Dancing Through Life

No one said life would be easy. Some things are easier said than done, and when we feel at our worst nothing anybody can say or do seems to matter. Life is strange. People come and go in our lives, some people change our lives and a few people remain in our lives. Whether our lives are changed for better or for worse is up to us. Some people are only brought into our lives to last a season. They may have been sent to us to teach us a lesson or influence our lives in some way. Everything is a learning experience and how we interpret these relationships is how we learn and grow. The people that remain in our lives are those who we know we can trust, who love us no matter what and who inspire us to keep living.

I knew a lady who inspired me as a friend, mentor, teacher and a true role model of how we should live our lives. Battling the disease of diabetes her whole life, you would never know that she struggled with such an illness. As a beautiful dancer she danced her way to the top, becoming a member of Dance Master’s of America. She also shared her technique with numerous dance students whom she taught for years. With an outstanding reputation and a humble heart, she was loved by everyone. Dancing trough life enabled her to continue coping with diabetes until one day she had to have one of her legs amputated. She could no longer put on her tapping shoes, but her attitude remained strong for she still had her life.

I will always remember that she would say, “you can feel sorry for yourself for ten minutes but then you must pick yourself up and keep living.” I try to live by this saying and know that everyone has something that they have to deal with in life. It’s okay to feel sorry for yourself but then you’ve got to get over it, for life is too short to just sit there and worry. Life is what we make of it and we must live life to the fullest. There are no guarantees in life and all we have is this very moment. So take this moment and let it shine!

When the diabetes had taken both of her legs, she still fought to the end. With a smile on her face, she glanced over at her loving husband by her side and went to sleep forever. This amazing, inspirational lady was my dance teacher and a close family friend. I learned so much from her and I know her spirit lives on to continue guiding the footsteps of the people she loved so dear. The community continues to dance for her as she is an inspiration to all. Her life may have been hard but she rose above it and made the best of what she had.

This story is meant to inspire individuals of all ages to never give up, don’t sweat the small stuff and live everyday like it could be your last. No one said life would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.