Dance me to the end of love

"And we should consider everyday lost on which we have not danced at least once." Friedrich Neitzsche

Recently I posted Neitzsche's quote on my facebook, and had an instant positive response. For me - there is an almost tribal need for dance in our society - for rhythmic movement and deeper forms of self-expression. Thinking about my first experience many years ago at Glastonbury Festival (which was on this weekend in the UK), I remembered witnessing en masse - the power of music evoking the birth of this need. Like the call of the wild, it intoxicates and liberates, pulsing through crowds and uniting as one. Sadly this year, I watched performances from the comfort of my own lounge - but I DID dance!! AND - I wasn't in 'wellies' knee-deep in mud ;-) eehehhehee...

Passing through the park this week I laughed as an almost ecstatic 3 year old danced to his own crazy rhythm, happily in his own internal world where the music became who he was. It looked like such fun! I wanted to be there too, and Mum was obviously as bemused and envious as I was! It reminded me of the film circulated on facebook a few weeks ago; a guy dancing at Sasquatch Festival in Canada - and unwittingly starting a huge dance party! All power to you mate! How could you resist joining that kind of celebration? Here's the link for those who haven't viewed it - it's hillarious and totally inspiring!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk


With the sad passing of Michael Jackson this week, dance has again come to the forefront of my mind. This man - who bravely chose to be every bit of who he was - indelibly changed the way we dance and in the process earned the title 'KING of POP', through sharing his unique talent with the world. He has influenced generations of performers, and as it appears, he did achieve his wish:

"And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance." Michael Jackson

That feeling we get when we are dancing, cannot be anything but union! It feels so good doesn't it? Like everything just lines up, a great letting go of all things negative, moving fluid around the body, massaging organs, freeing the mind, pumping the heart, flushing the cheeks and twinkling the eyes! What could be better? Can YOU feel it? CAN YOU feel it? CAN YOU FEEEEL IT?!!! ;-)

So my challenge to you all this week - is to DANCE - to ENJOY it and to ENCOURAGE others to join you! I know some of you are already brilliant at this , whilst others are only just beginning to emerge as dance stars in their own bedroom :-) - but let's face it, we each have our own unique style, and when we can leave judgment (especially the self variety) at home, we have the chance to truly ENJOY ourselves.

So dance on your own, dance en masse, start a dance party or tango the night away - whatever floats your boat. Share your stories, post comments and let's all benefit from 'dance therapy'! Hoorahhh!!

Have a great week everyone!

Thanks for your time...

Jodie xx

Leaps of faith...and lucky escapes!

Following on from last week's theme - laughter therapy and leaps of faith - I discovered that several people have (in the past) - found these types of strategies to be of benefit when dealing with issues:

HOW TO JUMP FROM A BUILDING INTO A DUMPSTER
from The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook

1. Jump straight down; If you leap off and away from the building at an angle, your trajectory will make you miss the dumpster. Resist your natural rendency to push off.
2. Tuck you head and bring your legs around; To do this during the fall, execute a three-quarter revolution - basically, a not-quite-full somersault. This is the only method that will allow a proper landing, with your back facing down.
3. Aim for the centre of the dumpster or large box of debris.
4. Land flat on your back so that when your body folds, your feet and hands meet; When your body hits any significant surface from height, the body folds into a V. This means landing on your stomach can result in a broken back.

BE AWARE

1. If the building has fire escapes or other protrutions, your leap will have to be far enough out so you miss them on your way down. The landing target needs to be far enough from the building for you to hit it.
2. The dumpster may be filled with bricks or other unfriendly materials. It is entirely possible to survive a high fall (five stories or more) into a dumpster, provided it is filled with right type of trash (cardboard boxes are best) and you land correctly.

There are of course - much simpler...err...less dangerous and FUN methods ;-) to sorting out the BIG and small stuff in life! Notice how you manage your 'stuff' over the coming week. Is it working for you? What could you do differently - less dramatically/drastically - to greater effect?

In the meantime - enjoy this link! :-) see below...

Jodie xx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8VAJSXsIFo&feature=related

Harness the potential of laughter therapy!

'Fear is the lock - laughter is the key' Crosby, Stills and Nash

Ever noticed how letting go, lightening up and having a good old belly laugh can often help turn things around? Sometimes you reach a point of no return with a situation, you've been pushing and manipulating and struggling and striving...nothing seems to be working...you're feeling frustrated, angry, confused - at a complete loss as to what to try next. Perhaps the only logical solution now, is to remove logic - to 'surrender'...and laugh...and get those endorphins flowing!

Margaret Sheppard said 'Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.'

I call laughter - that kind of leap - into faith. It even feels like a leap; internally! Your physiology completely transforms - posture straightens, lungs open, breath escapes, facial muscles expand, eyes contract. You cannot - and I'm willing to take on challenges in this area - change your physiology without changing your psychology; be happy and physically upright and mimic a sad/fearful body state or visa-versa. Try it now - it's impossible!

So the moral of the tale is...sometimes all you need to do - to find the solution - is to find a way to laugh and let go. Find a way of BE-ing which supports you.

Creativity and joy go hand in hand. When we are in fear, or any of the negative emotional states; sorrow, anger, grief, envy etc, we have virtually locked down all creativity. Lighten up - laugh - and in comes a creative force larger than life - for it truly is the force of life.

Whilst recovering from cancer I experienced first-hand the healing force of laughter. When you laugh you let love in - which is the most powerful healing force :-)

So let laughter take a front row seat in your life this week (and ever after for that matter).

Live, laugh; BE happy!

Enjoy the week!

Jodie xx

Share this message? My weekly blog is posted on blogger.com/secretsnippet Facebook groups “WOW factor” - twitter @_jodie_barrett – and my website www.day-one.com.au Thanks for your support! :-)

Life is full, and overflowing with the new. But it is necessary to empty out the old to make room for the new to enter. Eileen Caddy

Spring is a GREAT time to clear out the old and make room for the new; sweep the decks! Ship-shape – and Bristol fashion ;-) Think of it as weeding. (And let me tell you, if you’ve ever gardened, this can be a relentless – yet infinitely satisfying task! Scary but true!) Make room for the goodness in the soil to nourish the fruits of your harvest. Mmmmm….imagine those strawberries…mmm…mmm! And the champagne…!

For those of you in the southern hemisphere – you’re not off the hook! For you, it becomes a time of ‘drawing in’, a time to look within and prepare for a slower pace of life, and more time spent ‘in-doors’ - in the physical, mental and emotional sense. ;-) So what can you do, to make that space more accommodating for the cooler months where you will be require a little extra room for comfort (and not just the chocolate variety!).

How often, do you review your wardrobe situation and realise you don’t ‘have a thing to wear’; in the desired shape/colour/style. The wardrobe is full and bursting at the seams, yet we’re still style challenged! Why is it then, that we hold on to clothes that no longer suit us, even those we bought and NEVER wore – with the labels still on? I’m not alone here – right?

Think of the times you’ve looked at that same bottle/jar/packet of something in the kitchen or bathroom, knowing that you would probably never use it – keeping it all the same. The old ‘fav’ shoes/jacket/jeans we never wear…those ‘bits and bobs’ that fill our drawers & cupboards - don't get put to task – and yet we hold on to ‘just in case’. The CD’s, the books, the papers, the bathroom products etc etc. The sentiment is lovely – but really - what we are doing here is holding on to old energy – which all takes – you guessed it – energy!

When we hold on to things in our ‘external’ world – you can guarantee that we’re holding on to things in our ‘internal’ world. (Old beliefs, fears, limitations etc.) That is why we feel so GREAT and energised when we do actually have a throw out. It’s kinda like getting that radical haircut – remember that feeling? It often takes some building up to – but is every bit worth the effort.

Imagine for a minute, how you might begin. Is it possible to free some energy and space in your life, in preparation for the new?! I’m not talking about the shopping spree kinda ‘new’ ;-) I’m talking about new perspectives/patterns/behaviours/horizons – got it? New is good yeah? Agreed? GREAT! Come on then – this can be FUN! What's the first step?

In these interesting times of economic challenge, of ‘make do and mend’, it is wise to develop strategies to ‘share the love’, by being more resourceful within your community. There’s always someone who could use those things that you do not – ‘one mans trash is another mans treasure’ ;-) Groups of friends can get together to clothes swap – individuals may donate goods to charities, businesses can have clearance sales etc, etc.

Years ago, I stayed with a dear friend whose mother had passed away the previous year. She had a huge, walk-in wardrobe – it was absolutely bursting at the seams, with both her and her mothers clothing - and my friend was exhausted. No surprise! All that stuck energy. One night I encouraged her (with the aid of a fine bottle of red!) to go through her clothes and eliminate the surplus. We had such a laugh, and by the end of the night (er…morning), we had filled 8 garbage bags!!! (and emptied 2 bottles...) The local charity was very (!!) grateful (as was one other mummy!). The whole exercise had that essential feel-good factor and freed my friend up to make room for her own needs, and gain the necessary perspective.

Sooo…what can you do today, to make room? What can be let go of, so that you can fully enjoy the freedom and spirit of the season? Let the focus be on the FUN stuff – the stuff that GIVES you energy.

Do it – do it today – do it with glee – do it with celebration – do it with reverence - just do it. You will feel soooo good – and that - is the BEST reason that you will find, to do anything; simply to feel GOOD!

Enjoy the ride!

Jodie xx