Sometimes You've Just Gotta Hula.

And then there are days like the one where your formerly Shy Violet of a preschooler willingly raises her hand at the free concert in the park, right at the moment when the Hawaiian band asks for hula dancing volunteers... 

...And she runs up in front of the stage, grabbing the hands of two complete stranger "big kids," asks if she can hula with them, and proceeds to do just that.

And you see it: this transformation from a cautious toddler, always looking back over her shoulder at you as if to ask "This still okay, Mom?" into an almost-big kid, the kind who already knows that- should she ask- you'd be giving her a big ol' thumbs up to hula or merengue or sidestep her way into new friendships and dance moves.

Because she's rapidly figuring out that life is so much better when you decide not to be afraid- or to be nervous and do it anyhow- because jumping up in front of a crowd and dancing with new friends beats the heck out of the alternative.

And it makes you so, so proud.