You put your right arm in; you put your right arm out.
You put your right arm in, and you shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
The Hokey Pokey reminds us of childhood and the joy of friendship found in silly moments. It reminds us that it’s worth getting into a circle with others who want to accomplish a goal, trying something out, and embracing the energy that is generated. There is a pattern in these simple steps that shows us the importance of process and creativity to drive progress.
A professor of inclusive education offers us another version of the classic, replacing body parts with items students want to “put in” and “take out” of the classroom. The book’s examples include “we put kindness in; we take teasing out” and “we put hugging in; we take hitting out.”
In either version, the song highlights what is being put into the center, allowing space to try and test before fully committing. To us, this feels like imagination and experimentation, of not being afraid to pose inquiries and see where they lead us, even if it’s bigger than even we could dream. When we reflect on the lessons in this song, we’ve found ourselves taking bolder risks and working alongside our community in harmony.
You Put Your Right Arm In, You Put Your Right Arm Out
Lesson One: Feel it Out
In the Hokey Pokey, we don’t start with the whole body, but rather one part. The song offers a gentle start to the process, putting an arm in for a moment before withdrawing it. This may not seem bold on the surface, but when we start with a radical idea, such as housing for all, the first step to the center – to the vision coming true – is going to be significant. Starting at a local level is like extending an arm in a non-committal yet impactful way. We gain knowledge of what it felt like and can prepare for the next round.
You Put Your Right Arm In and You Shake It All About
Lesson Two: Agitate and Play
Now comes the fun. We can enter the second round with more confidence, building on what we learned from the first time and taking a bit of a risk. We can wiggle and let things settle. We can move around to find the sweet spot. We can interact with our circle, asking someone how it feels to really shake it up, or if a little shimmy will do. We can understand that what’s working for me in this round might not work for others, and that’s okay. As long as we’re all trying and communicating with one another, we’re activating our visions with intention, and maybe even a little fun.
You Do the Hokey Pokey and You Turn Yourself Around
Lesson Three: Celebrate, but not for too long
As a society, we can only move toward a better life for everyone if we are never stagnant, never accepting that we’ve done enough. When we accomplish a shared goal, we should take pride in the achievement. After all, it was most likely after decades of moving and shaking. This deserves recognition. It deserves a whole round.
Yet, there will be other challenges to overcome. We can turn around and dance after each success, but we must get back into the song; we must move to the next part with everyone else. When we’re too tired, we look to others’ energy for inspiration; when we have more to give, we look at our circle and offer where it’s needed most. We repeat until the finale, when we reach the end together. And that’s what it’s all about.
