The Happy Wanderer has wandered to the US to spend time with friends and family. So please enjoy this short vacation post!
The New York Times informs me that it is vaguely embarrassing to like the Dave Matthews Band. We fans are, allegedly, “pot-smoking, tie-dye touting former fraternity bros fawning over craft beers in parking lots between cornhole games.”1 Even worse, as a former Chicagoan, I ought to resent them for their notorious tour bus poop incident. But I don’t care; the band has earned my undying gratitude.
Why? Well, when my kids were a preschooler and a toddler, every afternoon we would descend into the doldrums.2 Yes there was crankiness, and by no means all of it was coming from the kids. One day I chanced upon a solution, when the song “Crash into Me” came up in my playlist, and my son started tearing around the playroom crashing into things and yelling “CRASH!” So fun! From that day on, we had an afternoon dance party to “Crash into Me,” crashing into each other and collapsing into a giggling pile. Try it!
Not your jam? That’s ok! How about this: Some years later, we were at the beach with my husband’s extended family, and it was raining. So much rain. Again there was crankiness, and again not all of it was coming from the kids. So my sister-in-law Mel decided it was time to teach us all the Electric Slide to the tune of “September.” I contend that it is impossible not to start dancing when you hear this song. Try it!
Still not convinced? Then check out the video below, in which scores of strangers get their groove on—in public and in broad daylight. Who cares if we look a bit foolish? (Although most of the people in the video look terrific, in my opinion.) Dancing gives us a chance to express ourselves, raise our heart rate a bit, and take our minds off our cares. Try it!
My favorite part of the video is the people who walk past the circle, think for a moment, and then return to show us their moves. They remind us that there is always a second chance to try something fun.
How about you, readers? Did you dance? Why not?! Go dance! I promise that it will energize you and lift your mood! . . . Did it work? And what is your favorite song (or type of music) to dance to? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
The Tidbit
Technically, this entire post is tidbits, but I couldn’t resist adding one last video. That’s prima ballerina Misty Copeland dancing!
Well, at least the craft beer part is true for me.
Readers may wonder why the kids weren’t taking a nap. Oh you sweet summer child. My son gave up his nap when he was a toddler, and my daughter never napped, not even as a baby.
Do you recall The Hamster Dance and the Dancing Baby screensaver?
I… did not know about the poop incident. 🤢