Do a Little Dance Dare

About a year ago, Ellen Degeneres challenged her viewers to do what she called "Dance Dares." This is a game where you go up behind an unsuspecting person and dance behind them without them knowing. If they catch you in the act, you lose the game.

Sounds okay, right?
Well let me tell you something.
Dance Dares are way more than just okay.
Dance Daring may be the most fun you ever have.

If you ever find yourself in a crazy mood, just do a little Dance Dare.
If you're ever at a mediocre social gathering, spice it up with a Dance Dare.
If you feel like getting a good laugh, try out a Dance Dare.

I have yet to find someone who feels disappointed after exploring their own Dance Dare capabilities. But I have found plenty of people who have never even heard of such a thing. You should try it. Truly.

Here are some of my favorite official Dance Dare videos from the Ellen show.





...Aaaaaaaaaaand here's a video my friend Lacey made of some Dance Dares we did at a church activity back in December. (?) I may or may not have shimmied behind an unsuspecting missionary. That's fine.

Valentine's Day... what's that?

Valentine's Day. It comes and goes, year after year. And every year, this girl is without a valentine. Every year--no buts about it.

It seems like, as a single twenty-something, the constant reminders of love on Valentine's day can either make you or break you. You embrace the holiday, shelling out affection for your family and friends, or you completely shut it out, and close yourself off to the entire world for a day--too afraid of the possibility of a little heartache. There's also the few that rub their independence in the faces of others, saying that they're single, and that's the way they want it to stay--because who even wants the responsibility of having to celebrate on Valentine's Day?

All I know is, I don't want to be that person. You know who I'm talking about...

I don't want to be the person who makes excuses for their situation, blaming others or themselves for not being able to find love.

I don't want to grow bitter from feeling a few pangs of loneliness.

I don't want to resent the people around me for happiness they have found with their boyfriends, girlfriends, wives, or husbands.

I don't want to be the person who groans with envy after seeing a co-worker receive a bouquet of flowers and oodles of candy from a secret admirer.

I don't want to be that person because, let's face it, nobody likes a bitter, stank-face female who can't find her happiness without a man by her side. I wouldn't even like myself if I lived or thought that way. 

I just want to be me. I choose to love everyone, I choose to be happy with the blessings I enjoy right now in my life. (Because, let's face it--my life is pretty dang awesome.) I will not live in denial, saying that a "valentine" is not something I desire, but I will live with hope, that maybe next year will be the year. 

Maybe.

*The most romantic gesture I've gotten on Valentine's Day was when I worked at the YMCA. There was an old man, probably in his 80's who came in every day. His name was Richard and he was a sweetheart. One year, on February 14th, he brought me some roses. He handed them to me unceremoniously and said with a wink, "Here you go. Happy Valentine's Day. Don't tell my wife."