Pros and Cons

So this week has been mildly stressful. I had my first real college test today (two more to come before the week ends). I've been studying a lot and practicing piano a lot. My arms feel wimpy and noodley. I'm going to ask my piano professor about that tomorrow. I'm not sure if it's a sign that I'm building muscle or if I'm doing something wrong...

However, one of the other piano students decided to decorate the practice room. We discovered two lamps and some Christmas lights wrapping around the wall. According to rumor, a rug and window treatments are on their way. I like to think of the nice pianos as self-esteem pianos. For some reason, it's very hard to feel good about yourself while playing in a cramped room on a twangy set of keys. However, it's very easy to feel artistic when doodling on a polished baby grand, the reflection of your hands and the Christmas lights dancing across it's smooth, midnight black surface. It's easy to forgot about tests and stress and homesickness and mild loneliness. It's easy to lose yourself in the music.

The past two nights, I have run into a family of three relaxing on Auburn's campus in the twilight of the day. Their little girl dances freely around while the parents sit on a park bench and watch. She is fascinated by her shadow. She twirls and leaps and laughs. When she finishes, they say "bravo!" and "again!" She complies every time.

I think sometimes people get so caught up in deadlines, in rush hour, in to-do-lists and responsibilities, that they forget to find joy in life. To sit down and rest. To dedicate a moment to reverence and awe, to beauty and hope. We forget to let little girls dance.

So, in the midst of the chaos and worries, I want to remember to dance.