‘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’
The first four lines of Lee Ann Womack’s hit song “I hope you dance”. The very same song that was incredibly special to Oprah’s mentor the late great American Poet Maya Angelou and was played by Womack at Ms Angelous funeral in 2014. Ms Angelou had said the song reminded her of Oprah and I read somewhere that she sent Oprah a gift she said she’d want any daughter of hers to have. It was a CD of Lee Ann Womack’s songs, with the hit being ‘I hope you dance’ taking centre stage.
I love the song. Have loved it for years. I have a daughter and I agree with Maya Angelou. The words are powerful and my daughter should hear them when she is old enough to understand.
I have the song on my ipod and every time I listen to it at the gym I try a little harder and reflect a little more. You see the power of a good song does that.
Some friends recently ventured into a very small startup business. A group of women, with not much capital, but a good idea and the willingness to have a go. It may be a success and it may be a flop. They’ll do it in their spare time. It will take second place or third to the family, the kids, the chores, the dinners, the after school activities, the washing, the ironing, the cleaning….
But it is something they are keen to try and they are willing to put effort into. Whether or not their idea makes them a fortune or is a complete failure what I like best is they are putting themselves out there. They are not sitting on the sidelines but are up and moving. As the song says so poignantly:
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance