As a square dancer, you're surrounded by other dancers but not really attached to a particular one--your matching outfits notwithstanding-- because you are constantly moving among others. Your attention is directed toward whatever comes up--in this case, caller's command and your subsequent focus on that engagement, however brief.

There's a continuous current of possibilities, and your state is that of relaxed readiness without any judgment. Other than moment your crush happens to be holding your hand, there is no partner or move that is better than any other.

The beauty is in flow of it all and awareness of being fully there.

For square dancers, their Wednesday-and-Saturday-night gatherings provided fellowship, fitness and an opportunity to really let go. Despite hopelessly unhip pointy white shoes and Hee-Haw setting, dancers had discovered a way to make mindfulness, well, FUN if not exactly cool.

Perhaps it never crossed their minds that they were engaging in anything but entertaining exercise. But if a 15-year-old boy--cute or not--could see it, I'm guessing that others recognized sense of connection they gained in an evening of fully-present partner swinging.

We tend to think of mindfulness as something to be experienced only through meditation. WRONG. Mindfulness involves us 100% in present moment, but we don't need a cushion, maple bench, or incense to get there.

In our mindful moments, we are at our finest and most human--open, forgiving, focused, compassionate and connected. Sitting, standing, or swinging your partner, that's a good place to be.

Yee-haw!

"But, D, what about people who can't? What about people in far north, or those who wear head-to-toe clothing or who are stuck indoors?"

"If you find yourself overdressed in a dungeon in Mongolia, get a good multi-vitamin supplement."

"D, that's a wonderful idea."

"Or drink lots of milk, fortified with me, of course. Some breakfast cereals are fortified with me, too. I also hang out in a lot of saltwater fish, like tuna and sardines and herring and salmon. And I love to slip around in ol' cod liver oil."

"So if we can't get enough sun, milk and fish will do trick."

"That's right, but be careful about milk products. Not all of them are made with fortified milk. I make no commitment to be there if they are not."

"What about supplements, D?"

"A good multivitamin supplement should do it for most people. Get a liquid supplement, cause those pills just don't digest. You just end up flushing me down toilet...ooh, I hate that feeling."

"Yuck."

"And you shouldn't need a specific vitamin D supplement, because it is possible to overdose. And you wouldn't want too much of a guy like me around."

That was all we could slip through lines. But I think we learned a lot about what it is like to live life of a secret vitamin. To our hero, vitamin D, we offer our best wishes. May everybody get plenty of vitamin D to keep their bones strong and healthy for many years to come.