joy | Dancing Naked

Day 2 – Happiness Jar Project

02 Jan 2015 2 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, Happiness, Happiness Jar, Happiness Jar Project, joy, joy jar, my Happiness

Day Two of my Happiness Jar Project!

Last night, I almost forgot – and on the first night! As I lay my head on my pillow, looking forward to going to sleep, a light bulb lit bright above my head! Omigosh! I gotta write my happiness moment down! So, I sprang up and got my little mini-tablet and pen, and proceeded to reflect on my day.

There were many moments during the first day of the year that qualified as happiness moments, but one stood out. I am blessed with friends, but I have made some incredible online friends in the process of marketing my wellness business and my books and writing. Those once again proved to me that no matter where we are, those we meet in person or online, are precious! For that I am grateful and felt great happiness!

So, this second day of the year? I already wrote my happiness moment. Tonight it was easy. Seeing joy, simple joy, in my loved one’s eyes brought me happiness today. It is these simple moments that bring me happiness. Too often sadness and apathy are in those eyes, but today, there was real excitement. That spark I fell in love with so many years ago was re-kindled.

How is your Happiness Jar Project going? I think I am really enjoying this process! Join me! Get your Joy on!

What is This All About, Anyway?

18 Sep 2014 6 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, empowerment, joy, Life, moving forward, Renee

No music today! What? Well, I wanted to take a little different focus with my readers today.

I have reached 100 followers on this blog, and I would love to be able to connect with more. But a lot of people may not realize what Dancing Naked is all about, so I am taking this morning to offer why Dancing Naked is here.

A few years ago, one of my good friends loaned me a book that got me thinking about my own life. The book? Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn by Kris Radish. I provided the link so you could get the book yourself. I highly recommend it. I won’t give away the story here, but suffice it to say that Kris opened something inside of me with her book and the story that made me realize I had lived a pretty fearful life.

Quite a few years ago, another friend who is an amazing photographer and artist called her studio Dancing Barefoot Photography. Add that to Kris Radish’s book, and visions of dancing free from constraints of my own making or from my own reactions to my external and internal forces starting building.

Now, being the ever fearful and cautious woman I have always been, I searched for a way to articulate my own inner feelings of discovery without giving away too much or seeming like a whiny, middle aged woman needing to garner sympathy and throw an ever going pity party.

Blogging seemed like a great idea, so the title of a blog and the format became a focus. I knew I wanted to invoke the word “Dancing,” but I was in no space to borrow from the hint of unbridled joy invoked by the word. After many phrases and titles, the only one that really seemed to fit what I wanted to create was “Dancing Naked.”

The title conveyed exactly what I wanted to share, but, me being me, I had to make sure there was no trademark on the phrase. I found one filed for a wine, but it was abandoned. Crossing my fingers and stepping out there, Dancing Naked was born October 6, 2010.

Posting was very intermittent, but going back and reading some of my earlier posts, I can see how far I have grown. Those that know me know that I have been in the process of changing my name for four years because of some very personal reasons. And as I have grown, that name has changed some. In fact, one of the earlier names still remains on my page.

But through it all, I have attempted to be open and honest with my readers. I have tried to take my readers with me on this journey. The past few years have brought some of the most difficult lessons, and up until last year, there was very little blogging done.

Last year, I started a series of daily blogs taking random songs from my playlist and writing my impressions. That proved to be the greatest challenge and awakening process. And now, I find myself going back to the music format, but needing to move forward.

So, I will take this moment to dance naked a little here. Ready? In October, I had a very large cyst/tumor removed from the base of my skull that was causing blurred vision, headaches, and dizziness. It was benign, thank the Goddess! But that opened my voice. I released what I felt was a giant yoke around my neck keeping me from speaking my truth – my real truth.

In May, I was diagnosed as a diabetic. Damn! Didn’t see that one coming. My beautiful new doctor made sure to impress upon me that is was due to extreme stress. So, a drastic diet change, the addition of pharmaceuticals, and amping up my meditation practice entered my life. In June, I was scheduled for a total right knee replacement since my knee was gone. That happened in July.

And now? Well, eight weeks later, I am moving and doing great! No more neck issues, my blood sugar is controlled, and I have a new knee! I still have some pain and limited mobility, but rehab has taught me a lot about myself. Mainly that I have been stuck in fear of doing the wrong thing for so long that I was missing out on a lot of joy and passion in my life. I was the need to step out of my ego and pride and move forward in my life with my passion.

My passion? Writing! Painting! Creating! So, here you and I are at this very moment in time together. Dancing Naked is my baby where I share my journey with you! Sometimes, it’s not very pretty, but it is honest, raw, and my truth! I would love to add more readers and share with more in the hopes that we can all find our way in the world to grow and feel free to Dance Naked once in a while.

Reborn and Renee

14 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: chasing you, dancing naked, joy, love, power, reborn, Renee

Music of the Day – Chasing You by Capital Cities

Link to music/lyrics – http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/capitalcities/chasingyou.html

Ever feel like a hamster on a wheel running and running to nowhere in particular, and yet, you keep running and chasing. Today’s music is absolutely perfect for what I am releasing in my life, and I want to share with you, my readers, just how important the lyrics to this song are.

I almost don’t need to add anything here, but, you know me, I will.

I have spent my life chasing “something,” did not know what, but “something.” I have always had the feeling that what I was seeking was just out of my reach, and just as I reached that “something,” it was snatched out of my reach once again. That is until this year. Up to now, the chase was the “something.” I just didn’t realize it.

Today, I am here to tell you that the “something” was grabbed a few months ago and the chase is over. Now it is the dance with the “something” that is important. What is the “something?” ME!

Yep, I have been chasing me! I was there all along, came out in my Sunday best, and ran again just as I thought I had found me. I was stuck in a loop, on a wheel, thinking that I was broken and needed fixing. Always looking outside of myself for someone or “something” to fix it.

And … I am not broken, I do not need fixing, I am me! In my Amazingness, in my Awesomeness, in my Vulnerability, in my Anger, in my Love, in my Joy, in my Desires, in my Passions. In Me! I stand now full of myself and my being – not accepting compromise, not accepting any judgment, not accepting any talk or thoughts that would attempt to take me away from me.

So, I say to my readers, and to the family and friends that wonder all about why I have so latched on to the change of names over the years. The old is buried with love for all that she taught me, the new is here, reborn and Renee!

Be the Parade!

25 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: bliss, empowerment, feminism, joy, live, parade

Music for the day – Parade by Matchbox Twenty

Music Link – http://youtu.be/CvJDnvbnmH4

Lyrics Link – http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/matchbox20/parade.htm

That feeling that if you look away, you just might miss something. Remembering parades, you ever notice that in the parade, you are always looking back to see what is coming? That’s how parades are, and if you look ahead, you just might miss something. But that’s a parade – not life. The only value in looking back is realizing the lessons that have been learned and understanding your “come from” so you can work on your “go to.”

It is in the letting go of that old song that keeps replaying. Why stay at a parade that’s over? What is the benefit? Rob Thomas sings in the song,

There’s so much more that you need to work out
Oh no
You don’t want that parade to leave you now

Let’s remember the song! Take it out and really look at why it keeps replaying in your head and in your life. What is it that serves you? What do you need to work out? If you are caught in the same parade over and over again, and you just don’t want it to leave you, there is a reason. There is something that is serving you staying long after the crowd is gone. Perhaps there is an old thought process that needs releasing. Maybe, just maybe, you’ve spent so much time at this parade that you don’t believe there is another one bigger and better. Or maybe, you don’t believe that you deserve a bigger and better parade. Or maybe, you’ve spent so much time watching the parade and not enough time in the parade.

Whatever the reason, meet it with no judgment. Meet it right where you are knowing that this parade that keeps playing over and over is there for a reason. As you are standing there watching the last float go by and last band playing, alone in your thoughts, maybe you just need to be in the emotion.

Don’t leave too early – not until you have worked out whatever it is you need to work out. If you leave too early, you may miss the biggest surprise of all. That surprise that shows you the joy and excitement of yourself. Once you realize that each and every parade in your life brings a special joy, you can walk away and enjoy the next parade. There are no bad parades – they are all there for you. So, maybe instead of sitting on the sidelines watching, it’s time to jump in the middle and participate! Become a part of the parade. Then it won’t pass you by at all. Maybe it’s time to let go of those old parades where you stayed long after they were over. Maybe, you are the parade!

The Body Joyous

21 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: beauty, body joyous, dancing naked, empowerment, feminism, joy, women who run with the wolves

Music Muse for the day – Feels like the First Time by Foreigner

Link– http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/foreigner/feelslikethefirsttime.html – (you guys really have to listen!)

This dance between man and woman is most amazing, wouldn’t you agree? When there is a real connection between a man and a woman, there are those times that it feels fresh and new and the act of exploring each other is beyond imagination.

If you have been following this blog for the past few weeks, you will remember several posts in which I talked about the sensual side of the woman and how important it is to acknowledge that piece. Well, I am going a little farther today, because, well, that is just how I feel led this morning.

Confession of this blogger today – remember, this is Dancing Naked – with truth for my readers on my journey so far. I spent way too long suppressing the sensual side of my femaleness not understanding that it was the sensual side that made me feel like a woman. I did not understand that being sensual was a natural and wonderful part of who I am as a woman. The following stanza just speaks volumes about where I am in this time of my life:

I have waited a lifetime
Spent my time so foolishly
But now that I’ve found you
Together we’ll make history

The “You” I found is the reality of the sensual me! Yep, I said it! I have discovered what embracing the female inside me can bring – a sense of empowerment, a sense of beauty, a sense of life, and yes, a sense of my true nature. You see, we were created to enjoy the sensual side, and we were created to enjoy all that brings to us. I have discovered just how amazing my body truly is. I may need to lose a few pounds, and I may need to tone some muscles, but my body is the most amazing thing. It responds to joy, pleasure, sadness, anger – all those emotions.

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, in Women Who Run with the Wolves, calls the body joyous. And that is what I have discovered – the body joyous! Oh, don’t get me wrong. When I look in the mirror, I still see those wrinkles and those curves and I still wonder what I can do to look my best. The difference now? I also see the body joyous! I see my perfection in the way I move and the way I feel.

I am a butterfly that has left the safety and security of the cocoon and is flying free. I may falter and I may make some mistakes in my flight, but I am seeing myself “just like the first time!” I attribute this to the support I have received and the love and guidance and acceptance to stretch my boundaries.

The door is open and I will never feel the old way again. Regardless of where my journey takes me from here, I am most grateful to the one who has opened the door. I urge my readers to allow the doors to be opened for yourselves. If you have any doubts about your amazingness and beauty, ignore all of those so-called flaws and really look at yourself – just like the first time. Embrace the sensual – embrace the wonder – embrace the Body Joyous!