Why we should all be dancing at the end of the day
Opinion
Shlomo Fishman
Capital Recreation is in business to make recreation accessible to all. I am not here to tell you the what, the who, and the when. I am here to support and encourage your positive behaviors. I am a Certified Recreational Therapist (CTRS) breaking down barriers to leisure and recreation participation. This blog is here as a tool to spread my personal thoughts and ideas. But most of all, to create community!
For anyone here who knows me, I am not a good dancer. For however funny I look with my unsynchronized movement, I still love to dance. Even if it means getting eye rolls from my amazing spouse and family members. Though, there is something incredibly special and unique that gets ‘unlocked’ when I dance and move. There is this free — flowing movement of not having to conform or fit into a special box or pattern that I find inspiring. Almost like the way I try to live day-to-day. That is, making my day an artistic expression of who I am and what I want to do. Yes, I set goals for each day – but if I don’t get to it, I’m not ‘killing myself’ over it, it becomes part of my expression for the next day. It is about writing my story and nobody else’s.
Another side of me which many of you know is my love for the outdoors. I love getting outside and exploring nature and the bounty that it has to offer. While in nature I enjoy running — and do it quite often. I enjoy the daily motion of moving my body for however long I want, in whatever place, and at my preferred time…. 5:30am of course!! Like everything else in life, I set goals associated with my running. Back when I started running in 2012, I made outcome-based goals. Telling myself that when I meet a specific time or distance, I am going to feel a certain way. But, as you can already guess, I never ‘felt that feeling’. I did not get the runners high everyone was talking about. It wasn’t till 2015 when I experienced my first runners high… It happened at the 2015 rainy, cold, and wet Boston Marathon.
First you must understand that prior to the 2015 Boston Marathon, I made outcome-based goals. Telling myself that I needed to meet a specific time. If I didn’t, then I was a failure. It was not a good feeling not meeting my goals. In fact, I made silly excuses for myself when I didn’t meet them. Even when I did meet them, I never felt satisfied. But at the 2015 Boston Marathon I told myself to ‘just enjoy the run!’. The weather was quite poor as it was raining, windy, and cold. As the race got underway and had a few miles under my feet, I got this euphoric floating feeling. Like nothing before! It felt as though someone turned on the turbo booster. I was moving faster and faster … even through the Newton rollers and heartbreak hill. I was truly and mightily enjoying myself!!
The resulting time of the was not important to me. What was important to me was the way I felt along the way and the great satisfaction when I was finished!! I wanted to replicate that feeling of euphoria as many times as I could. What I did next was to, JUST LET GO!
Since then, I have and continue to truly and honestly get great satisfaction — even when moving slow and not feeling swell. Allowing my body to move the way it wants to has allowed me to unlock my secret to enjoying the dance every day. I challenge you to join me in letting go! Let go of the things that we unable to control. Allow things to take its course. Most of all, remember to dace!!
As always, I am here for you! You can also share your journey on social media using the hashtag #shlomotrained.
Good Luck!!
Until next time – peace, and virtual fist bump going your way!
Capital Recreation 