Okay, Listen Here

Okay, Listen Here

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Regaining Balance

Life forces us to put things in balance. That balancing act happens whether we're ready or not.

(Jean showed off some of her Halloween decorations and I thought, Scooby Dooby Do! Why not post my front door display to show how I'm restoring the balance in my life.)



Balance is a juggling act, one that entails dropping one thing for another, without upsetting the balance of the whole. You cannot have Ying without Yang, Abbott without Costello, or happiness without pain.

According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase And Fable, A Treasury of Words That Have a Tale to Tell, by E. Cobham Brewer, Balance symbolizes 'the ancient zodiacal "Libra" constellation between Scorpio and Virgo. It's the 7th sign of the zodiac, which now contains the constellation Virgo, and which the sun enters a few days before the autumnal equinox.'

There's nothing like lunch with a friend that includes a pumpkin cookie to restore balance to the soul! Ah, balance. Heavenly day!



And in keeping with Persian mythology, balance comes at 'the Last Day. It will be a huge balance, as big as the vault of heaven, displayed. One scale pan will be called light, the other darkness. In the former, all good will be placed, in the latter, evil, and everyone will receive his award according to the verdict of balance.'

Managing time becomes critical when life is out of balance. I learned this best while experiencing severe headaches and neck pain the past two years. Now 9 weeks post-neck surgery I'm beginning to feel myself again. My love for homemaking and crafting is returning fullforce. Laughter comes easily. I'm feeling the urge to bake, create, and explore. More importantly, the clearer my mind gets, I'm rediscovering my passion for writing.

Check out this cornucopia I made to sit on top of a quilted leaf runner. Perfect balance, isn't it?


And as with any of these, skill is a practiced art that must be utilized or lost. Upsetting that balance, upsets the whole, body, mind, and spirit.



Did you sign up for NaNoWriMo, which started November 1st? The month long accountability process can be an excellent way to regain balance and structure in a writer's life. Ultimately, I didn't sign up for this 50,000 word-in-a-month challenge, but instead have concocted one of my own to squeeze out time needed to create a balance between life and writing.

What do you do to keep your life in balance?

15 comments:

  1. I am not sure that I do a good job of keeping my life in balance. I try but it seems that the focus is always on whatever area I am running the most behind in!

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  2. Playing catch-up is always hard. I've done that a lot. Bet you did too when you were going to school. I'm still so proud of all you've accomplished, Stephanie!

    And you always appear to be organized. I would never know that you're running behind. ;)

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  3. Hey, Kathy!!! I'm sooooooo glad you are feeling better and more like your old self after the neck surgery. And to think that I didn't even know you were in pain all the time, and I still thought you were a wonderful person I'd like to be friends with! You are such a trooper.

    And so crafty! I missed out on the decorating gene, unfortunately, but I can appreciate other people's skill and expertise, and I love your front porch and your cornucopia. You rock, girl! Very, very pretty.

    Balance? That's when you don't spend every single waking moment writing and you actually remember to get your kids up for school and fix them a couple of meals a day. Right? In that case, I am very balanced! LOL!

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  4. Balance is not in my vocabulary. I am always out of whack when it comes to schedules. Love the cornucopia!

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  5. Melanie, thanks for posting! ;)

    Sounds like you have your life in great balance. ;)

    I used to strive to be like Martha Stewart, but when I started seriously writing, all that had to go by the wayside. Add some health issues and I simply don't have to invest on anything else, other than my family, work and writing. But now I'm looking forward to cooking again. And my eyes have been opened to a lot of things that I shrugged off before.

    Good times...

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  6. I've seen what you can do, Cheryl. Balancing your family, professional career and your horses and farm, I think you've done an awesome job!

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  7. Love your door. Beautiful.

    Balance? I try to live a life of gratitude and let all else take care of itself. :-)

    I glad you're better. I'm with Melanie. You never gave any hint that you were in pain. You're always gracious and kind.

    HUGS.

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  8. Wow, I am in awe of your beautiful autumn decor!! Gorgeous!! And a bite of the cookie would be nice, too ;-D But most of all I'm so glad you have found your balance and are writing again.

    :-)

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  9. Your decorations are beautiful.
    Balance is hard. I tend to get engrossed with what I am doing at the exclusion of everything else--though I am better about this than I once was.

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  10. Love your decorations! I'm glad you are feeling better! I'm trying to find balance. I've been upside down for most of this year.

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  11. Carla, thanks for posting! I love your philosophy. Living a life of gratitude takes care of all the stuff that gets in the way of happiness. Many people use this term: "It is what it is." The older I get, the more I turn to this quote. It speaks for itself, don't you think? ;)

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  12. Christine, you can get one of those cookies at the Panera Bread Company. Delicious!! And thanks to both you and Carla for commenting on my front door! ;)

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  13. It's so easy to get so tuned to something you are doing, like... say writing, Jean. I'm the same way. When I get going on anything, be that doing things with family, cooking, gardening, writing, I don't want to stop.

    Which reminds me, putting my butt in the chair in front of the computer would do me lots of good. ;)

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  14. Patricia, thanks for stopping by. I hope things pop you permanently right-side up from now on.

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  15. Hi Kathy! Love your pictures! The decorating gene passed me by too but love it! Thanksgiving and Xmas are my favorite holidays and wish I had a home to adorn. It'll come, I'm sure.
    Balance....hmmm. I totally gave that up when I went on the road with the hubby. I love the driving and being able to see so many gorgeous places we have in this country. However, had to put many things on hold. Looking forward to coming off the road and beginning another journey.
    I'm so happy to hear you are no longer in pain. Pain can make you bitter and you are anything but, always so kind and generous. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself. God bless.

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