Are We Too Old to Dance?

Are We Too Old to Dance?

If you told me a few weeks ago that I’d be out for St. Patty’s Day, with my girlfriends, at a random bar, dancing the night away in my adidas ultra boosts, lol, climbing a random birdcage in the middle of the dance floor (and being told by a security guard to come down because it is for “ladies” not a jungle gym – also, lol) and then walking home, in the cold, arm in arm, just like old times. If you told me all of this would unfold, I would have never in a million years believed you.

My friends, they work. They have kids. I am a lame old grandmother who can’t bear to go out beyond a 5-metre radius around my apartment. And on a Friday night? That’s my coma night. To be at a bar with like, all younger people? Those days are behind me. But there we were. The three of us, dancing like nobody was watching. And yet, everybody was watching.

As I dropped it down low, laughing at how fun it felt to be unchained from the prison of my youth, I wondered: “Am I too old for this shit?”

First of all, I was wearing an oversized men’s sweatshirt with bullet holes, bright orange running shoes, no mascara, and my glasses (you can see the type of night I thought we were going to have). I didn’t have copious jagger bombs in my system, only a few glasses of white wine with dinner. But the surprising thing was that I didn’t care. As I looked around at all the 20-somethings, in heels and push-up bras, taking shots to release their inhibitions, swaying against the wall, careful not to let too much personality out; I remembered what it was like to be in their shoes. I would be so self-conscious about how I danced, what I looked like; I wanted to be so cool. I thought I was so cool.

We’d laugh at the group of older women who just showed up at the club, dancing like crazy people, zero fucks given. Well, this weekend, as I danced with my tongue out, in the middle of the dance floor, it hit me. We were the old farts now. And the more I revelled in the possible judgements the people around us were making, the more I understood why those older women didn’t care that they didn’t fit in, or that they didn’t know all the songs, or that they danced without trying to be conventionally sexy.

They, in fact, were free. A freedom that only age, real love, babies, divorce, taxes, managing staff, paying a mortgage, AKA “adulting,” can afford.

Let’s Dance, the Last Dance

It wasn’t that they were trying to relive the past (god knows I wasn’t). They had for whatever reason found themselves in an old situation, and because they were so beyond it, could actually just have a good time regardless of social conventions. While everyone else was there to hook up, under the guise of dancing, we were actually there to dance. Sure, one guy gave me this “holy shit this chick is fucking weird” look as I let my arms flail to the music and I smiled back. A smile that said: “If you only knew, my friend, how good it feels to not give a damn about what you think of me.” And I continued to dance the night away.

You’re never too old to dance, I realized. But I was definitely too old to care.

Besides, I had bigger problems that night when I went to bed, like indigestion. Never EVER order the mushroom pizza at Pizzeria Libretto. One thing I do miss from my younger years, my bullet-proof stomach…

xoxo

Let’s Chat!

Have you ever found yourself in those moments when you realize, you’re too old for this shit? Or you realize you’ve become the person you used to make fun of when you were younger? I’d love to hear about your experiences whether they are in a bar, night club, or anywhere, really, that made you come full circle. Leave me a comment and let’s chat!

 

9 Comments

  1. March 20, 2017 / 5:09 pm

    These days, I usually don’t have the energy to party the night away like I used to, but on the rare nights that I do go out dancing, I love it!! We are never too old to dance. :)
    Caring what other people think of you is giving them control over you. I agree with you Justine – age affords us freedom!

    • Justine Iaboni
      March 20, 2017 / 5:44 pm

      Hey girl! Thanks so much for the comment! Yeah, I agree with you. It feels so good to dance nowadays when I go out – cuz I don’t give a damn! It’s the best feeling. Recovery time is way longer tho. Won’t be hitting the clubs for at least another 3 months. HAHA.
      xoxo J

  2. Seanna
    March 20, 2017 / 11:35 pm

    I’ve always just danced for fun, even in my 20s and never really cared what anyone thought! It is my perchance for putting my foot in my mouth that STILL keeps me up at night!!

    As for being to old for this shit. I think that every time I look downhill about to go down a run that is slightly too difficult for me!

    • Justine Iaboni
      March 21, 2017 / 12:12 pm

      Hey man, that’s amazing. I wish I had that much confidence… I’m getting there, slowly. AT LEAST YOU’RE ON THE DAMN SLOPES. Ah, some women could learn a thing or two from you, Seanna. I know I have.

      xoxo J

      • Seanna
        March 21, 2017 / 5:36 pm

        So sweet!

  3. March 22, 2017 / 10:03 am

    “One thing I do miss from my younger years, my bullet-proof stomach…” Haha, so true!!!

    The other thing I miss is being able to go out 2-3 nights a week and still have all the energy in the world. Now I go out dancing one night and it fucks up my entire sleep schedule, I feel tired as hell and it takes me an entire week to get back on track!

    • Justine Iaboni
      March 28, 2017 / 2:49 pm

      OMG tell me about it!!!! I used to go dancing Thurs, Friday, and then go to work Saturday morning (with big sunglasses and a latte – now I would need to be airlifted) and then party again Saturday night. I can’t. lol.

  4. May 27, 2017 / 8:18 am

    I LOVED this post! I’ve decided to not remember how old I am because more and more I’m realizing that people who I think should be older than me (like my doctor!) are actually either my age, or – OMG – YOUNGER. So weird.

    • Justine Iaboni
      July 8, 2017 / 9:49 am

      HAHAHA now that is trippy! Yes, everyone our age is like, doctors, lawyers, teachers… It’s kinda weird eh.

      Ya, age is just a number. It’s how you feel that’s important! I feel 21. LOL Ok my mind feels 21 my body feels 80. But that’s another story haha.

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