What a Feeling
And It Is a Great Feeling

If there is a song that can encapsulate who I am, it is What a Feeling from Flashdance.  I have written about setbacks in my life, which, given time, turn out to be blessings. The major setbacks for me were moving to Mt. Lebanon, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA from Pennsauken, NJ and two dances with death.

What intrigues me are the pieces coming together.  Essentially, I'm happy.  Having said that, there are five things that I have attempted to accomplish in the past couple of years and have failed to do so.  However, once I obtain one of these goals, I will replace it with another goal.  Therefore, I am happy and up emotionally.  I dream dreams and am active in obtaining the dreams.

New paragraph.  I was refinishing a school desk for Calla, who is an 18-month old child of my web administrator.  Interestingly, that old school desk started to talk with me while I was in the middle of removing many layers of paint.  I had bought the desk in Chicago.  However, I discovered that it had been a desk of the actress, Jennifer Beals, while she was in elementary school.  I recalled seeing Flashdance back in the mid-80s.  Beals' character was Alex, who was a steelworker in Pittsburgh.

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Jennifer Beals, aka Alex

However, Alex wanted to dance.

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The steelworker who dreamt of dancing

Therefore, Alex is a metaphor for a dreamer.  In many ways, she is like Don Quixote.  She is up, positive, and always dreaming.  As a result of dreaming dreams that never were, she obtained her goal.

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The dreamer

First when there's nothing
but a slow glowing dream
that your fear seems to hide
deep inside your mind.
All alone I have cried
silent tears full of pride
in a world made of steel,
made of stone.

Well, I hear the music,
close my eyes, feel the rhythm,
wrap around, take a hold
of my heart.

What a feeling.
Bein's believin'.
I can have it all, now I'm dancing for my life.

Take your passion
and make it happen.
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life.
Now I hear the music,
close my eyes, I am rhythm.
In a flash it takes hold
of my heart.

What a feeling.
Bein's believin'.
I can have it all, now I'm dancing for my life.

Take your passion
and make it happen.
Pictures come alive, now I'm dancing through my life.

What a feeling.
What a feeling I AM MUSIC NOW
Bein's believin'. I AM RHYTHM NOW
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life.
What a feeling. YOU CAN REALLY HAVE IT ALL
What a feeling. PICTURES COME ALIVE WHEN I CALL
I can have it all I CAN REALLY HAVE IT ALL
Have it all PICTURES COME ALIVE WHEN I CALL
CALL CALL CALL CALL WHAT A FEELING
I can have it all BEIN'S BELIEVIN
Bein's believin' TAKE YOUR PASSION
MAKE IT HAPPEN

Now, I do not know the recipe for you getting that feeling.  I got it in spite of Mt. Lebanon, two dances with death, and failure to obtain a handful of goals.  Nonetheless, you need to list the goals and dreams that you have, which have evaded you in life.  Believe in your passions.  Follow your dreams.  Let me assure you the result will be What a Feeling.  Trust me.

The world out there is not perfect.  There is pain, hurt, and disappointment.  I have felt those feelings of discomfort over my long life.  However, I believe in my dreams and return to the world and enjoy the moment.  What a Feeling is what I experience and so can you if you believe in your dreams.  Carpe Diem.  Nevertheless, you must seize the day.  Don't allow the day to seize you. 

One final suggestion, Confucius said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Confucius is correct.  Move.  Begin the journey.  Regardless of how dark the night might be for you at the time, remember that the darker it is, the sooner the dawn will arrive of a new day...a day closer to your dream being realized.  Saul Alinsky said, "We must believe that it is the darkest before the dawn of a beautiful new world. We will see it when we believe it."



On Seeing the Light

On Seeing the Light

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Connecting The Dots

Connecting the Dots

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Darkest Before Dawn

Darkest Before Dawn

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The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture

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Dancing with Death

Dancing with Death

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Talking with Objects

Talking with Objects

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Don Quixote

"Don Quixote"

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Man in the Arena

Man in the Arena

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Music I Love

Music I Love and Why

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Confucius Said

Confucius

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11/20/15