I Hope You Dance
I chose this song because it talks about how hectic life can be when your children are young as you try to balance all the spinning plates, praying to God that none of them fall and crash to the ground. It continues by talking about the times when our lives seem out of control and we wish for our children to hurry and grow up, but then they do. How one day we wake up and things are quiet, the house is clean, and you can’t believe just how much you miss the chaos. You recall the times you wished and prayed for them to become adults and be happy, but then they do.
Not all my dancing experiences have been quite this emotional and reflective, however. For my most recent dancing experience, our Chamber line dancing event, I donned a pair of cowboy boots, snapped up my western shirt, cinched up my bolo and took a shot at line dancing. Trust me, no one was impressed by my moves, but I feel quite confident many were confused by them. Even though I was not the most skilled dancer on the floor, I had a wonderful time dancing just the same. I was not too concerned about what others thought, I was living in the moment.
I know I often reference song lyrics, perhaps that is because I believe in the power of music. I love how it can lift our spirits, as well as transport and inspire us. As anyone who has spent time around me can attest, I have a song in my head for every situation and it usually results in me singing a line or two out loud, no matter where I am. My coworkers sometimes foolishly request I sing in my opera voice (loose use of that term I might add) and I am happy to oblige, usually with a selection from the Phantom of the Opera. I guess that is why, once again, my thoughts went once again to song lyrics. This time to the song, “I Hope You Dance.”
In this song, we are encouraged to make the right choice when we are offered opportunities. Whether literal or metaphorical, we are challenged to not choose sitting this one out, but to dance. In other words, don’t make your choice out of concern over what others around us may think, or choose to always do the “responsible thing”. Sometimes you just have to dance. I love the line that says, “I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’, Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’. 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.”
No matter what stage of life you may find yourself in, this is my hope for you, “Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along. Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone. Dance, I hope you dance.”
Rhonda S. Kelley, Executive Director, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce