Get Back Up

Steps into/out of one of the giant wells at a leprosy colony.

I heard a thump in the back of the room.  Then I heard some giggles and shuffling around.  When I turned to see what the commotion was, I found one of my students sitting awkwardly on the floor with some of her peers nearby.

"What's up?  Is everything okay?"  I asked as I approached the scene.

"She fell!"  Said one of the boys, smiling with amusement.  Everyone else laughed quietly, including the girl who had fallen.


"Didn't someone else fall earlier??"  I inquired as I helped her up onto her feet.

"She did!"  Said a few students, as they pointed to another classmate.  She smiled sheepishly back at me.  We had been working on a complicated dance phrase that included a turn followed by some complex floor movement.  I had slipped a little bit myself earlier!

"Well great!  The first falls this school year! Let's give them a round of applause!"  We all clapped and cheered for them.

"But why?"  interrupted one of the students.

"Because they got back up"  I replied.  "They fell, but they got back up.  They didn't quit."


I love this life lesson!  There are times when we fall, and we may fall hard!  It might hurt.  It might be embarrassing.  It might be the biggest disappointment.  It might be scary.  But the most important thing we can do for ourselves and for others is to get back up.  It might take some time, and it might require the assistance of others, but we get back up.

In Susie's video to the Life Dance Troupe auditioners, she said something really powerful:  "We don't let things push us to the ground and keep us there.  We can be pushed to the ground, but we have to get up."

Even today I had a great conversation with a loved where we were discussing all of the things had pushed her to the ground-- all of the seemingly valid reasons to quit and just be done.  But she didn't quit.  She got back up.  She got back up, and that choice has blessed her, as I'm sure it will continue to bless her.

So whatever might be pushing you to the ground right now or will push you to the ground later, please-- please get back up!  It will make a world of difference... I promise.

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