Tiny Wins, Bright Lights

Driving in the car the other day, the DJ introduced a song and mentioned it was the first rock song to open a James Bond film, reaching #2 on the Billboard charts in 1973. I instantly recognized the song.  Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney and Wings. Whenever I hear this song, I am transported back to the show choir in my freshman year of high school. Show choir involves whole-stage singing and dancing, much like musical theater. 

Our spring concert show was a James Bond medley. The show was fantastic and a lot of fun, and served as my introduction to the James Bond franchise.  

Love and Let Die holds a special memory for me. The song begins slowly, with minimal movement required, and is a lovely ballad. However, the intensity builds quickly, and then it suddenly gets fast and busy. Our choreographer decided that the fast part would have a complex dance combination performed by a small group of girls. Eight girls were chosen, and one of those girls was me! I  was the only freshman selected. Despite being one of the heaviest girls in the group, I never danced like I was a heavy girl. I was good. I was always in the front, acting as a guide for the dancers behind me. 

Show Choir was such a great experience. The music was great, the shows were fun, and the choreographer was cool and was heavy like me, and she could move!  I never felt like a lesser dancer for being heavy, at least in her studio. I never got to be the star in the show choir, but when I was on that stage, singing, dancing, wearing a sparkling costume, I felt like a star. 

Today, when I hear 'Live and Let Die,' I am back at the studio space where we would rehearse on Sunday nights. I remember being in that group of girls learning the routine and how I felt when I was dancing alongside the older dancers as an equal. I still find joy and excitement when I hear the song.  It wasn’t just the song itself, but the brief moment I got to shine within it. It was probably that moment when I truly felt like I belonged. I wasn’t the only one, but being chosen for a group of eight girls out of about 36 in the group was a big deal to me. It was a tiny win with a significant impact. Hold onto your small wins. Those can lead to some of the moments that have long-lasting effects.