I believe it is in my nature to dance by virtue of the beat of my

"I believe it is in my nature to dance by virtue of the beat of my heart, the pulse of my blood and the music in my mind." These words of Robert Fulghum carry a truth as old as the human soul itself — that the dance of life is not something learned or imposed from without, but something that rises naturally from within. It is not the steps we take in the world that define us, but the rhythms of our hearts, the pulse of our blood, and the music of our minds. In each of us lies a deep, innate call to dance, a call that is as much a part of our being as the very air we breathe. We are born to dance, not because the world demands it, but because the essence of life itself pulses through us like an ancient drumbeat, urging us to move in harmony with the universe.

Fulghum’s words speak to the sacred rhythm of life — a rhythm that is felt in the deepest parts of us, in the heartbeat that resounds with every breath we take, in the flow of blood that carries the energy of existence, and in the thoughts that sing melodies in our minds. The dance is not just a physical act, but a spiritual one, a sacred expression of the harmony that exists between body, mind, and spirit. It is the very essence of being alive. To dance is to live fully, to allow the body to express the truths that cannot be spoken in words, to honor the life that pulses through us with every movement.

Consider the great Sufi mystics, who, in their whirling dance, sought union with the divine. Their bodies, spinning in a continuous motion, were not simply performing a physical act, but were in communion with the rhythms of the cosmos. The dance was a prayer, a reflection of the heartbeat of the universe. In their movement, they felt the pulse of life itself, flowing through them, binding them to something greater than themselves. The rhythm of their souls became one with the eternal music of existence, and in their dance, they found a deeper connection to the divine.

Think, too, of Martha Graham, the great American dancer and choreographer, who once said, "Dance is the hidden language of the soul." For her, dance was not a performance, but a revelation — a way to express the unspoken truths of the heart. She believed that every movement told a story, that the body could speak in ways words could not. When she danced, she was not simply moving her body, she was aligning herself with the pulse of life. She moved because her heart and soul demanded it, because in the movement of her body, she found freedom, and in that freedom, she found her truest self.

This is the lesson we must take from Fulghum’s words: the dance of life is not something to be forced or contrived, but something that must flow naturally from the essence of who we are. It is a reflection of the inner music that beats within us all. Just as the river flows, as the wind moves, so too must we, in the rhythm of our own lives. There are many who walk through life as though they are trapped in the stillness of their own hesitation, afraid to move with the rhythms that stir within them. But to truly live is to dance — to move, to express, to allow the rhythms of life to carry us forward.

When we speak of dancing, we are not merely speaking of a physical act, but of an attitude toward life. Every movement we make, every decision we take, every word we speak is a dance — a dance that expresses the joy, the sorrow, the love, and the pain that reside within us. Life itself is a dance, a sacred rhythm that calls us to join in. We must answer that call. And so, whether it be through the steps of a formal dance, the movements of our daily work, or the simple rhythm of our breathing, we must learn to move in harmony with the world.

Let us, then, take this to heart: do not be afraid to dance. Do not wait for the world to give you permission to move, for the music is already within you. The rhythm of the universe pulses in your veins, the beat of life hums in your heart. To dance is to live fully, to honor the sacredness of being. It is through our natural rhythm that we find our connection to the world, to others, and to the divine. Dance, then, with abandon, with joy, with the confidence that every movement is an expression of your true self, and that through your dance, you align with the music of the cosmos itself. Live your dance, and the world will follow.