When I have trouble making a decision, it’s often because I fear making the wrong decision. But how do I know a decision is wrong until I make it?
Sometimes I tell people who are having trouble making a decision to consider that there are no wrong decisions. Is that the wrong decision? Because decisions do have consequences.
However, it’s often the wrong decision to obsess about possible consequences before making a decision. The right decision is to decide, act, and then deal with the consequences as best you can.
Last night, I was thinking I had made the wrong decision to sit in the front row of the live show of So You Think You Can Dance.
See those rectangular boxes? They were foot lights that wrongly obscured my view of the dancers’ feet.
It was the wrong decision for me to focus on what was wrong with my view. I made the right decision to enjoy what I could see. And Hannahlei, Jensen, Genessy, Slavik, Darius, Jay Jay, Cole, Magda, Evan, and Chelsea all made the right decision to be dancers. They don’t just think they can dance — they most decidedly can.
Is it the wrong decision to share the Yellow Trench Coat performance from So You Think You Can Dance?
I’ve decided it was not the wrong decision to vote Hannahlei Cabanilla the winner of the latest season of So You Think You Can Dance.
Any wrong decisions in my other photos from yesterday?
I wonder if it’s the wrong decision to tell this story about my being a temporary worker during the summer of 1971 at Lynn City Hall (the location of Lynn Memorial Auditorium, where I saw the performance last night).
One of the many jobs I held as a temp worker during the summer of 1971 was in the rent control department of Lynn City Hall. One day, I saw a man I knew from my synagogue come in to speak to the director of the department. When he left, the director said a defamatory word about Jews, which starts with the letter “K.” I had never heard that word spoken out loud; I was shocked. Soon afterwards, somebody else who worked there walked over to my desk and asked “Ann, are you Jewish?” I thought it might be the wrong decision to admit that, so I asked, “WHY?” This guy said, “Because I saw your face when the director said that. I think everybody here thinks you’re Italian.” The next day, the director, looking very uncomfortable, came over to my desk and said, “You know, I think it’s GREAT that Israel is bombing the hell out of (whomever Israel was bombing the hell out of that summer).” I decided to look him right in the eye and say, “Really? I think it’s TERRIBLE.”
Do you see any wrong decisions there?
It’s never a wrong decision to end with thanks to all who helped me make all the decisions going into the creation of this post and — of course! — YOU.
It was a great decision to tell your story of Lynn City Hall, Ann
You are decidedly awesome, Maureen.
Always a good decision to read your blog
You’re a good decider and a good blogger, Alex.
Sometimes wrong decisions make good stories! Shall we dance? ♪ヽ(▽￣ )ﾉ/(＿△＿)ヽ( ￣▽)ﾉ♪♪
It’s always a great decision to dance. <3
♡(ŐωŐ人)
Thanks, Ann, for sharing your stories and thoughts. It’s helpful. I’ve been taking to heart those words by Rumi about a world beyond right and wrong. When I’ve been away from judging myself and my choices, it helps me see things more clearly. Still, I realize I’m only taking baby steps towards something I still can’t quite see clearly. I’m grateful to notice that earlier in my life I didn’t even realize I had a choice. So, that’s some sort of progress.
Vincent
That’s a lot of progress, Vincent. Thank you for sharing your stories and thoughts, too.
I’d like to emphasize that I think the people I see on So You Think You Can Dance don’t have a choice when it comes to dancing. It’s a need for them, but they’ve made a choice to be the best dancers they can possibly be, which is what makes them so great. Instead though I feel I have no choice but to say that anti-Semitism, like any prejudice, is a terrible and unnecessary choice. I’m glad you made the choice to share your experience.
Thank you for another decidedly choice comment, Chris. I’m always glad when you share your experiences, too.
Great post Ann, thanks for sharing it, for me there is no wrong decision…, have a nice Sunday!!!
GREAT comment!!
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That’s pretty powerful, concentrating on the positive, Ann. Bravo on enjoying the dancing from the front row regardless of the pit-fall.
Thanks for your righteous comment, Mark.
What if I can’t change my mind?
It’s your decision, Derrick.
🙂 Nice one
i’m impressed
how you’re not
caught in being
right or wrong 🙂
i’m impressed
and caught
by your comment
Wow! Your personal experience in the early ’70s at the Lynn Memorial Hall is shocking to hear, but then I think back to all that I’ve heard said out loud in my lifetime and I shouldn’t be shocked at all, really. In 1971, just out of high school, I had my first job while going to school and I was exposed to attitudes and behaviors I’d never before witnessed, and I was frequently very intimidated. I really like your response back to the questioning.
And do you know, I had the same situation with my own SYTYCD live performance. We paid for really good seats, or so I thought, but we were so eye level we had trouble seeing the performances as well as I’d have liked. But like you…still fun!
And I hope it isn’t the wrong decision to tell you that our Los Angeles household will be rooting for the Dodgers? At least for the duration of the series I’m about as enthusiastic about baseball as I can manage…for the sake of others I live with. LOL!
Debra, it was the right decision to write exactly what you wrote here. Many thanks. <3
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