“ Dictatorships are one-way streets. Democracy boasts two-way traffic.”
~ Albert Moravia
What’s the best way to get somewhere? How do you know when you’re on the right track? When in doubt, how do you choose a direction?
Whether your journey is physical, mental, or metaphorical — certain principles apply.
Your mode of travel matters little. Whether you’re riding a bike, driving a car, or navigating a dance floor, the universe tends to behave the same way.
Even if it’s a thorny problem you’re trying to work out in your brain, or simply a flight of fancy, it all comes down to the difference between the pathway through to your goal and the obstacles to be avoided.
Just as light must have shadows or up must have down, every goal or destination has obstacles, (otherwise you would already be there).
Overcoming obstacles is the key to accomplishment. When we successfully navigate through challenges, we feel capable, resourceful, and better equipped for whatever comes next.
Things in your way can be scary. The idea of crashing into something is never a pleasant thought. But fear is the mind killer that can stop forward motion in its tracks.
This being the eve of election day for my fellow citizens of the USA, made me think of a metaphor I learned long ago, growing up skiing the deep powder snow of Western Colorado.
The best powder is in the trees. The trees are your main obstacle, you don’t want to hit them. Crashing into a tree is scary, it can be dangerous or even fatal.
So the key to successfully skiing deep powder in the trees is to never, ever, focus upon them. You keep 100% of your attention on the spaces in between, your all-important primary pathway. In effect, the path becomes the light and the obstacles become the shadow.
The lead-up to this election has focused much attention on the sort of changes we will experience depending on the outcome. A lot of what could transpire looks scary indeed.
On the other hand, women’s rights could be protected, climate change addressed, and democracy bolstered worldwide. These things, and many others are lighting the pathway through.
This thing we do called small-d democracy is like a dance. We use it or lose it. Our privilege of inalienable rights as citizens is balanced by the duty of taking part in the body politic.
We’re fortunate that we get to vote. It’s our path between the trees.
Much love till next Monday, (and take care of yourself this week!)
M+
ML #600
Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine