This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Tango of Marriage
We took a class recently on the elegant Argentinian dance of tango. As I was being charmed by the suave instructor's smooth syncronization with his teaching and real life partner, I could not help thinking how this dance seemed rather like a metaphor for a marriage. When the two partners are in sync and attuned to each other, the result is a beautiful and graceful tango together. On the other hand, when the partners fail in their respective roles in the dance, they inevitably will end up stepping on each other's toes and looking rather foolish!
I especially liked one of the teaching techniques used by the instructor. We were all going to do the same four steps, but he asked the dancing partners to pick a sentence with their own unique cadence. The respective partners would then either interpret that sentence from the dance sequence their partner led them through, or vice-versa, dance the steps out in the exact cadence that their partner specified. Fo instance, "I want to dance Tango" can be said and danced "I waaaaaaaaaaant tooo daaaaaaaaance tango" or "I want to dance taaaaaaaango," or even "IIiiieee want to dance tango" where the pauses and the emphasis is executed in the steps representing each word! The key was hearing your partner's voice or watching his moves so that you were both on the same page. Married life is pretty much the same. Hearing, really hearing your partner's words or sometimes even their silence can make life a much enjoyable tango!
I especially liked one of the teaching techniques used by the instructor. We were all going to do the same four steps, but he asked the dancing partners to pick a sentence with their own unique cadence. The respective partners would then either interpret that sentence from the dance sequence their partner led them through, or vice-versa, dance the steps out in the exact cadence that their partner specified. Fo instance, "I want to dance Tango" can be said and danced "I waaaaaaaaaaant tooo daaaaaaaaance tango" or "I want to dance taaaaaaaango," or even "IIiiieee want to dance tango" where the pauses and the emphasis is executed in the steps representing each word! The key was hearing your partner's voice or watching his moves so that you were both on the same page. Married life is pretty much the same. Hearing, really hearing your partner's words or sometimes even their silence can make life a much enjoyable tango!
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