Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance… I hope you dance…”
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert

When we were younger, we worried about what other people thought of us, not realizing that people were not thinking of us, they were too busy being concerned about themselves.

As we grow older, we realize that life is too short and precious to be living seeking other people’s approval. Everyone of us is unique with different likes and dislikes. What brings joy to one person may not be another person’s cup of tea. It is still hard for many of us who worry about other people’s opinions or feelings at the expense of our own.

The thing I miss most after Louie’s passing, is our going out dancing almost every weekend for years. When I went on a cruise with a friend last month, I decided I was not going to care if I was the only one dancing. When I was younger, I would have been too self-conscious to get up and dance unless I had a partner to dance with and there were other people on the dance floor.

This time when the music came on whether it was by the poolside where the band was playing Caribbean beats or at Bolero, the Latin Lounge, or Dazzle where a band was playing pop songs, or at the Blaze night club where there was a mixture of all kinds of music playing, I danced every day, sometimes with my friend Wanda and other times by myself.

What is it that you love to do but would not do because you worry what your partner, kids, friends, or parents or even strangers would think or, disapprove, or even imply that you should act your age?

People only see us from their perception and every person that knows you sees a different version of you. It is not easy to please everyone so why not be true to yourself and do the things that bring you joy? Those that truly love you will let you be you and not try and change you or mold you in their ideal version of how you should be.

I saw this post the other day:

“How to Win at Life:
Step 1. Let people do what they need to do to make them happy, mind your own business and do what you need to do to make you happy. The End.”

Other quotes that relate to this topic:

“The rule is you have to dance a little bit in the morning before you leave the house because it changes the way you walk out into the world” – Sandra Bullock

“In life it’s important to know when to stop arguing with people and simply let them be wrong” – Anonymous
“Listen, smile, agree and then do whatever the f**k you were gonna do anyway” – Anonymous

“Life gets a whole lot more beautiful once you start living for yourself and accept the fact that you cannot please everyone” – Anonymous

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