Life is mostly made up of routines and patterns. However, life always finds a way to stop us in our dogged pursuit of whatever and offers us lessons to stop and appreciate the beauty and delicacy of life, sometimes in the harshest way.
Today I am reminded of the loss of a dear friend, Martin Boothe, four years ago. He left us at a young age but who lived a full and fulfilling life of contribution. To this day Martin lives on in the hearts of all he touched. Martin lived for dance and music and he was easily the best, most talented and compassionate performer I have ever met.
Martin was (and for me, still is) a coach, a personal trainer, a dance and movement teacher and a choreographer. He had a great passion for pursuing excellence in all areas of life–physical, emotional, financial and spiritual. He was enthusiastic about creating positive energy every where he went to improve the quality of life of everyone that met him.
His philosophy was to work with emotion, coordination, rhythm, energy, agility and health to really become, live and enjoy what you long for and desire in life. He was about getting in touch with the power and the energy of the human body. He believed that it wasn’t about “thinking” about being successful, but to be “actively” successful. Success not by society’s definition, but as you define it. Martin was about living truthfully and honorably.
True to his style, Martin left us with touching and deeply meaningful words, encouraging us all to walk gently and compassionately through the world and to know the beauty of life every day.
It is indeed up to us all to live each of our days gently and in appreciation of the beauty all around us.
“To continue striving to be a better person and being all that you can be is a drive from the human spirit. Honoring your mind, body and soul can only be healing in the deepest sense. It is the greatest gift to yourself and the world to live a true and passionate experience” – Martin Boothe
Thank you Martin for being a great friend and teaching me about passion and living life to it’s fullest.
Below is a photo shoot that we (Martin Boothe, Jan Apel, Kapa Kitchen and Gary Noakes) did for the 10th Anniversary for Starlight Express in Germany (this month is the 24th anniversary of show!)
Here is a book Martin wrote shortly before his passing:
