Dance to the Rhythm of Your Life:
How One Song and 16-Year-Olds Taught Me the Essence of Urja
The Wham Rap Wake-Up Call:
At 16, a song by Wham! hit me like a bolt of lightning. “Enjoy what you do; if not, just stop” became a mantra that guided my life. For a teenager of the Gen-X era, Wham! wasn’t just a pop group but a representation of youthful rebellion and free spirit. In the sanctity of my room, I danced. Clumsy, but passionately immersed.
The Difficult Beginning:
As Miyamoto Musashi once said, “It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.” I practiced 4-5 hours daily, envisioning a stage, roaring crowds, and a spotlight on me—a wild, illogical fantasy that stole sleep from my parents but gave me a reason to live.
Ignoring the Doubters:
When the annual day of my school was approaching, I put my name down for a solo dance performance. Classmates warned, “You’ll make a fool out of yourself.” But love for movement and dance deafened me to the naysayers.
The Turning Point:
The annual day arrived. The Wham Rap music hit the speakers, and the stage beneath me vanished. I danced for the joy it brought me, but soon, I felt the room’s energy pivot towards me. Cheers, swoons, applause—I had become a mini rockstar. The offers to perform at parties, industrial trips, and even paid dance lessons in my backyard began to flood in.
Fast Forward to Today:
Recently, while conducting the Urja program at a Gurudwara School with 80+ children, I was transported back to my school days. The kids danced with the enthusiasm lighting up the space guided by our mini rockstar coaches. When asked, “What does Urja mean to you?” one 16-year-old said, “It’s the first ray of the sun,” leaving us in awe.
Life Lessons Drawn:
- Follow Your Passion, Money Will Follow: I began teaching dance because I loved it, not because it was a job. And the money followed.
- Never Give Up On Your Dream: Your dreams can manifest at any stage of your life.
- Ignore the Naysayers: They can sap your vital ‘Urja,’ the essential life force you need to pursue your passion.
Your Turn:
Now, as I look back and connect the dots, I realize the unmissable essence of ‘Urja’ in every twist and turn of my life. What about you? What’s your source of ‘Urja’? How do you dance to the rhythm of your life?
Summary
- The Wham Rap Wake-Up Call:
- The Difficult Beginning:
- Ignoring the Doubters:
- The Turning Point:
- Fast Forward to Today:
- Life Lessons Drawn:
