Did you notice the line in last week’s newsletter where I used the term “existential angst”? One of my readers asked me to clarify, and I realized that it may have come off as a pointed comment towards people who choose not to have kids, which was definitely not my intention.
Besides reminding me of the fact that I should proofread better, especially when I’m writing with a fever, it also made me aware of how much I appreciate it that many of you actually pay attention and think about the thoughts I share here.
This week I’d like to tease out the topic from a slightly different perspective—rather than a polarity between two kinds of people in world, let’s begin with the presupposition that there is only one, we are all human, and at any given point in our adult lives we exist somewhere along a continuum between total self-actualization and unfulfilled desire.
As the late author Terence McKenna once told me many years ago in a conversation that set me off on the path leading to where I am today, we are here to “create meaning.” How we choose to define it for ourselves is one thing, and the length we will go to achieve it Is another. Our eventual feelings about the results we create become a personal measure of our own greatness in the end.
About five years ago I was fortunate to be sitting in the audience of a conference where the great motivational speaker Les Brown gave a talk. The part that haunts me to this day was when he asked us to imagine what it would be like if we still had some awareness left as they lowered us into the grave on the day of our funeral. Our friends and families would miss us of course and mourn the loss of our love.
But would we also see the ghosts of every book that we had left unwritten, every film we had yet to make, every song we had never recorded? If our creative ideas could speak to us in that moment they would cry out, “Why? Why did you leave us unfinished? You were the one—the only one who could bring us to life. And now you are gone.”
For me, that anecdote is a powerful reminder to get clear about what I’m up to and get the heck out of my own way. The older I get the less tolerance I have for “coulda-woulda-shoulda’s” kicking around in the back of my mind. Existential angst is something to be free of, and conscious dance is one of the best ways I know to root it out.
One of the things I’m doing currently that gives me a lot of satisfaction Is teaching. My new mastermind format is working great! If you’re feeling stuck with your practice, need help getting clear on your value or setting your compass, or want a shortcut to understanding the essential tech tools it takes to market yourself in today’s online world, then do yourself a favor and set up a time to talk to me, and we’ll see if you’re a match for the program, (apply now for an available slot, the next series starts in June).
I only work with six people at once in the group classes, which allows for plenty of individual one-on-one attention. We meet six times over six weeks, and you leave with a new comfort around content creation that makes building your practice a snap.
Meanwhile, have you taken a look our at the Dance First website lately? We’ve been busy getting it shaped up for our members with more practice building tips and tutorials, it’s also where you will find each of these Monday Love newsletters permanently archived.
I’m so happy and grateful to have such a vibrant community to serve, thank you for being who you are and sharing the mission of “movement for a better world!”
DANCE FIRST MEMBER SPOTLIGHT :: AMBER RYAN!
This week’s love-beam shines on one of 5Rhythms’ brightest lights. Amber Ryan has the ability to bring forth the artist in everyone with her inspiring energy and mastery of movement. Fortunate to have been taken under the wing of The Raven herself, Gabrielle Roth, early on, she’s built her style and practice upon the foundation of musical theater, a passion she shared with Gabrielle.
Renowned for her deep understanding of music and ease of holding sacred space for transformation, she’s extremely active on the global circuit leading workshops on the 5Rhythms map for groups of devoted dancers. She’s also devoted to service with her Kids in Motion program in Nosara Costa Rica as well as 5Rhythms Reach Out for Kids.
You’ll find her destination workshops and retreats in Europe, Canada, the US, and Costa Rica all listed in the big link list of every Monday Love. With her perspective that 5Rhythms is a performance art accessible to anyone willing to move from their creative center, you’ll find that spending time with Amber on the dance floor is a rewarding experience that is worth the trip.
Find her at the finest festivals, the most epic retreat centers, on the international workshop circuit, and on the Omega Institute’s annual staff retreat faculty at Blue Spirit Retreat in Costa Rica.
Thank you Amber! We’re delighted to count you in as a member of Dance First!
