#522 Dancing when you’re home alone

Neil Pasricha

Get your groove on strong.

Yes, lock that door, shutter those blinds, and crank that bumping thumping music, baby. Because it’s time to get down with the get down:

• The Microphone. Wooden spoons are ideal but there are good substitutes like toothbrushes, combs, or even a bulky plastic hair dryer. Just don’t trip on the cord.

• The Crowd. It’s all about mirrors. Nod and let them nod right back at you. Watch them mouth the words and raise their fists with yours. What a beautiful audience.

• The Critics. There are none! This is the best part. Nobody says you’re singing out of key so just wail till you can’t wail no more. For bonus points get your voice so loud and dirty it scratches the back of your throat.

• The Wardrobe. You’ve got a few costume options including the classic ripped raggedy T-shirt and pair of faded sweats. There’s also underwear only, or even, well… you know. Relax, you look great. Time to rock out.

Yes, we’ve all been home alone and sometimes it’s fun to lose yourself in the moment.

After all, maybe you’re hanging with a heavy heart, burning with a hot temper, or just snowed in after a bad day. If there’s a black cloud hanging ugly over your head there’s no cheaper cure than having a solo dance party in the comfort of your place.

Some come on and turn it on, crank it up, and just shake it baby, shake it baby, shake it like that.

AWESOME!

Send stories or photos about The Book of Awesome to 1000awesomethings@gmail.com

Join us in Toronto on May 11th!

–Email message–

“This book is way thicker than i expected. love it so far! but since i’m still in school i don’t have a lot of time for pleasure reading so this will be my book for the summer, which is only a month away :) – Matthew @matthewklassen”

Photo from: here

95 thoughts to “#522 Dancing when you’re home alone”

  1. I look forward to reading this every day! You always put a smile on my face and I can’t wait to get the book. :)

  2. Swiffer duster mic and accompanist vacuum were both on my stage at my last show. It was so good.

    1. Speaking of Swiffer-branded rock products, I like to use the full Swiffer broom, as it serves as an appropriate microphone stand.. helps me practice my Axel Rose inspired hip sway while rocking out at the mic stand.

      Alternatively, I’ll abandon the props all together, turn on some ’80s retro hits, and do my best “Breakfast-Club-dance-scene” impersonation, where I’ll split my time between each of the main character’s dances.. I do a mean Molly Ringwald.

      For anyone looking for John Hughes-style inspiration for their next solo-dance party: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZINZmN1_GM

      1. That video was truly inspirational. Office dance party? Right now? Anyone? Ok, I guess I’ll wait until I get home.

        All hail the mighty Swiffer brand for providing useful products for neat-freaks and solo-dancers alike!

    1. You’re right, I remember I was in a really bad mood one day and was taking a long walk to cool off and listening to my music, when one of my favorite songs came on. I was jumping off stuff, spinning around, and basically having the best time of my life. It made my week.

  6. Awesome. I love doing this.
    It’s also fun to plug your ears with ear buds and a good song, and dance around in the park, in the rain, like no one is watching.
    And, it’s even more fun when other people join in, too!

    This blog always makes my day.

  7. I thought this was one of those things I was supposed to be embarrassed about. I realize I was mistaken. It is merely AWESOME.

  9. I had to comment – I’m home alone and spent the last 40 minutes dancing around my apartment. As I sat down, I decided to check this blog before getting back to work. Good thing I did, because it made my not-so-great day AWESOME!

  10. Pingback: just dance « The Foolish Wagon

  11. OMG!! I was just thinking this the other day!! I don’t go for shutting the blinds, don’t care who sees. Agree, it is also fun to dance along the street with your IPOD cranked up

    1. Hahaha, theres a guy who dances on a busy intersection all the time in Edmonton. It’s pretty awesome, actually.
      He’s not that great, but the fact he’ll boogie in -25 weather is pretty trophy worthy if you ask me :)

      1. Lol in Ann Arbor there’s a guy who dances in an alley to Michael Jackson and every time I go downtown and he’s there it just makes me smile. He adds character to the town and makes strangers happy. Can you say awesome?

  13. When there’s nobody around to hear you and you just let rip there is, worryingly, a real part of your brain saying: “Hey, I don’t sound half bad…”

  14. I love dancing when it doesn’t matter what you look like. Even if its just being silly with friends.
    I am a frequent dancer at home when I’m alone. I like to break out that air guitar and play to my heart’s content. Sometimes there’s even some air drums…..

      1. I just finished the first two pages of the comments from the last week of the contest, and they are AWESOME so far.

        However, I just wanted to post that I finally got this joke! yay :)

        Inside jokes with other commenters? AWESOME!

      2. LOL…she will never be too old for me to sing into her foot! Although it was way cuter when she was just a few months old.

        1. Ha ha, wait until she’s a teenager and has giant, stinky feet. And says, “Mom! Gross! You’re so weird! Get away from my feet!” LOL.

          1. LOL…
            Oh, teenager years……I can see her saying something like that. She gets a little weirded out now when I do it and she’s only 5!

            1. I hope, hope, hope that you don’t ever stop. Teenagers need parents to do things like this to embarass them! Helps keep them in line, but also makes them remember that someone loves them enough to sing into their stinky feet!

  15. I just did this yesterday, only I was singing into my breakfast spoon and knocked it against my front tooth.

    That really, really hurts.

    But I love this!

    1. I have done that only once. I have a small chip in my front tooth due to swinging the “mircrophone” a little to hard and close to my mouth.
      I feel your pain

  18. While doing this I also turn the radio up really loud so that it always “sounds” like I blend perfectly with the singer while I sing… You know b/c I’m that good! :)

    1. I’m with ya there! The less I hear of my own voice, the better off the situation is :D

  19. I don’t know if you’ve already written about it, but dancing alone makes me think of the joy of rocking out while driving. I wouldn’t survive my commute without doing so!!

      1. Awwww… its like our little commenters are all grown up and can point out previously posted awesome things all on their own… ;)

          1. Are you kidding me Freddo? Laura totally picked up your slack – and then some – on the last contest week! She and Bekah were like this transcontinental tag team or something. You should check it out when you get a chance.

            1. Ack! I definitely need to. My vacation came at a terrible time. I was so enjoying the big happy commenting family that we’d become during the contests first 3 weeks, and then I just disappeared during the grand finale. Lame on my part, I know..

              I definitely need to go check out all the comments, and see all the comment awesomeness by Laura and Bekah!

              Thanks for putting my in my place.. :)

              1. YEAH! I mean, how dare you take a vacation? Didn’t you know that blog contests for which you are ineligible to actually win any prizes are more important than a trip with your wife?

                :D

                Totally kidding, of course, but you were missed.

                On the other hand, now you and your wife can happily recite beer ingredients … so all is not lost.

                1. I’m definitely disappointed that I missed the comment party as it was happening, but it sure is brightening up my day catching up on it now..

                  You ladies are awesome!

                  Also? “Code #897” FTW!

              2. Glad you are back …you were missed. You did miss all the fun though…..
                It was like a mini party

  20. I dance with my fish. I have a betta and he loves to see people moving a lot in front of his tank; it makes him wiggle back and forth in excitement, which makes me wiggle back and forth in excitement.

  22. This may sound silly, but I dance EVERYWHERE as long as I’m alone, and theres no incriminating evidence that will end up on youtube or 4chan :l

    This includes the shower, our office buildings stairwell, the elevator, home alone, and with my cat! (…I dance with my cat regardless if im home alone or not though, yay crazy cat ladies!)
    :)

    ps. love your blog :)

  23. Oh now THIS is my jam. I don’t even have to be in the house for this. School has been so stressful for me that on my way back from the library at 3AM I pump some serious tunes and dance like nobody is watching while, in all honesty, they probably are, and calling the cops.

    It’s awesome though. So awesome.

    Favorite dancing music:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5AXBSpGDHg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2QbgPa7ZWw

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4HnYLeypZ4

  24. Definately an awesome part of life.

    I’m guilty of dancing not just when I’m home alone, but when I’m home alone, and doing the dishes, vaccuming, or even watching the opening song for Spongebob Squarepants.

    2. Just wanted to chime in that Olivia’s square is eriely reminiscent of one Ms. Jdurley..

      Oh yeah, and you should totally vote for this site in the webby’s. Don’t we want to see what Neil’s going to give in his 5-word-or-less acceptance speech again this year?

      http://webby.aol.com/media/blog__cultural

  26. What a coincidence, I’m home alone for a few hours for the first time in months…

  28. I’d say that I NEVER did this, but I’m afraid the resulting bolt of lightning might short out my pc when it his me.

  29. Ok, so I just discovered this blog from a friend’s gchat status, and I have to say – I’m sold! This post had me – dancing along with a wooden spoon while you are cooking is by far the most cathartic moment ever! But it’s gotta be belted – no humming or mumbling! Like, screaming the words! Thats where its at.

    Awesome!

  31. this is quite possibly one of my favourite things on your blog. i do this on a frequent basis, at least once a week. that one song will come on, i’ll crank the music and i’ll be dancing in my room, to the kitchen, back to my room, jumping on the bed, and making a fool of myself, but if makes me feel better EVERY time. THANK YOU for posting this. and i plan on seeing you on the 11th in Toronto!

    ps. i haven’t gone thru your list yet, but do you have one that says “being recognized at that restaurant you love?” there’s this place i love to eat where i live but it’s only open during the summer. i ate there all last summer and the people that worked there got to know me quite a bit, but a whole year passed and i went there again for the first time today and they still remembered me. AWESOME!

  32. I am a dancing machine, only when I’m alone of course! It is truly awesome getting down and going crazy! It’s probably one of my favorite things to do :) Cept I don’t close the curtains

    p.s. saving up for the book! can’t wait :)

  33. The best is when you get in an elevator alone and bust out crazy dance moves while you go up, then walk off all calmly when there’s someone at the floor you’re getting off at.

  34. THANK YOU all for your comments. I came here to cheer myself up and it totally worked. you guys are great. I’m gonna go Rock Out to BEP or something like that. can’t wait.

  38. Pingback: Life is awesome, and this site’s gonna tell you why. « The Observatory

  39. My awesome is loving your book and finding out you went to high school with my son and lived in our neighborhood.

    Awesome!!!!

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  45. I’m addicted to dance!
    I dance almost every day, it sets me free from daily worries :D

    Awesome ♥!

  47. Sing like only angels are listening,
    Laugh till your belly hurts,
    Dance like nobody’s watching…
    Shake your bootie… it works!!!
    Alone is fun, but some of the best memories I have with my sister’s as kids, pretending we were the Partridge family in front of our big picture window stage, with vaccuum rods, brooms and hair driers…so much fun!
    Free-spirit dancing with family musicians at the ocean beach bon fires.
    Creative dancing with my children in the evening’s when they were growing up and now with the grand children. Dancing- always so very awesome!

  48. Having inherited my dad’s vocal chords, I’m bad and I know it, but this definitely doesn’t stop me from grabbing a hairbrush and screamin’ along to my favourite songs! Fellow home alone dancers, keep screaming into that thing that slightly resembles a microphone!

  49. Singing along with Africa by Toto, Tom Sawyer by Rush or ANYTHING by Queen brings out the inner Singing, Dancing, don’t-care-if-the-neighbors-hear-my-music-is-better-than-what-they-had-playing-last-night-anyways part of me ^_^

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