Balance is More than a Tightrope Act
Like many things in life,” balance” is important;
maybe the most important part. To “lose” balance may mean the inability of a living
body to “correct” itself (its physical position) to its environment, a medical
condition. Or it may mean an inability to accomplish a task that was once easy
to accomplish; to lose one’s mojo, to coin a popular (or once popular?) phrase.
Regardless of the situation balance is integral to nature, to include the human
condition.
When
I think of balance in nature, I think of a habitat’s ability to sustain a
certain population of, let’s say, deer. If resources, such as food, water, and
shelter, are not available in sufficient quantities, the population decreases,
either from death or movement to another habitat. The population decrease is a
result of nature putting things (the habitat) back into balance. Other factors
that affect the population and help “effect” balance are disease and predators.
“Disease” and “predator;” these two words
may be the most common in the printed and broadcast media. In the human
condition these words, justifiably, instill fear and unknowns. They aren’t
pretty words, for sure; however, war, crime, bullying, and disease have always
played an important part in human history; humankind has been confronted with
them from day one.
Today, humankind exerts extreme efforts to
confront war, crime, bullying, and disease. The trade balance, the balance of
powers, nuclear parity, the United Nations WHO, militarized police forces,
social and educational programs, etc., describe attempts to “correct” the world
or what some scientists and strategists refer to as “changing the big picture.”
But how can that part of the world that
affects us as individuals (the small picture or our own little worlds) be
corrected and brought into balance? To be sure, if we can’t balance our own
lives, we can’t expect to help balance the world. A prescription to my fellow
humans would be "pursue a full and abundant life." To echo a Catholic priest
and a pediatrician, both whom I have met in my life’s travel, respectively, “while
you’re counting the days of your life, make each day count,” and, “life is a
gift; pass it on.”
While you are thinking about making each day
count, don’t think living a full and abundant life means working tirelessly and
having plenty of money and things. Instead, consider thinking of improving your
knowledge or education, hobbies and interests, and physical health as
“abundancy.” Think of self-dependency, family, helping others, and enjoying
God’s handiwork and special gift as “filling or fulfilling.” Consider all the
things in life you have never taken time to consider. Lastly, and most
importantly, put all these thoughts and considerations into action.
Over a lifetime’s run we will undoubtedly
encounter challenges to our personal balances. Attempts to maintain balance may
seem like a circus of different acts. I think, however, focusing on living a
full and abundant life to balance our
lives will be more fun than doing a tightrope act.
