Rational Exuberance

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” – Angela Monet

Last week my kids and I took the train into the city.

The train was full of fellow passengers. Some with eyes shut, others blankly staring down or out the window and the rest waiting for their turn to exit.

Then there were my kids. It was their first time on a train.

They beamed; enthusiastically pointing out every landmark we passed, tunnel we traveled through and bridge we crossed. The kids were fired up!

My friend, do you remember that intense feeling of anticipation and exuberance when you did something for the first time? For some of us it’s been a while, but hopefully we can all remember at least one first day at school, first time behind the wheel, first kiss, first time away from home or first day at a new job. These experiences were likely somewhat awkward, challenging and scary; but, somehow, also perfectly beautiful and engrained in your memory.

For a moment, you were totally alive; completely connected; amazingly awake.

Ah, but then came the second day at school, behind the wheel, kiss, time away from home, at the office.

And then the third.

The more we experience events the easier it is to take them for granted, lose the excitement for them or turn down the music and stop dancing altogether.

But, my friend, look closely. That joy and excitement didn’t leave you. You left it. You stopped seeing the beauty of each landmark, bridge, and tunnel; stopped seeing each day at school as life-changing; stopped seeing the significance of each patient, student and coworker; stopped seeing how perfectly blessed you were to have that other person in your life.

There’s reason to celebrate, though. You can return, rediscover and begin living in that place again. The same choice we made as children to see the significance of these moments and to dance to the music of life can be made by us today.

What might happen in your life if you began living each experience and celebrating each relationship like it was your first? [Tweet that.]

What might happen if you begin living each day on fire for life? How might it impact your life and others if you did?

As children we lived each moment exuberantly and heard the music of life. Choose today to hear it again. We need you back on the dance floor.

Recall the last time you remember having that “first time” feeling. What was it like? What would your life be like if you lived more like THAT each day? Please share in the comments.

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