"mana from heaven."

Once upon a time, I danced.  And I had a scary and stern dance instructor, who hardly smiled but loved to yell.  She had this trademark yell.  It went something like this: "What are you waiting for?  Mana from heaven?" 

At the time, I wasn't quite sure exactly what she meant.  But I knew that when she yelled those questions, I needed to dance better.  Perform better.  I interpreted her words to mean "show up," "dance," "show them what you've got."  So, I knew that I needed to complete perfect pirouettes ("no spaghetti arms") across the room.  I needed to stand on my toes longer, higher and then, be able to bend my knees with graceful control to do a demi plié, and then a grand plié.  Over and over again.  Exhaustion was not an excuse.  If I wanted to dance.  I should dance.  If I I was there to dance, then by gosh, dance!  No excuses.  Participate.  Perform.  Don't just show up.  And wait around for the dance to begin or just happen.  I was to create the dance.  Be the dance.          

Anyhow, I've been thinking a lot about Mrs. C, and those questions she repeated over and over again during each dance class.  Because you see, sometimes, I still have that bad habit.  Of waiting.  For things to just happen.  But, recently I was reminded (not only by memories of Mrs. C) that we shouldn't just let things happen.  If we want something, we make it happen.    

Life is more than just showing up.  And being there.

Life is an adventure.  Full of risks and possible failures.  But also full of joy and possible victories.  So, why not be part of it?  Participate in it.  Live.           

*photo by instantflowers