Birthdays, for me, have always been a bit of a funny affair when it comes to gifts. It’s almost become a running joke that the best presents I receive are the ones I’ve chosen for myself. Of course, there was that one memorable year my parents gifted me winter sheets for my 18th – practical, perhaps, but not exactly thrilling! Maybe it’s karmic payback for my own less-than-stellar gift-giving habits. Who knows? They say karma has a way of catching up with everyone.
But today is different. Today, as I turn 33, I can think of no better way to mark the occasion than by immersing myself in what truly moves me: music and writing about its profound meaning. And the song that resonates most deeply, the perfect anthem for this moment, is “I Hope You Dance.” This timeless piece, beautifully written by Lee Ann Womack and brought to life by the legendary Gladys Knight, as well as Ronan Keating, speaks directly to the soul. So, to myself, Sikhumbuzo, I wholeheartedly say: I Hope You Dance!
‘I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger, May you never take one single breath for granted, GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed, I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance, And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…. I hope you dance….. I hope you dance’.
This 33rd birthday arrives at a pivotal point in my life, a crossroads marked by significant changes. I’ve recently resigned from a stable, well-paying job in Cape Town, and I’m relocating to Johannesburg to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams full-time. As I embark on this exciting yet uncertain journey, “I Hope You Dance,” especially Gladys Knight’s rendition, serves as my personal mantra, a birthday gift of self-encouragement. I hope that the inner Sikhumbuzo never loses that precious sense of wonder, that he never takes a single breath for granted. I pray he remembers that a birthday isn’t just another day, but a significant milestone in this incredible journey of life.
The path of entrepreneurship is filled with both the promise of prosperity and the risk of setbacks. If my business ventures flourish and bring success, I hope you will still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, remaining grounded and humble amidst achievements. Conversely, if challenges arise and financial difficulties loom, I pray that I promise to give faith a fighting chance. Should doubt cloud my judgment, I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, remembering that livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’. And when the temptation to compromise my values arises, promise me I will reconsider!
This iconic song, “I Hope You Dance,” is more than just lyrics; it’s a guiding prayer for my inner self:
‘I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, Never settle for the path of least resistance, Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’, Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’, Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter, When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider, Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance, And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance. I hope you dance….I hope you dance and please remember that ‘time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along, Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone…’
Ultimately, my deepest wish for myself, as I embrace this new chapter, echoes the song’s powerful core: ‘when you get the choice to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance… I hope you dance!!!” May we all choose to dance through life, embracing every moment with hope, courage, and a sense of wonder, inspired by the timeless wisdom of Gladys Knight and “I Hope You Dance.”
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