Dinamicas

“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning do to do afterward.” - Kurt Vonnegut

Laughter, fun, joy, simple as they are, seem distant when one is under pressure, stress, operating from a fearful, judgey, dark place. Living, working and experiencing the culture of the DR was both frustrating and exhausting at times, especially in the beginning when everything was new, different and unexpected. I remember feeling in quite a dark spot at points during the first year of my PC service. Something that truly helped bring lightness into my Peace Corps service in the DR were Dinamicas. What are dinamicas? Simply put they’re icebreakers. Dinamicas could be a song, dance or interactive game, get to know you activities and a promotion of fun and or solidarity. Yeah, I hated this kinda stuff for a long time, like I said, I was in a frustrating and dark place. Somewhere along my journey my attitude flipped when I saw how much fun everyone was having and I was exhausted sitting on the sidelines being unhappy. I wanted to feel part of something greater, bigger and well, have some fun! Laughter brings light to the darkness. In my case, dinamicas brought light to my darkness.

I embraced the use of the mini-teambuilder/energizer/song and made it work to my advantage. I became more at ease beginning meetings with an icebreaker. I imagine you might say, “icebreakers changed your service Dan? Really? You went halfway around the world, left behind your family and friends and a decent job to ‘discover’ a songs from third grade grammar school?”

Uhm, yeah!

I can remember being quite nervous standing in front of an audience, no matter how large or small, and trembling at the prospect of speaking with all eyes on me. I remember thinking, “What are they going to think of me? Are they going to believe I’m some kind of idiot up here blabbering on about nothing? I’ll go blank and forget what I was going to say, lose my train of thought! They’re going to JUDGE ME!” I’m certain to actors, teachers, and public speakers may experience this, especially when they are novice.

So, the icebreaker or dinamica gave me the opportunity to shake off the nervousness, let the negative feelings drip off my pores and release, allowing me to embrace my joy, laughter and have  a little fun. It gets me out of the dark place. Dinamicas became part of my routine, working with kids or adults, professionals. I would start off most any class, presentation or meeting with a dinamica.

I was very excited to learn upon my arrival to Cape Town and the offices of Grassroot Soccer that the culture of using icebreakers and songs is deeply embedded in the experience. I can tell you the joy I felt in the first encounter with the GRS representatives from all over Africa, at a professional development conference where thousands of dollars were spent getting people to the event, was a DINAMICA! LOVE IT.

I’m posting a video of one of the dinamicas which was led by two of the Grassroot Soccer staff members during our second day of training. I caught a majority of the icebreaker on video, which is a new one to me I might add. The leaders formed two groups, one who prefers coffee and the other who prefers tea. Watch what ensues!

I hope you integrate laughter into your life with kids, adults, and humans! I continue to doing my best to keep laughing.

 “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” - Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

“And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up” – J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye

Oh yeah, I can identify with Salinger, I’m that guy in the movie theatre and yes, people, mostly loved ones are usually telling me to shut it.