“I’m distracting you, you big turd blossom.”
The phrase ‘turd blossom’ isn’t always associated with joy, fun, and profound relief. But in the case of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” it most certainly is.
Starlord/Peter Quill/Hotty McHotpants says it near the end of the movie after he and the other guardians crash land in the Big Bad’s ship. Just as we think all is lost, he engages the Big Bad guy in a random silly dance off to “Oooo child” by the Five Stairsteps. We all eventually find out from him that he is distracting the bad guy, the turd blossom himself, while Rocket Raccoon fixes his weapon. One shot and the Guardians are back in the running to save the galaxy. As they do.
The moment that resonates the most, however, is Peter Quill’s dance moves, and not just because of his hotpants (they are great aren’t they? I mean objectively.) It’s because in a moment of tension and potential despair, it feels great to dance – or at least to see someone dancing. It’s just plain fun to move sometimes, especially when our bodies and our minds feel stiff.
It’s also fun to call someone “turd blossom.” Just try it and see.
Kids know all this, of course. Moving is just what they do. They wiggle in line, they revel in a playground. Even little babies will sway to a beat. But when we become adults movement becomes largely functional. We move to get some place, to run this marathon, to work off the weight. If we do dance now, it’s usually only after a few drinks at a wedding reception.
But what are we missing out on if we don’t occasionally revel in ourselves and our bodies? What happiness do we miss while we frantically chase our own ideas of being happy?
In yoga class, the instructor will often tell you to take a move “if it feels good.” When I first started, that surprised me – we are exercising, right? The end goal may be feeling good, but not the process, right? Then you try it, though, and you realize the movement does actually feel good, right there in that moment.
Often what feels good is a counter movement, making the opposite of what you were just doing. After a twist, we sometimes do a little counter twist on the other side. Similarly, after a good stretch in triangle pose, it “feels good” to do Reverse Warrior. Your feet are spread out in the same position but you are leaning backwards instead of forwards. The balance in effort is just plain nice.
And then there’s the fun of transitions. My favorite thing in yoga might be “windmilling” my hands after Reverse Warrior, where we sweep our arms around to the other side so we are in plank. I don’t know how graceful it looks, but I certainly feel like a ballerina. Since that was my Kindergarten job goal, that’s definitely a win.
Yoga gives you the ability to have the fun of little micro-poses, too, on or off the mat. When I have to pick up something off the floor, I might sweep my leg up into Warrior 3 pose. When I have to look up into a high shelf, I see how far I can get up on my tip toes.
It leads you to wonder what else you aren’t flexing that might feel good, beyond the physical – musical skills? writing skills? cooking skills? Is there some way to challenge yourself right now for the fun of it and no other reason?
Even if we are accomplishing a lot in our lives, even if we are saving the galaxy – are our lives really fulfilling if we can’t enjoy the moment? And since we are always in our bodies, that enjoyment can so often flow right through our arms, our legs, our neck, our middle.
So go ahead. Challenge someone to a dance off, even if they aren’t the Big Bad. Bust a move when you hear your favorite song. Take that stretch that feels like it would feel good, right now. It may not save your personal galaxy, but it will certainly distract you in a good way – you big turd blossom.
Thoughts...?!