I asked her to dance

A few weeks ago, I went to a plant-based brunch with some close friends and family. It was an outside event way up in Kula on Maui, and the view was incredible. It was buffet-style, and the food was so good.

🎶 There was a man from Argentina playing beautiful Brazilian music.
☀️The sun was peeking in and out from the clouds.
🦙There were alpacas and horses just beyond where the brunch was happening.
✨ It was one of those magical mornings when life felt easy.

At one point, I looked across the table at my mom and saw that she was really into the music. She was watching the Argentinian fellow, her body swaying with the rhythm of the bossa nova sounds. No one was dancing, but I could tell that she wanted to dance because my mom always wants to dance.

Before I share this next part, you should know that I’m not someone who likes the spotlight. That may be surprising given what I do for a living, but I avoid it whenever possible. Something came over me that morning, though, as I was soaking up the love I had for the people around me, the flavors of the food dancing on my tongue, the sunshine warming the cool mountain air. So you know what I did?

I got up from my seat, went over to my mom, and asked if she would like to dance with me. A huge smile lit up her face, and her beautiful blue eyes twinkled as she took my hand, kicked off her shoes, and joined me on the grassy lawn.

Did anyone else get up and dance? No.
Did I feel embarrassed? Yeah, a little. 
Did I care? Not at all. 

When our hearts are open and we’re willing to feel a little uncomfortable, something funny happens. I think it might be something like getting out of our own way.

Things that make you feel a little embarrassed, awkward, or nervous shouldn’t be avoided just so you can avoid those feelings. Feeling embarrassed is just an energetic, cellular reaction that happens in your body—that’s it.

I’m so happy I asked my mom to dance. She later told me it was the best part of her morning. This memory will always be with me.

There might be things in your life you’d like to do, but you stop yourself because you don’t want to feel a certain type of way. To that I say, I get it. There are certain feelings that feel uncomfortable.

AND.

Are you willing to open up that big, beautiful heart of yours and feel whatever energetic vibrations arise as you do the thing? Those vibrations are meant to be felt. Don’t see them as a reason to hold back. See them as fuel to go forward and an invitation to be brave.

Have a beautiful weekend. May you feel.

Molly