Don't be afraid of being silly

One thing that often keeps people from participating in new activities is fear. Fear of failing. Fear of looking silly. Fear of being laughed at.

I let go of that fear last week when I drove down to Sikeston, Mo., to participate in a dance lesson for the "Thrill the World" event, scheduled for Oct. 23. "Thrill the World" is a charity event where people around the world get together, raise money or awareness or to collect food or clothing for a cause, and dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Already a little panicked at the thought of meeting new people and then dancing around them like a zombie, my nerves did not calm as I drove around Sikeston in search of the YMCA.

Apparently, my windshield has not been cleaned since the days "Thriller" debuted. Driving straight into the sun, trying to read road signs was not the best way to ease my anxiety.

I finally got there, and I remembered something: It was a lesson. No one else would know the dance either. So I took a spot beside the other women learning it and we set to work counting, shaking and doing the zombie walk.

One of the women had done the 2009 "Thrill the World" but still needed to relearn the moves so she would be confident in her thrill skills. I was new to the dance, but it's easier than you think.

I got over the fear. I didn't fail -- except in learning the last 16 counts or so of the dance. That part I failed.

We did look silly and we did laugh at each other, but let's be honest, we were acting like zombies and dancing around in a YMCA. It's pretty silly, but it was fun.