advise fraternity and sorority students.  One group of students I advise is called Greek Life Facilitators.  I'll spare you the details, but essentially we just transitioned to a new group of students who will serve in this organization for the upcoming 2011-2012 academic year.  Before summer break we wanted to do something really substantial and FUN and transformative for them, so we brought in Chicka Elloy, (he's Australian and super cool), to conduct a 9am-5pm training for our new students.  Sounds boring, right?  Umm...NO!!!  It was AMAZING!  Teambuilders, life tips, communication techniques, energizers, study tips, relational tips, oh my!  And it was during one of these activities when I instantly knew what was going to be my FAVORITE thing for this week.  Check the clues below to see if you can figure it out....

CLUE #1 (Yep these are my students.  Aren't they great?!)

Any ideas???  Here's another hint...

Clue #2 (I'd KILL to learn this!!)

I'll give 'ya two more hints...

Clue #3 (Anyone wanna organize something like this with me?!)

Aaaand finally...WARNING, this next clip is extremely disturbing.  I would only recommend people who grew up watching the movie Labyrinth to click!!!!!  (Brother, this one is especially for you).

Clue #4 (Creepy!)

Got it, yet? My FAVORITE thing this week is..

DANCING!!!!!

Now I'm not talking about professional dance or anything that spiffy, (side note: please don't ever use dance to be a contestant on the Bravo network TV Show Dance Your Ass Off. You are too rockin' for that black hole)! No, I'm talking about plain ole dancing--whether you're krunk-good or downright awful.  Dancing just feels good and it instantly makes you happy.  Did you see my students' faces in the Clue #1 link; did you feel their energy; did you see the group of guys get IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS and do the dance at the end?!?!  How about the cool looking guy at 1:43 in Clue #3?  And don't EVEN get me started on the elderly lady in the same Clue #3 link at 1:55.  Seriously, click on Clue #3 right now and FFwd to 1:55 and prepare to feel your heart melt!! 

What do all of these cats have in common?  Regardless of age, race, and nationality, they all just love how letting go and dancing makes them feel.  Maybe it's the rush of endorphins from getting your body moving.  Maybe it's the fact that when you dance you have no choice but to just peace-out to the judgemental bystanders and simply let yourself be free and expressive--doesn't that just feel freaking amazing?!  The fact is that anyone can dance. 

 "But, Alexis, I don't have rhythm!!".........

"But, Alexis, all I know how to do is the fist pump!"...... 

"But, Alexis, no self-respecting girl is gonna wanna dance with me when they see me flopping around on the dance floor!"....... 

"But, Alexis, my jeans are too tight tonight, and I forgot to do lunges after I pulled them on!" (probably only my girls will get that one...).

"But, Alexis, I don't know how to do The Bernie!!".......

 My answer to all of that??  SCREW IT!  I'm serious; who cares about all of that?  I'd much rather see rhythmically-challenged peeps with unstretched pants and limited dance moves out on the dance floor having the time of their lives than people safely sitting on the sidelines ridiculing yet secretly wishing they had the courage to just go out there and cut loose!  I'm the most UN-graceful of us all, but that doesn't stop me!  (Luckily, though, I did happen to be blessed with rhythm, so when I do trip or fall at least it's done on beat, right?).  And, guys, trust me on this one.  If you are concerned about how you look dancing in front of the ladies, just master this move--spinning a girl, (think Roarin' 20's style).  Just get out there; move your feet back and forth, and take her hand and spin her every now and then, and I promise she won't think a negative thing about you!  And, girls, trust me on this one.  There is a HUGE difference between dancing and dancing as if you're having sex on the dance floor.  Please hold on tightly to your dignity and shoot for the former...not the latter. 

So get on with your bad and confident self, hot stuff!  Forget what people think, and just be ok with you. Let loose and let your body move in whatever way it knows how. Dancing makes everybody happy!  Still don't believe me?  Well the rest of the world does.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY  ;)

And this is why DANCING is one of my FAVORITE THINGS!!!!