I Hope You Dance

“Energy flows where intention goes.”

You bet it does. Now, read that a few more times and let it sink in. Whether we believe it or not, over the course of our day, week, year, and ultimately life, we have the power to live with intention.

What does this mean? Well, an intention is a belief or a mindset that we carry with us that truly sets the tone for our experiences. 

We truly are what we think about. And this means that we have a choice. That is a wonderful gift that we have as human beings: the gift to choose what we focus on and what we do with our time. The sooner you realize that your life was meant to be lived for a purpose, the sooner it is that you can go about finding what that purpose is, and then actually go about the business of doing it.

But, we can’t do any of that without intention. It is the start of a brand new year- heck it is the start of a new freaking decade! How cool is that? When I think back to the beginning of this past decade I was nine years old. Nine! Now, when I think about the end of the next decade, I will be on the cusp on my thirtieth birthday. Woah- what a way to put things into perspective! And what is even more remarkable, is the fact that so much can happen in a decade. So much can happen in a year. And honestly, it is not always about the amount of time, but what you do with the time that makes it truly extraordinary, beautiful, and purposeful. 

New Year’s intentions can be words or phrases. Let me share with you what my intention for 2020 is: Dance. Well, not in the way you might think. I don’t literally mean I want to dance in 2020 (although I always do love to at any chance I get despite my lack of skills). This intention came to me on New Years day as I sat looking out at the ocean ~my favorite place~. In the car on the way there the song “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack came on the radio. While I have always found this song incredibly moving, it had never rung as true to me as it did on that day. Lee Ann states,

“I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

give the heavens above more than just a passing glance, 

and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance….I hope you dance”. 

By dance, Lee Ann means to live fully in every experience, to choose to enthusiastically participate in life, and to live your life as if it really matters. Because trust me, it does.

Your intention may be as simple as a word. It could be a phrase. It could be inspired by a song, a poem, quote, someone you admire. It could even be a specific goal. Maybe it is to live a healthier lifestyle, maybe it is to spend more time with the people who matter most. Maybe it is finally believing in yourself, or loving yourself a little bit more. Whatever it is, make it personal to you. Make it something that will stick, even if it is something as silly as “Dance”. It is a simple word that I remind myself of every day when I wake up, and think about when the day is done. Have I chosen to dance today, or did I sit it out? 

Intention setting is not supposed to be stressful. In fact, It is supposed to be everything but that. Think of one thing that you want more of in your life. Make it fun, make it stick. Write it on your mirror, your journal, tape it to the gosh darn refrigerator. Whatever it takes to remember it. An intention without repetition is just a thought. 

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t end with this- I just have to say- there is one more inspiration behind my choice of the word “dance”. Jennifer Lopez’s song, “Dance Again”, is one that without fail, always pumps me up. And it is NOT because of her riskay lyrics in the beginning, but rather her declaration to “dance, and love, and dance again”. Like living as if you are dancing with abandon. (see me pictured above excitedly waiting outside her concert this past summer). Isn’t that what life’s about? Taking in every moment?

Find the humor and lightness, and the deep and the profound in each day. The magic lies in all of it. 

P.S. Stay tuned this Friday for my Inspired story of the month, where I will feature someone who has inspired me and in turn, I know, will inspire you.

🙂 Paige