Sandra Bullock gave a commencement address back in 2014, to a school in Louisiana and detailed some things that, as a mom, she also did with her son who was 4 at the time. She said “we turn on the music really, really loud before we leave the house and the rule is you have to dance a little bit before you step out in the world because it changes the way you walk. It changes the way you walk out in the world.”
Our cat is ready to dance by about 6:15am with meows that get louder with each passing minute as dawn begins to break. I’m slow to wake, I like my coffee black, my eyes closed and my mornings quiet and the caterwaul alarm clock does little to charm me to want to dance to anything but the coffee pot.
Give me half an hour and let my eyes begin to focus, and I might be able to get those toes to start wiggling. Eternally optimistic, I see my world in shades of color, mostly yellow like sunflowers and wispy white clouds but gray can absolutely find it’s way in the cracks but I find that if the day begins on the right note, the rest tends to follow close. I find something to utter out loud, that I’m grateful for. Many things actually. I thank God for yesterday, and I thank Him that I got to wake up again today and I apologize for being cranky and promise to do better.
I used to balk at the idea that I had a choice in turning on the happy switch or accepting the grouchy one but it is a deliberate and conscious choice that is yours for the taking. Perhaps multiple times per day until you get the hang of it. It’s not fail safe, and it’s also okay to have bad days and rest in the quiet of change and lost expectations. But all in all, when the shadows of daily life consistently color your world gray, it might be a good time to see if you might be the one standing in the way of the light.
Shine bright and yes, dance in the morning. For me, I’ll give it a go after my first cup of Joe.
Elaine
John 15:11: “These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
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