Dance Team Takeaways
So, picture this: I dedicated my ENTIRE Saturday to my daughter’s dance competition. The booming tunes, the shimmering costumes, the endless hair gel—it was a whirlwind, let me tell you.
Now, despite it being totally exhausting, there’s nothing that warms my heart more than seeing my kids doing what they love. And boy, do they love it! There's something special about watching them soak up every moment with their friends. Here are the moments that stole the show for me that I just have to share with you:
They Cheered for Each Other
Imagine a group of tiny dancers, all competing against each other with solos, yet not a single word of rivalry passed between them. Instead, it was only excitement. "Come on, Mom, hurry up! I can't miss so-and-so's solo!" followed by a mad dash to the audience seats. It makes you wonder if they even realized they were competing against each other!
They Celebrated Together
After each performance, as one girl exited the stage, there was this beautiful sight: a row of little dancers linking hands and racing backstage. Their mission? To celebrate their teammates' performances together! Then, just as enthusiastically, they'd dart back to their seats, ready for the next round.
They Made A Spotlight Plan
During the awards ceremony, as each routine awaited recognition, only one dancer from each team could go up to accept an award. But here's the kicker: some girls chose not to go up. When I asked my ten-year-old daughter why, her response blew me away: "Mom, we made a pact. Only the girls without solos would go up, because they didn’t already have a chance to shine like we did. We wanted to share the spotlight."
Can you believe that kind of goodness?
So here's the thing…
What if we took a page from these little rockstars' book? What if, instead of comparing ourselves to others, we cheered them on - wholeheartedly!
What if, instead of feeling envious, we celebrated others' successes with joy? What if we made it a habit to rally around those marking milestones, big or small? And, what if they knew they could always count on us for their cheering section!
Here's the challenge:
When the spotlight shines our way, can we willingly pass it on to someone equally deserving? I'll admit, it's tough. When recognition finally comes knocking, it's hard not to bask in it. But I can imagine that if we decided to make a plan to shine the light on someone else in the room right beforehand, how that could impact the heart of someone else.
It's not rocket science, and it's certainly not poetry. I’m just a mom marveling at some pretty remarkable behavior and thinking about the kind hearts behind it all. And, if I can't join that dance team rocking a hot pink sequined suit (and you know I want to), then maybe my time is better spent sharing their bedazzled wisdom. I think it’s a little bit of holding on less tight to ourselves and turning our focus to someone else. And that might shine brighter than anything else we could imagine.
Let’s think of ways we can celebrate each other, tilt the limelight and snag a little more hope for our friends basket. And may you also be blessed with people who celebrate you! Even if it’s just me, here at my desk, rooting for you.
I’m all in!
XO,
Jenna
