Wednesday, August 09, 2006

more dumb quotes

In my continuing series of fwd type internet quotes (see here and here) I've come across the following:

Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though Heaven is on earth.


The problem is that I'm not sure if I can really make a lot of fun of this one, mostly because I appreciate the sentiment. Also, there are no real logic problems, as far as I can make out. It's very possible to sing like no one can hear you while dancing like no one can see you.

I guess the only real problem I see is the implied lack of confidence. Or perhaps the implied fear of being judged. Either way, I get a sense, while considering this little nothing quote that I should be embarrassed of singing and dancing. I should forget about my past hurts. And I should ignore all of the wrongs on this world.

Perhaps, in evaluating this quote, I should put it another way. It's too simplistic, and all of its simplicity comes from the wrong angle. Suppose we left the simplicity in, but approached it all from a slightly different path?


Dance as though the whole world were your audience. Learn and grow from your hurts, that you might love all the better for them. Sing loud, that everyone might hear. Live, for this is your one chance at life.


See? Still overly simplistic, but now you aren't hiding from the world, you're embracing it. I like it much better.

6 comments:

KU Mommy said...

oooh... i like it too. neat.

perhaps you should add... visit your old college friends when you say you will.

:) i dunno... maybe that doesn't flow too well.

Joel said...

Here's a problem with the first saying: It's just like Brown Eyed Girl ... every girl thinks it's about them. When facebook first came online at K-State, about 90% of the girls had that as their saying.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, it sucks having poop-brown eyes.

Anonymous said...

I alway cringe at those style of quotes as well, partly because its sentimental tacky crap, but mostly because the quote itself IS judgmental. It essentially says, "Yes, you are a bad person for doing these things, but ignore that fact and do them anyway." In place of it all, might I suggest:

Dance as you'd like because it doesn't matter whose watching.
Love because it makes the hurt irrelevant.
Sing as you'd like because is doesn't matter whose listening.
Enjoy your life, because you can.

TheMemoWriter said...

I'm with you. I've dated a number of girls and had female friends who love that (first) quote and its always rubbed me the wrong way. I think you've got it right here.

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