Wednesday, August 19, 2015

To My Girls: I Hope You Dance

This post may seem like I'm taking the easy way out. I'm not. At least not intentionally.

I've been pondering today's word prompts - Innocent and Dance - for over a week. I've thought of lots of different angles. Every time I sit down at my keyboard, though, I keep coming back to the song, "I Hope You Dance" performed by LeeAnn Womack in 2000.

At one point, I thought I would take the words to the song and change them; expand on them; somehow make it different. Then, I re-read the lyrics and thought to myself, "These words are already quite perfect. How could I possibly change them into anything better?"

It also occurred to me that I'm not sure my girls have ever really listened to the words of this song or that I have ever really said them directly to my sweet daughters. After all, when the song was released in 2000, none of them were born yet.

As a writer sometimes you just have to "go with your gut" even (maybe especially) when that is not what's expected. Since, we are just days a way from a new school year with my younger two entering a new school and my oldest in her final year of middle school, I'm feeling a little sappy; a little misty. So, today, I'm using someone else's words to express my own feelings and hope for my girls' future. As the old saying goes, if it's not broken, why fix it?

So, girls, I hope today you will hear this song - really hear it - read the words, and know that, from the bottom of my heart, I truly do hope you dance in every sense of the word and, if you're ever in need of a partner, I'll be right here! XOXOXO 



I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted,

GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)


I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance..

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone) 

******************************************************************************



This post was part of the One Word Blog Linkup hosted by, Janine of Confessions of a Mommyaholic and me! This week, the word prompt choices were Blessing and AbsurdIf you would like to join the linkup you can find more information HERE, sign up for weekly emails HERE, and/or join our Facebook group HERE. Every Friday, two prompts are emailed. Choose one and write a post using that word as inspiration. Linkup up any time between 6:00am EST on Wednesday-9:00pm EST on Thursdays on any of the host sites.








21 comments:

Janine Huldie said...

Aw, I absolutely love this and agree Lisa, sometimes we just have to go with our guts 😉

Leanne@crestingthehill said...

that was just lovely - and I do hope your girls dance through life :)

Julie S. said...

This song has such great lyrics, and you're right, it is perfect as it is. Thanks for the reminder :)

sue said...

Perfect words of advice for your lovely daughters. Thanks for sharing the lyrics with us and I hope your daughters do dance through life......

Mary Hill said...

I love this song. I wanted to bring a playlist of songs to the birth of my child. I wanted this song and the song by Rod Stewart, "Forever Young." I could not pull it together in time. She came three weeks to early.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I tried several times to go in a different direction but kept coming back to this!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Me too! Thanks!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

You're welcome! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh yeah - Forever Young! That's a great one too!

Christina Amore said...

It is a perfect song, and a perfect use of the prompt!

Chris Carter said...

I absolutely LOVE that song... and I think it is PERFECT for the prompt. Along with those photos, it made me teary eyed too!!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Awww! :-)

Artadorned said...

Wow! This song is probably the most beautiful song I have ever heard. That's probably the most important message a mother could give to her daughters.


www.artadorned.com

Lizelle said...

This post is SO sweet! Not a mama myself but I am a teacher and I must admit I do hope this for 'my kids' It also reminds me that my own mama probably has these wishes for me in her heart. I would be could to remember them...thanks for the reminder :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Glad you enjoyed it!

Kristi - Finding Ninee said...

I've never really listened to the words to that song, Lisa. It's perfect and beautiful. Truly. The image of always feeling small when standing near the ocean is one that will stay with me today for sure. Thank you.

MamaRabia said...

It really is the perfect song. I can't listen to it today, because I already know it will make me cry. I'm dealing with all the emotions today already!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

You're welcome! :-) I think deep down it's what all parents wish for their kids - it's just sometimes difficult to put in into words as eloquently as the song does.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I understand! It makes me cry pretty much every time I listen to it.

Stacey Gannett said...

An absolutely perfect song. I think that most of us definitely want all of that and more for our daughters...and for the boys too. All I will ever wish for is them to be happy! Have a great weekend, Lisa!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Stacey!

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