“While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole.” -Hans Bos
Those two year olds have got that thing, right? They know how to let go, to be completely immersed in their joy, in their delight, or even in their upset. They don’t live live half way, but dive in totally.
In yoga this week, the instructor brought this question into the space: Where in our lives are we living half way? Perhaps it’s in our relationships, or in our jobs, maybe we say no too much when we should be saying yes. I think this question humbled all of us, for wherever we are living big in our lives, there are places that we live small. And I’m not necessarily talking about heroic feats of living here, just about diving into each moment, each dance, and the arms of your loved ones with as much aliveness as you see pictured above.
Do you have any photos that show the aliveness I am talking about? Let these images be our teachers today… I am excited to see what you’ve got.
BlessedMess says
Love that pic, and the sentiment you’ve attached to it…reminds of a certain little guy I know. I need to reign him in a little less and join him a little more.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/3688879708/
camerashymomma says
the image and the words that always follow
http://meredithwinn.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/dance/
Chris says
I have a picture entiled "The Dance". Perfect for this post: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/3732948480/
Damaris says
This is a picture of my niece Minami. These kids live in Hawaii and they don’t live half way, trust me. Check it out http://www.adamapalmer.com/minami/PA010049.jpg
my brother in law http://www.adamapalmer.com took it
Karine Ardault says
I have just made a post including Maasai dancers.
http://karineardault.typepad.com/karine_ardault/2009/07/the-dance.html.html
Aimee Greeblemonkey says
This one in the park makes me think of that.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greeblemonkey/3535955567
Julia says
Two year olds certainly do know how to live life to the fullest!
http://keth616julz.blogspot.com/
djbeat says
i love the question – it sort of makes one question priorities. i am on mat leave (geez i think ive said the 100 times here…) & i find it hilarious now how i romanticized my time off (from work) & what it would look like – that i would refocus on my art (paintings) write a fabulous clever & artful design blog (the blog part happened but it has morphed) take my baby to all the required art & gym classes…
so blah blah blah preamble – this whole year is about me living differently http://365daysofdifferent.blogspot.com/
& event hough i am not doing the things i thought i would i am living fully – tiny moments with my baby:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3730916381/
kosenrufu mama says
here my child’s exibition…http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/05/acrobazie.html
Katie says
I needed this post today. It’s been a rough week for me and I just happened to take a picture last night that this post made me think of
http://roundyclan.blogspot.com/2009/07/living-life.html
Thanks for the nice post!
georgia says
sometimes it takes a vacation to get out of the mode of autopilot where we tend to forget about our emotions or child-like spirit. i encouraged my husband and his brother and brother’s wife to let loose in florida. i wanted some fun pictures, but more than that, i wanted us to have fun and play in the sand like kids again.
http://jorjah-b.blogspot.com/2009/05/jorjah-wish.html
georgia says
oh, i forgot to say how precious your photo is. i just makes me smile.
leaca says
This topic made me think of this photo…. http://simplyblogged.blogspot.com/2009/07/simply-shoot-shutter-sisters.html
I love the light, the action, and the smiles.
Leslie says
This is so adorable, such a great post, here’s mine.
http://leslieandrews.net/blog/
Mishelle Lane/ Secret Agent Mama says
I love the word "aliveness"…http://secretagentmama.com/blog/2009/07/18/weekly-winners-makfest09-edition-part-ii/
PixieDust says
Love this post, this picture – amazing! I think my Tuesday post works really well for this challenge:
http://storiesicantell.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-i-could.html
๐
deene souza says
I asked the mom of these two boys to help me with an assignment for a class I was taking. She was SSSOOO excited and went all out, even having Grandma make 2 capes on a moments notice. Whipped them out like that! I didn’t really know this mom all that well, and for sure didn’t know the boys, just kinda met her here and there in the line at the bank. When she brought her boys to me to be photographed, the oldest just looked at me with his eyes, hidden behind the glasses to correct a vision/eye control problem and said, "I would really like it if you could take my picture too. Without my glasses. I know that will make my mom so happy. I want her to be happy." This little boy dived into the moment and obviously never lived relationships half way. He is a pleaser . . . .even with his cosmetic imperfections. I learned a lot about the love a child has for his parent that day. I hugged my kids tight when I got home and thanked them for every photo they’ve ever given me the opportunity to take of them.
http://deenesouzaphotography.com/?p=570
melanie says
here, my three year old is the only one dancing at the start of a band gig. she can dance for hours and hours nonstop. She pays no attention to how she looks or what others are doing she just dances….
http://britgirl.typepad.co.uk/.a/6a00d8345290a169e201157123cc8b970c-pi
Jen says
This is one of my favorite photos of my daughter from a vacation last summer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/enniferj8/2534513107/in/set-72157605330454151/
She was just dancing and twirling down this construction sidewalk paying no attention to anyone or anything but the music in her head.
Lucille says
Big child exultation jig.
http://usefulorbeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/07/all-livelong-day.html
Suzanne says
Posting here for the first time, I’d like to answer this call
with an introduction to the comedy show that is my life:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzanne-marie/3392898797/in/set-72157615568461939/
*thank you for continuing to inspire us all every day with this site
and with all of your hard work maintaining the goodvibes ๐
Jenny Rebecca says
This is my daughter joyfully joining a "parade".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanglord2/3633915680/in/set-72157613030267887/
Meg says
http://growingkiwis.blogspot.com/2009/06/super-hero.html
everyone has a hero hiding inside them