I’ve always been this way.  Years ago, in my early 20′s, I worked for my Mom, who had a professional home daycare/preschool, full time.  I spent my days with anywhere between 7-13 kids between the ages of 18 months all the way up to 7 years old.  There were many days that we were stuck inside due to weather and the kids would be restless and cranky regardless of how many activities we had planned for them.  My remedy for these days was to turn on some silly music and start dancing.  The kids would laugh, jump up and down and eventually break into their own style of dance.  I’ve learned throughout the years that kids think it’s cool when an adult dances and acts silly.

I’ve held onto this for my entire life.  I’ve learned that adults think it’s cool too when another adult acts silly and breaks out into a Brady Bunch style dance in the middle of the local grocery store.  I look at these people and I know deep down they want to drop their loaf of bread or gallon of milk and join me, but this little alarm goes off in their heads with that cautionary message: What Will People Think? 

My most memorable moment was at a mall back when I was in my late 20′s.  There was a vendor selling audio equipment in the center of the mall and swing music was playing.  The vendor was trying to demonstrate that music from the 50′s and 60′s could sound just as good as modern music today on the speakers.  Out of blue, in a loud voice, I asked, “Who wants to dance?”  An older gentleman, who reminded me of my Grampie, stepped forth and said, “I will Miss.”  He took both of my hands and led me into a dance that was probably popular back in the era of the music.  People watched and smiled.  When the song was done he told me that his wife had passed away two years ago and hadn’t danced like that since then. 

A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a video to something called, “Where The Hell Is Matt?”  I sat there watching the video completely intrigued by this man dancing  a silly dance in various areas of the world.  In some portions he danced alone, but in most of the footage a large group of people are dancing with him.  Everyone, regardless of the location, appear happy and they are smiling.  There is something about this concept that moves me and I am completely inspired by this.

I looked into it a bit further and there have been accusations that the “Where The Hell Is Matt” videos are some sort of marketing hoax.  I had a hard time believing this and watched a video of Matt himself confronting this issue.  His response was exceptionally brilliant and, with the use of gentle sarcasm, he addresses this to the skeptics who have made these claims.  At the end of the video Matt asks if there is anyone that wants to dance with him.  People get up and the dance begins.  

To Matt and to all of us who sporadically break out in dance, keep doing what your doing!  Dance I say!  Dance!