I don’t know who this lady is. She walks along the Isla Verde Beach early in the morning and then she starts dancing Salsa in front of the waves for a while. Nobody pays attention to this happy lady dancing all by herself at the beach. There is no music, just her, the waves and her happiness. I don’t know her name, where she works or what her situation is…but I do know what an inspiration she has been for me.
The first time I saw her was three months ago, just after Hurricane Maria and I was very depressed. No running water or electricity at home, food was rationed, no school, diseases that haven’t been seen on the Island since last century…it was all these bad, bad things that were crashing on me. I went to the beach to calm down and there she was. Dancing away with all her heart without a care in the world of who was watching or what people may think of her. I started crying as I am crying now remembering on how a complete stranger behaving so free and happy could make me feel better. I felt better because I realised that in spite of all the bad things that may happen, you could still find joy in something so simple as dancing salsa to the rythm of the waves.
I saw her today again and almost went to her and thank her for what she is done for me…but as I watched her, so completely into her dancing, such joy, I decided not to interrupt her. Keep dancing happy lady and may you help other with your joy as you helped me.
Jean-Marie Sánchez 