Dream, Dance,Smile and sing loudly! (Although perhaps not all at once!)

Dare, dream, dance, smile, and sing loudly! And have faith that love is an unstoppable force! -Suzanne Brockmann
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/suzannebro651882.html?src=t_dance

All I have to add to that, folks, is rock on!

Have fun and dance!

"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way."-Wayne Dyer
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/waynedyer173500.html?src=t_dance

I saw this video of a penguin dancing  and it really does look like he's having fun! So my point here, is that I hope in life you can find a reason to dance and when in doubt, dance like no one is watching!

Dancing unites

I was watching the movie Fiddler on the Roof and in it, there's a scene where a group of Jewish men dance with some Russian soldiers. I really like this scene of them dancing together because to me, it shows how even if people might be opposed to each other, they can still put aside their differences and dance together. I hope one day people will dance more and fight less. Until then, I hope people dance whenever they feel happiest!

Shall we dance?

Since I'm all about dancing since I started my Dance4Joy2017 challenge,  I was thinking about one of the movies that really brought home how beautiful (and romantic) dancing can be was the movie the King and I. In it, the King of Siam dances with Anna Leonowens, the tutor of his children. (The movie is actually based on the story of real people although it is heavily romanticized.) Anyway, I really love the scene where Anna and the King dance. When I see it, still makes me feel happy and it still makes me want to dance!

If you feel like dancing for a good cause, take my Dance4Joy 2017 challenge! For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/Dance4Joy2017/.

Police officers dance too!

I saw this story about a police officer in Ontario, Canada who thought he was responding to a street fight found himself dancing in a video some young adults were creating that night.  The video really made me smile. Happy Friday everyone! When in doubt, dance!

Sweet puppy dancing!

So my friend Amanda has this truly adorable dog who apparently loves to dance. Watching that dog really lifted my spirits! Even dogs do happy dances!

Yes, Minions dance too!

If you've been reading this blog for a bit, you'll know I have a bit of a thing for Minions so when I saw this video with them dancing in it, it really made me smile, plus I've always liked the song "Happy." Once again, happy dancing everyone! When in doubt, dance like a Minion!

I"m a believer in dancing!

In case you needed a reason to dance today, here's a song that made me feel really good when I heard it. I believe in the power of dancing because it makes me feel free and that it's great to be alive! Happy dancing everyone!

Some music to dance to as part of the Dance4Joy2017 Challenge

Yesterday I started my Dance4Joy2017 challenge and aside from sharing the #Dance4Joy2017 on Twitter, I'm hoping people will choose to take videos of themselves dancing and pledge to raise money as part of the Dance4Joy2017 challenge to a mental health-related organization of their choice. Since dancing is more fun with music, I want people to have music they can use that's free and in the public domain to use. The link to Youtube's Audio Library is: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music and you can pick a song through it to dance to.  Happy dancing everyone!

Dance for Joy 2017!

I need your help!!! I'm starting a challenge called the Dance4Joy 2017! Since I love dancing, Dance for Joy 2017 is meant to be a really fun way to raise money for programs, research and treatment for people with mental health conditions. Basically what I'd like is for people to take one minute (or more if you want) to dance to a song that you like and then state that you're going to donate (inset amount of money) to an organization that is related to mental health. For example, I'm going to donate $10 to the National Alliance for mental illness in Massachusetts. 

In your video please challenge a friend to dance next. After you finish your video just upload it to your facebook page and the share it on the facebook page I created called Dance4Joy2017.

As I'm turning 32 in April, my goal is that dance for joy 2017 will raise $3,200 (USD) for mental illness research treatment and programs. I hope everyone has a great time doing this challenge. I wish you all the best and thank you so much for doing this challenge with me, it means a great deal to me. If you have any questions feel free to email me at dance4joy2017@gmail.com. 

PS-if you don't want to dance or donate money, if you could just spread the word to everyone, I'd really really appreciate it! Thank you very much in advance for your help!

A tribute to my friends

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."-Henry Ford
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryford122451.html

I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my friends because they make me want to continue to grow to be a better person. I'm really glad and I feel lucky that I've always had their support and I hope that they will always know that I love them all very dearly. My friends do bring out the best in me in that I feel as though I'm a better person because of their influence. I've always sought to provide that same love and support to them as a way of thanking them for all that they've done. (Although I don't think I can thank them enough.) Anyway, I just think it's really nice to have friends to laugh with, to have adventures with and to love in general. I know that I'll always do everything I can to be there for them. I love them all very much. I hope that everyone has great friends because they really are the best things to have!

The Best Welcome!

"A smile is the universal welcome."- Max Eastman
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/maxeastman107843.html

I can't think of anything more welcoming than a smile. When someone smiles at me I really feel accepted. That's why I make a point of smiling at people. I do so in the hope that it'll pass on a similar sense of belonging and happiness. Plus, smiling just feels good to me. I figure I can never underestimate the power of a smile!

I hope everyone has things they're really glad they did

I was thinking just now about things I've done in my life that I'm really glad I did and it made me think about how much I hope that everyone has things that they're really glad they did and that there's still more things that they hope to do. I'm really glad that I've traveled and that I've gone to college and grad school, that I've given hugs to random strangers that felt in need,  that I'm taking a sign language course and that I'm working a job I love. There's still more I want to do. I'd like to get published in a journal or write a book. I'd like to travel more and meet more people and love more.  The things I've done in the past show me that there's so much I can do and it's just a matter of getting down and doing it.  To all who read this, I hope you've done things that you're proud of and that if there is something good you really want to do, I hope you do it.

Happiness is like a treasure hunt

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open."= John Barrymore
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_barrymore.html

Happiness is more fun if you have to find it and in that way, happiness is kind of like a treasure hunt which is fun. I hope that wherever life takes you, that you find a lot of happiness in it!

The nicest thing about Valentine's Day

I think the nicest thing about Valentine's Day for me is that it reminds me of how great it is that everyone has the capacity to love and be loved. I'm ever so glad that love is cause for much celebration because it is such a lovely feeling and a wonderful gift that everyone can give. To that end, I write this post to send lots of love to all who read this. I wish you all every happiness!

Love and chocolate

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt." – By Charles M. Schulz

Read more wishes and quotes: http://www.wishesquotes.com/valentines-day/funny-valentines-day-quotes#ixzz4YcFv8Dd1

So here's to love and chocolate!

Finding Joy in singing

I love singing. I've joined a choir and an acapella group and my church choir but I also find myself singing to my IPod out in in public and although at first it felt strange, I found that I was so focused on singing the music I really didn't mind who heard. It just makes me feel really happy. I hope that everyone has something that brings them great joy and once you find that thing that gives you joy, I hope you pursue it. Life is too short not to find a lot of joy in it!

Always on your side

The singer Sheryl Crow was born today in 1962 and one particular song I like that she sings is called "Always On Your Side." I like it because it reminds me of how I've always had people who love and support me and who I can love in return and that idea  I feel like everyone should have that sense of love and support.  I figure I keep this blog so people can know that someone wants to help them feel happy! So happy Saturday everyone!

Always have a summer inside you

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."- Albert Camus
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

I really like this quote because it reminds me of how I always want to keep hope alive in me because to me summer is rather like hope because it's something I look forward to. I hope that there is always light and warmth in your life. I wish you the best!

Walking in the air

So we had a big snow storm today and it got me thinking about this song called "Walking in the Air." It's really beautiful and it's from a short film I loved when I was a child. (Ok, I still love it because a part of me will never grow up.) Anyway,  today, it just seemed fitting to post about the song because as I look outside, there's so much snow that, if I were to walk outside I'd be walking on clouds. If it's snowing where you are as well, stay warm!

Signing away!

I'm taking a sign language course and  while I've always liked languages and learning more about them, this is a different experience for me. What I like about sign language is that although it doesn't use spoken words, it's a really graceful and it shows me how much the body communicates just by moving. That's something I hadn't thought much about before. All I can say is, it feels great to communicate!

Unforgettable

As it's coming up to Valentine's  Day, I got to thinking about love songs and I started thinking of one that I really like called "Unforgettable." Although I suppose it's really a romantic song, it still made me think of how my life has been enriched by all the people who have been/are a part of it. Everyone is unforgettable in their own ways and I think that's something to be celebrated!

Go Patriots!

Although I don't really watch football,  I can't help but get swept up in the celebration of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl. I just like seeing how happy people in Boston are. One thing I like about sports is that it can unite people and give them a reason to celebrate! So go Patriots!

Something that never goes out of style

"Being happy never goes out of style."-Lilly Pulitzer

It's so interesting to me that people ask what's the secret to true happiness. I'm quite glad that happiness and how to be happy are just things one has to find. I've found happiness in writing, in the love I have for my friends and family and in the work I do. Plus, I feel more attractive when I'm happy. As long as I have a smile on my face, I know I'm lookin' fine!

Can't stop the feeling when I feel like dancing!

I saw this video for the singer Justin Timberlake's song "Can't Stop The Feeling" and it really moved me in every sense.  What I love most about this video is it shows people dancing all over the world.  While I know dancing doesn't solve all the world's problems, it does make life seem better to me.  My ultimate dream would be if loads of people got together and started randomly dancing with each other all over the place. While dancing might not solve al the world's problems, I just think it would be pretty cool if everyone danced more. I still stand by the motto of: when in doubt, dance!

Friends Day

Accord to Facebook (which of course is the all knowing) it's Friends Day. So in that spirit, I write the following:

Friends are wonderful things

And I'm really glad that everyone can

Make a friend and have many of them throughout life

Because I believe we were always meant 

To go through life together with friends

Friends are the best things to have

Because it's nice to have people to laugh with

And have good times and bad 

And either way it's nice to have people to hug 

And know that they'll always hug you back!

I love my friends so very much 

And I'll always be there for them 

Not just because they're there for me

Just because I love them 

And that's the way it always will be

Happy Friends Day everybody!

If we're all alone, at least we're all alone together!

I was thinking it's interesting how people say they feel "all alone." It's interesting that there's the word "all" in that phrase which (to me at least) implies that there's more than one person or thing that's alone, so under that logic, even when people feel alone, they're somehow strangely united. As long as I can keep those ideas in mind, I don't feel alone and I can't feel lonely. Even if those thoughts are understandable to me alone, they give me yet another reason to feel happy!

The nice thing about each day

One thing that helps me get up in the morning is that I like to think that each day brings the possibility of something better than the day before.  There's something very comforting about that idea. I figure as long as I'm able to work towards the better things that might happen, then they can happen and with all that in mind, I get out of bed happy! I hope everyone had a happy Wednesday and that everyone has an even happier Thursday.