“Dance Like Nobody’s Watching!”

Where can you usually be found at a party?

Back in my dating app days, some of them would have the question “prompts” that you can add to your dating profile to help share some interesting information about you without you writing an autobiography. One of the questions was something like “where can you be found at a party?” (i.e. are you the one showcasing your moves on the dance floor, are you the one hugging the bar, are you the one helping the wall stay upright, or are you the one locating the chef to ask how he makes his sauce?). My answer was always a resounding: YOU CAN FIND ME ON THE DANCE FLOOR (after I gave the bar a couple of hugs haha)!

Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.

mark Twain

I’ve written about my past CrossFit experiences on here before. I usually write about those experiences in the form of fitness and working out. But one thing I didn’t share was how much community went beyond the 4 walls of the box! When I say “community” in the context of a gym or fitness program, I usually mean the support you get from your fellow athletes and coaches. The feeling you get when you’re laying on the floor gasping for air and you make deep, longing eye contact with another classmate who is also just a few breaths from death because we just finished like 1,000 burpees. That sense of understanding. The “I’m right there with you, bro!” The “OMG why do we do this to ourselves?!” The “I hate it here, but I’ll be back tomorrow!”

But I neglected the other major aspect of “community.” That was the social aspect of working out, dying, and sweating with the same group of people daily. You begin to share interests. You begin to get to know each other more. You get to do different activities together. I really enjoyed hanging out with them on the weekends and even dressing up together for Halloween. While I engaged in “social community” with my old friends, I strengthened my dart and pool playing skills. I actually enjoy playing pool so much to where I might check out Absolute Billiard Services when I buy my next home so I can have a pool tournament or something! Do you have your own pool table?! If you do, you should give it a makeover and check out pool table refelt Cumming!

The CrossFit gym I used to go to was really good at coordinating different community and social events too! For example, every year during the CrossFit Open (annual, workout competition), the gym would host a watch party open to the public to come in and watch a handful of the gym members complete the workout and enjoy catered food and free libations. And one of my favorite social activities was the annual CrossFit Prom! We would trade in our shorts, knee pads, and barbells for dapper suits, ties, and dresses. I love getting dressed up, and it was so much fun to enjoy a night full of dancing, laughing, and partying with a group of people I spent so much time with! I have no desire to go back to CrossFit right now, BUT if they have a CrossFit Prom anytime soon, I’m making sure I’m going as somebody’s plus 1!

The “social community” allows you to be there during pivotal moments of each other’s lives. Like when you get a new boyfriend, or get divorced, or buy a new house, or start a new job. I like being a part of these kinds of moments in various people’s lives outside of my family and best friends. I like it because you get to see how people who might be different than you and have slightly different views than you respond and handle these life-changing moments. It goes a little bit further beyond me just having major FOMO (fear of missing out). It gives me more opportunities to be empathetic, excited, or accepting.

I guess you can find me either on the dance floor or at the pool table when at a party. If it has anything to do with community or social connection, you can count me in. At the end of the day, I’m going to take Mark Twain’s advice and live like it’s heaven on earth!

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.” — Jeremiah 31:13, NKJV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record