Dancing on the Sidewalk

Have you ever witnessed an adult dancing on the sidewalk as if no one was watching? This act is likely to stun most bystanders and trigger judgments about their ridiculous behavior. It could also produce envy for their sense of freedom, fearlessness, and exuberant self-acceptance. We can’t control what other people think of us, but we can free ourselves from the burden of having to care.

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” – Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

The person dancing at the bus stop to the song blaring through their headphones may be an easy target for judgment, but could you do this? How would your inner critic feel if someone judged you? Would you be consumed with thoughts of impressing onlookers? Perhaps dancing on the sidewalk is a form of movement meditation that could liberate you from your inhibitions and fears. What if you could let go of all thoughts and reach a state of contentment, joy, and unwavering self-love? What if your authentic self wanted to let loose and groove with the tunes, would you do it?

This metaphor easily lends itself to all areas of your life, like how you hold yourself back from freely expressing your authentic self in public, how you conform to other people’s expectations to please or impress them, and how you criticize yourself and others for not following your man-made rulebook. Call it human nature or learned behavior. Either way, it impacts your health, happiness and relationships.

As we progress forward embracing creativity, holistic wellness, and community collaboration, it is essential that we examine the social norms that discourage us from fully showing up in the world. Each person plays an important role in this collective dance and deserves the opportunity to freely express themselves without the weight of fear, judgment, or shame.

Imagine living in a community where you feel safe to let go of your need to impress or judge others because deep down inside you know that you are good enough and so is everyone else. If we gave ourselves permission to dance ecstatically in the streets we may just see a revolution of self-love permeate our cities. This would be true freedom.

The next time you witness a dancing rebel on the sidewalk, observe yourself. Perhaps it’s time to lay down your judging sword, take off your protective armor and join them in the celebration of being human. It’s up to each of us to choose how we want to create our communities, and it starts one person at a time. What will you choose?