Why We Are Here
“I know I walked into this room for a reason.”
These words are on one of my mom’s favorite refrigerator magnets and she and I both quote it often. Just last weekend I marched into the laundry room and for a moment had no idea why I’d gone there.
When we are out and about in the world, we usually have bigger goals than remembering to retrieve tuna from the pantry. Yet do you ever find yourself at a show, meeting, small group, or relationship and wonder “Wait, why am I here?”
Why do you show up?
There is a reason you show up, even if you forget what it is.
I make tuning into my purpose a touchstone throughout my day yet even with my high level of intention, I’m amazed at how often it can be hard to remember it. Things fall out of focus so easily!
Us poor humans need countless reminders in oodles of different forms. While I love written affirmations and visual dream boards, inspirational books and artwork, or meaningful jewelry for example, I also get my biggest grounding through collective, culturally based rituals.
Ritual helps us remember why we are here.
In the Earth Day Dance Celebration we are quite explicit about our purpose. Each time the dancers pull up to one of our planned stops along the Mississippi River, we begin with the same song by Lyla June Johnson:
“We are here
To give all
Of our love
To the ones to come”
We then immediately sing and dance to proclaim we are interconnected with all of nature, ending with the words from a song by Sara Thomsen, “We are all one!”
Arriving with such a clear intention – to affirm our interconnection and send our love into the future – is so powerful.
It cuts through the fog of our distractions. Petty confusions just fall away. The way forward through chaos feels a bit clearer.
Awakened by our purpose, we realize the wisdom from Hafiz:
Wayfarer,
Now is no time to sit still
For nothing but a great clamor of joy
And music
Can make any sense
Today!
And so we dance!
May you have a sense of purpose that makes you dance (at least figuratively). May your life be filled with abundant reminders about why you are here, in the most profound sense.
Love,
emily
p.s. The Earth Day Dance Celebration is probably nothing like anything you’ve experienced before. If I’ve sparked your curiosity check it out here. There are many ways to participate, for either all or part of this free event.
Earth Day Celebration
Join Wisdom Dances for a roving dance celebration that honors the earth, water, and our communities. We belong to each other! Live music!
Watch or join in for all or part of the day.
Sunday, April 27, 1-4 PM
FREE