Last week I shared one of my most embarrassing moments in life – lol. Thinking about it now – I guess it was not that bad. I suppose you just had to be there! Today I want to tell you about this charity that I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of. Easter Seals is a charitable organization that allows children to truly be children. I’ve worked with kids for nearly 20 years and in that time, I’ve seen children on the brink of brokeness, despair, and hopelessness. However, what has continued to awe me and to amaze me is the resilience of children. They are so strong. Easter Seals helps children with physical disabilities do things they would not otherwise be able to do. For example, if you have an able bodied child or sibling, you may take them to the park and let them play on the rock climbers, and the jungle gym. BUT, if your primary mode of transportation is not your feet but your wheelchair playing on a rock climber and jungle gym is next to impossible UNLESS you are part of Easter Seals. This organization makes these seemingly impossible activities possible. Check out this video:
Cool right. Well guess what? I got to help this wonderful organization raise money by being one of their dancers in their annual fundraiser called “Dancing with Easter Seals Stars”. From this experience, I learned three very valuable lessons:
If you ask my boys what their mommy makes them do when we watch the Hollywood version of Dancing with the Stars, they will tell you that mommy asks them (forces them) to dance with her. LOL I have had thoughts of dancing in an event such as Dancing with the Stars for at least 5-6 years and knew that one day I would have the chance. I did not have any idea how but I knew I would do it. And guess what, I did! And it was fantastic!
Despite the stereotype that all black people can dance and has rhythm, I tend to lose my rhythm because I think about it too much. But as my dance instructor, Matt, says, the more you do the dance, the more you practice it, the more it goes into your muscle memory and that it did my friends. Three months, 15 lessons, and hours of practicing steps over and over again – I did. And it was fantastic!
The biggest lesson though and likely the most important lesson was that when you help someone accomplish their dream with no motive but to truly be of service, some way and some how your dreams come true as well. My dream of being a dancer – even if for a night – came true because my motive was to help a child with a physical disability have the opportunity to be a child in the very true sense of the word. And I did. And it was freakin’ fantastic!
Check out this cute video created by Kate from Fred Astaire Dance studio (you will want to stop the video at 1:06):
What is your dream? What is your goal? More importantly, how can you be of service to help someone else?
Believe in you,
Jennifer
If you liked what you’ve read and it has helped you in some way please like, share, and comment below. If you didn’t like what you read – share it anyway – someone needs to read this today.
Visit Jen on:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JenSlayvision
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenslayvisionary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenslayvision1
Email: info@jenslay.com
Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jenslay
website: www.jenslay.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP-4bcglXNL2_FVoCr0PdQ
The post Three lessons I learned from Dancing with Easter Seals Stars appeared first on Jen Slay.