After years of struggling looks like all I need is just dancing shoes to my grave!
photo details: Sufi Dance performed by persons with Disabilities on wheel chairs and crutches
Copyright Suresh Gundappa 2009
Short Story: A parable of Love, life and dance by Suresh:
I was just three years old! I just loved the sound of drum beats! Reminds me of mummy’s heart beat when I lean on her! I just used to dance! I had only one move and my parents and family loved me! I used to sway up and down and I was super star at my house! First time I learned dancing should be the way of life because everyone is so happy because I dance!
I was five year old! I still loved dancing; I heard a song outside my school window! Promptly I got up and danced! Couple of my friends joined me and Immediately my class teacher took a stick , gave me a whack & warned me about my behaviour and she told me that I am in school to learn and get disciplined and not to dance like a stupid fellow! First time I got hurt because I felt like dancing. I learned it is important to control your dance and your happiness! Otherwise I might look stupid!
I was 10 years old! I loved what was on TV, I knew I could shake and thrust my hips better than that cabaret dancer on TV! Within no second Dad switched off TV and warned me about my vulgar behaviour! He said “I cannot dance like that!” Mom supported him and told me that “I am getting into bad habits and my character needs to be stronger “ First time I felt dancing may be sin! I have to be careful not to commit those sins often; I felt God might punish those who dance for no reason! I felt Guilty!
I was 20 years Old! I loved the music in Pub’s to glory! On that day I went to pub with my girlfriend and the atmosphere was great! I just loved that Raunchy woman who got drunk and danced! She was so drunk; she called me to shake a leg with her! I couldn’t resist the dance of someone who was careless about the world and I loved that character of woman who allowed dance to swallow her! And I joined and did pelvic dance to the claps of onlookers. I went wild and lost myself to rhythm of beats! I kissed that wild dancing woman! I have to say it was wild and nice!
My girl friend almost slapped me and left that pub in disgust due to my behaviour! She thought I am a low character asshole and she left me saying I should have had some manners to behave when I am with girlfriend at least. She didn’t see me again and we broke up! First time I felt You can only dance according to expectation of others, I felt dancing is correct only if others approve, there is nothing in it for the dancer, everything is for onlookers!
I was 30 year old and my friends called me for a dance and I was busy with my blackberry! This is no time to dance and I was talking to a customer about potential business! First time I knew I should focus more on money and my career; these are not the times to dance away! I can always dance few years later once I make money!
I was 40 year old and I was trying to dance with my daughter. She laughs hysterically and says “you don’t have moves! Dad”! You just can’t dance Dad! You are too tight and you look ugly on dance floor!
I could see she was not feeling comfortable with me and I let her join her friends. First time I learned I have little dance left in my body, There is little rhythm left in my body, I have become too stiff and rock like. I look like mannequin with no life!
I was 60 and my daughter has moved out and I am alone at my house, Across my window there is a party and I can see people dancing and I feel like watching them dance! I stand and watch them from my window and I can see lot of them are getting uncomfortable with old man watching them! So I slowly move back. I have moved away so much from dance that I can’t even watch others dancing! I feel low and felt like man with no legs!
I am 75 now……….
Now money, career, security all are there! But I don’t have a dance!
I am trying to learn dancing, I could have just learned to dance at every problem of my life, but I have travelled so far taking hard way!
I am trying to dance again like when I was just one and half year old!
Now I have learned again that dancing is the way of life!
Now I dance alone! I dance to the tune of winds and I dance to the fragrance of flowers!
Now I dance to the sound of silence!
Finally I found dancer and dancing disappear into dance! I guess this peace in dancing ! I re-discovered myself in dance!
Life is nothing but one helluva of a dance!
After years of struggling looks like all I need is dancing shoes to my grave!
- End of short story
Meditation is nothing but rediscovering dance in life! Meditation is nothing but song of life!
Come, come again and all you need is just one dance!
Love
Suresh
I am moved beyond words, Suresh.. Beautiful.. truly beautiful…
pujathakur
May 29, 2009 at 3:11 am
Hi Suresh ,
I ve been following your blog for a while. I bet this one is your best ! . I just loved it.
We waste our life thinking about what others will think about us but at last we end up trying satisfying everyone in the world except yourselves.
Good post ! Keep it coming ….
Love , Aanand
Aanand
May 29, 2009 at 3:30 am
I too feel this is one of your best. But then I have felt the same for most of your posts
“Let me give you a taste of silence for a moment. ” – and this photo gives more than just a taste. These dancers with disabilities spinning around on the wheelchairs (like the motion blur so delicately captured in this photo conveys)… “How are they doing it?” is not much unlike a koan…
Sanjay M
May 30, 2009 at 5:18 pm
observed Henry David Thoreau, but thank you Suresh for reminding us, and so beautifully, that its never too late to avoid falling into the category of ‘most men’!
Above story with a slight twist…
…I was 30++ years old and my friends called me for a dance but I was busy with my mobile! This is no time to dance…
…and then my almost-2 year old son held my hand and jumped up and down. At first I got annoyed at this disturbance – when will he ever learn manners!
And then he ran in circles around me whirling me round and round. I could not resist… I closed the call quickly, slipped the phone into my pocket… and knelt down and joined him. It was a big shopping mall and passers-by glanced curiously… But now my son was my teacher and the only one who mattered.
We didn’t just danced but sang as well – badly enough to make people stare. But I barely noticed as our song turned into laughter and back to song and back to laughter again!
Is this a wild coincidence or what – this page on dancing and this page from my other favorite web site: It’s About Dancing In The Rain
Sanjay M
May 30, 2009 at 5:06 pm
wonderful story nice one and as usual with a wonderful photo. Last sentence on dance linking to mediation is just superb life is full of drama and dance we are all puppets in the hand of almighty we dance according to the tunes of superpower. life is a drama and dance is part of that drama. make drams very interesting one and in the process dance and make merry
have a great sunday
Meditation is nothing but rediscovering dance in life! Meditation is nothing but song of life!
Come, come again and all you need is just one dance!
praneshachar
May 31, 2009 at 2:36 am
Hi Suresh,
I guess, its a matter of being matured to respond to a situation and by and large, with the time human being get to terms with facts of life and once own limitations, better.
Also, its nicer to keep yourself in the loop to assess, thus to respond to messages.
Have a wonderful day.
Regards
Krish
Krish
June 2, 2009 at 6:22 am
“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair.” ~Susan Polis Shutz~
So nice to read your inspirational words again, dear Suresh! Hope life is treating you with kindness!
Gracie
June 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hi Suresh,
Truly exceptional post! The ONE change I have made is that now when my son dances, I tell him, “Enjoy yourself, you are doing GREAT!” The first time I said it, he asked me if I was making fun of him – and I explained to him that I was extremely happy that he was enjoying himself and finally that was ALL that mattered to me.
I used to make fun when my wife would jump up and dance to the music, now I join her!
Thank you, my friend!!
God bless you!!
GS
Srinivasan Gowrikanthan
June 4, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Speechless….
You may call it coincidence, am here after posting , “lets dance to the tunes of awareness”.
so true… life is a helluva dance and meditation is the studio to rediscover our own dance…
grateful, my friend!
mergingpoint
June 8, 2009 at 5:13 am
All of your photographs – beautiful, inspirational and heart calming. Also, I love the dance. My spirit dances so much more richly than my body. I will never stop my spirit from moving to the rhythm and the beat of the life within me. I wish I could take pictures like you do, but I’m glad I can appreciate them. Thank you. Peace, Sharie
spiritteacher
June 10, 2009 at 3:48 pm
“Hear the music before the song is over.” =)
Bad Karma
June 17, 2009 at 7:56 am