If you have stumbled across my blog and are thinking ‘Day 14’ of what? Have a quick read about my challenge.

Bathed in sweat and smiling as though our lives depended on it, last night, my husband and I danced the night away. Little Bristol, a beach bar in Barbados, has live music every Friday night. A great band called Ubique. We have known some of the band members for years.

When I first met Murray, he didn’t enjoy dancing. Maybe he was self-conscious like many others. As the years progressed, I enticed him onto the dance floor. I don’t recall the first time it happened, but that’s not important. What is important is that now we have the best time ever, dancing like demons in a world of our own, not caring what other people think.

“I love dancing with you.” “I love dancing with you too.” What a great way to end a night!

In yesterday’s blog, Day 13: Always leave wanting more I mentioned a restaurant called QP, previously known as The Beach Club. Sunday afternoons at The Beach Club were world-renowned. Each year, hordes of us would descend on them and dance for hours to Kevan and the Krashers. After a sumptuous lunch, although not too much so we still felt like dancing and plenty of Minuty (Rosé wine, that is now lovingly referred to as Mutiny). We ran to the dance floor. Well, sometimes it was just me to start with. I love to dance anytime, anywhere, and I don’t mind being the only one on the dance floor. In fact, I frequently am. On many occasions, bands and DJs have thanked me for starting the dancing. 

I can’t help myself. Igniting my body, the beat fires me into another dimension. One where nothing matters, no one cares, you are wild and free. That’s how I feel when I dance, wild and free, nothing quite like it. 

Murray and I have a favourite song, ‘Shut up and Dance with Me.’ Many of our friends say they think of us whenever they hear it. I love that. There was one particular occasion at The Beach Club. They were on their last song, often. ‘Summer of 69’ or ‘My Sex is on Fire’, but they hadn’t played ‘Shut up and Dance with Me’. I nonchalantly sidled up to Keiron, the sublime trombonist and, trying not to sound too desperate, asked, “Aren’t you going to play ‘Shut up and Dance with me?” Gently, he slid his sunglasses down his nose, looked at me with his brown puppy dog eyes and casually slid them back up again. Talk about oozing coolness. In less than a second, the first chords struck. The place erupted, the dance floor pulsating like a giant heartbeat. Our bodies moving as one. Breathtaking, in every sense of the word.

Keiron is now the lead singer for Ubique. They play every Friday at Little Bristol, Speightstown, Barbados. They also play every other Sunday at Lancaster House. If you want a great night out, I suggest you go and see them.

My recent operation, a joint replacement in my big toe, was in November last year. At the end of December, it got infected. When I arrived in Barbados, it was still healing. Sadness washed over me as I imagined a holiday without dancing with my soul mate. Elation is the only way to describe how I felt last night. I lied. Gratitude too. My body is remarkable. Its ability to heal astounds me. One thing I have learnt over the years is never to take my body for granted; nurture, respect and love it, and it will do the same for me. It is all too easy to blame our bodies for letting us down. Don’t get me wrong, in the early years, I did, and I played the victim, “what have I done to deserve this?” Now I turn it around, as discussed in my blog, Day 11: Do you think you are stupid? Altering how you verbalise situations and circumstances has a profound effect on how you view yourself and your life. I now see my body as miraculous, everything I have done to it in the past, and it still keeps me going. 

If I ever catch myself thinking, “What have I done to deserve this?” I remind myself of all the late-night partying, drinking, smoking, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and numerous other things that I put my body through as a youngster. Promptly, I give myself a good kick up the backside and say, “Thank you”. You only get one body. It is your responsibility, not the other way around. Mine is an absolute superstar and I am grateful for it every day. 

Dancing is fantastic. It feeds my soul. It keeps me fit. It brings me joy. It enhances my marriage. Being riddled with arthritis and filled with titanium won’t stop me. If Dick van Dyke can dance in his nineties, then so can I!

If you don’t have plans this evening. Instead of turning on the TV, put on some banging tunes, grab your partner, friend, child or an unexpectant stranger and dance the night away. Be wild and free.

Murray, I love dancing with you. xx

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Thanks, Liz

For anyone reading my posts who has a story in them, they are struggling to tell. I would recommend getting Anne Lamott’s book ‘Bird by Bird’. It has inspired me to create this challenge and is full of great knowledge and insight. She also has a wonderful sense of humour and writing style.

If you would like to buy ‘Bird by Bird’, please use my Amazon associate link: https://amzn.to/47Pdkx7