Pursuit of Happiness

If anyone were to ask me, what is the one thing that always makes you happy….the unequivocal answer would be dance and music….of course you might consider that as two different answers, but for me one cannot exist without the other!! No matter what condition I am in….how down in the dumps…dance is one thing that has always lifted my spirits. Whether its watching a dance show on television (rather laptop these days) or actually dancing to a song, dance in all its forms is a constant source of joy. In fact it is the one thing that I don’t think I can ever give up in my life. Even if the only way I manage to keep in touch is shaking a leg while cleaning up my room, it would still mean a lot. In fact, me not responding to music is a sure shot way of confirming that I am no longer alive, irrespective of whether I am still breathing or not. It is the one thing I know I could never give up on….non-negotiable condition, so my husband (whoever that  poor soul is) had better make his peace with it.  

Thankfully, along with loving dance, I also seem to dance pretty decently by normal standards (was going to write "or so I’ve been told" ….but I think I know this much for sure whether or not people agree!!). I’ve learnt classical for quite a while and one of my cousins seriously felt that I should take it up professionally. It’s a notion that I toyed with for a while, still do in fact in a very “what if” kind of way. But in the end, I realized it wasn’t worth the risk! Now don’t get me wrong, by risk I am not referring to the lack of security in the arts stream and all such practical notions. Even though all those considerations are very valid, in today’s day and age, there is a lot of opportunity out there. If you are good, there is a place out there for you! But that is the condition, if you are Good!!! Considering everything, I knew I was a good dancer, but I also knew that I had a lot of work to do to get anywhere close to being a professional. It would mean a lot of hard work and a lot of competition too! To tell you the truth, that is what decided it for me. Ever since I can remember dance has been my escape….the place I go to when the pressures of the world start to get to me. Studies, exams…all these things were always a source of tension no matter how good I was at them. But when I danced, I was free from all of that. I went to class for the pure joy of learning, reveling in appreciation when it came my way, but happy nonetheless. If I took the plunge, decided to take my dance to the next level, I would now be subjecting myself to the pressures of succceding even in dance…..it would be an exam all over again. I’d risk losing the enjoyment that I derived from dance under the pressure of excelling at it.....and thats a risk I just don’t want to take! 

People say the best way to be happy in life is to make your hobby your profession, and I completely agree with it. That would be the ideal situation!!! But sometimes, I feel it might be too much to expect of your hobby/passion to make you happy as well as meet all your other needs!! Not all of us are talented enough  or driven enough to make that dream come true. And sometimes, there are just some criteria which are not in your control, things that cannot be acquired by any amount of hard work…whether it’s the voice quality of an aspiring singer, or the body structure of an aspiring dancer…somethings are not in our hands. But that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing those things, just maybe not professionally. So do something you like, that you are good at or can excel at….earn a living, be comfortable…and make damn sure that you leave enough time for the things and the people you love the most. May not be the best way to happiness, but its close enough for me! :)