I Hope You Dance

Someone asked me recently what my biggest regret in life is. I have to admit I’ve lived a mostly “goody two shoes” sort of life. No major life issues, no major life mistakes, tried my best to live by the rules and not mess up and have pretty much succeeded in that. Although a mostly no regrets sort of life is a good thing, a REALLY good thing, I’m not bragging so don’t read that into my words – that’s not what this is about.

As I pondered this “biggest regret” question, I had to do some thinking. Of course I regret not loving more, not investing more, not exercising more, not being healthier, not trying harder, not wearing sunscreen more… those types of things but I knew none of those were my answer. I decided that one of my biggest regrets was not dancing more or really just not dancing. In all of my rule following and legalistic attempts to be perfect, I should have loosened up a bit. I should have danced. I truly think my heart would have been happier and free’er if I’d have danced. Think about it… you really can’t be uptight when you dance and if you are you’re not doing it right. You’re free when you dance. You laugh when you dance. You cry when you dance. You feel when you dance. You connect when you dance. Yep, I think this very well could be my biggest regret.

So…. young ones…

“When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” ~Mandisa, I Hope You Dance

I Hope You Dance, Mandisa

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’.

Don’t let some careless heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
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
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

Dance, dance, dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)