AtoZ Holistic Self-care: D is for Dance

As a tween and teen, I LOVED to dance. I could dance to all kinds of music, with all kinds of people, in all kinds of places. Dancing was part of me. I wasn’t necessarily good at it — but I have some basic rhythm. We did the bump, the hustle, the slide. Soul Train and American Bandstand were favorites.

Then, I entered the convent and all dancing stopped.

After leaving the convent, it took a little while for me to feel totally comfortable — but I began to love dancing again. Nothing like a night out on the dance floor. Then, quickly, along came marriage and children — and dancing became more homebound.

When my children were little, I would hold dance parties in the living room. But, alas, my children didn’t fall in love with dancing (or roller skating or ice skating).

Now, I’m not one to go out dancing — I would rather avoid the expense and the drunken fools often found in clubs, etc.

But housecleaning happens twice as fast when I blare music throughout the house (or in my iPod if others are home) and sweep, scrub, and fold to the beat. And I often grab 2 or 5-lb. weights and an aerobic step, turn on my workout playlist and dance around the room with no set routine — just following how the music moves me. And I look forward to the ocassional wedding or fundraising event that…