Last night, in a Coping and Healing group, somebody described how — in the midst of ongoing struggles with anxiety and unhappiness — they suddenly started dancing for joy while cleaning their home, with family members joining in. I could see how this person’s story about dancing for joy joyfully affected the other group members because joy — like other feelings — can be contagious.
Today, I’m dancing for joy because I’m about to begin a two-week vacation which will include dancing for joy, walking for joy, resting for joy, reading for joy, eating for joy, flying for joy (with some fear and anxiety mixed in), and joyfully seeing the musical “Rent” in Portland with my good friend Maria.
I’m also remembering a weekend retreat, decades ago, where a huge group of people were dancing for joy — shedding self consciousness because we were all blindfolded and watched over by helpful facilitators.
Do any of my images for today evoke dancing for joy?
Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “dancing for joy.”
Here’s a dancing for joy number from the movie version of “Rent.”
I look forward to your comments about this dancing for joy post.
Thanks to all who help me dance for joy, including YOU!
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
I hope that you have an absolutely wonderful time on vacation with your friend in Oregon, Ann.
That’s a beautiful snail, who looks on vacation as well.
Gurdeep’s Yukon bhangra dances always fill me with joy and hope. Thank you for sharing that video. When I am feeling sad or stressed I should ask myself, what would Gurdeep do?
Here, he gives a video lesson for the basic bhangra step, for anyone who wants to dance with joy:
Your comments make me dance for joy, Maureen!
Joy to our world, Ann. Spotting your favorite musical question above, I’ll note that we screened the 2021 Spielberg version of West Side Story in our big public meeting room at the library yesterday afternoon. Whlle taking some photos of the happy crowd at the start, my memories of the original flooded back as the familiar and lovely musical hook danced around the room. I’ll have to watch the whole movie at home sometime soon.
Thanks for sharing all that joy, Mark.
You found Gurdeep! He’s a Canadian icon!!!
I’m so glad I found him and that we can dance for joy together!
I see joy in all these pictures, especially all the plants, which reminds me of which musical is my favorite.
Thanks for sharing your joy in Little Shop of Horrors, Chris.
Have a fun break Ann 😎🙏😎
I dance for joy whenever I see you, Val.
gurdeep has been bringing me joy for a while and all of the living things you shared bring me joy and rent and once are my favorite musicals. and thanks for the morning dance inspiration.
Thanks for bringing the joy as usual, my friend.
I hope you enjoy your time away and I am sure you will! I feel at home dancing for joy when I am in retreat in nature. And musical theater is right up there with my joys as well. Enjoy!
Thank you, Debra!