What does a balanced life mean to you?
Posted on Oct 10th, 2007
by 
tinkonthebrink
tinkonthebrink
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 09, 2007:
I don't think it's a "balanced" life, ever, I think it's a balancing act, a constant process, like the way jets fly to their destination being off course almost the whole time and making constant corrections.
Expecting a balanced life - it's done, I'm there, no more struggle - is an expectation of a life without movement or learning or change. The expectation is the problem, not the balancing act. That part's just what being alive is. And the expectation of balance leads to those mantras that we all tend to fall into, the "I'm so stupid, why did I do that, I'm so embarrassed, I look like an idiot, I totally screwed that up," on and on... instead of just saying, "ok, good, new information."
My affection for computers comes partly from the fact that, although it can be frustrating to solve problems, computers don't care at all how long it takes you to figure things out. They just sit there calmly not working until you get it right. No blame, no judgments, no hurry, just "well, now you know that wasn't the solution, try something else." Life is really just the same. Sure, there are consequences to messing up, but it isn't like there's an option to never mess up - life is messy. And ultimately, the only useful response is to say "oops" as quickly as possible, take the information you have and do a little balancing act, try something else.
So I guess for me it isn't about a balanced life, it's about being willing to balance things out, making those course corrections as soon as possible and taking in the information that comes along willingly.
Expecting a balanced life - it's done, I'm there, no more struggle - is an expectation of a life without movement or learning or change. The expectation is the problem, not the balancing act. That part's just what being alive is. And the expectation of balance leads to those mantras that we all tend to fall into, the "I'm so stupid, why did I do that, I'm so embarrassed, I look like an idiot, I totally screwed that up," on and on... instead of just saying, "ok, good, new information."
My affection for computers comes partly from the fact that, although it can be frustrating to solve problems, computers don't care at all how long it takes you to figure things out. They just sit there calmly not working until you get it right. No blame, no judgments, no hurry, just "well, now you know that wasn't the solution, try something else." Life is really just the same. Sure, there are consequences to messing up, but it isn't like there's an option to never mess up - life is messy. And ultimately, the only useful response is to say "oops" as quickly as possible, take the information you have and do a little balancing act, try something else.
So I guess for me it isn't about a balanced life, it's about being willing to balance things out, making those course corrections as soon as possible and taking in the information that comes along willingly.
Access: Public
balance
September 2008 
You're 100% correct. Life is a constant balancing act. Sometimes we lose our balance, sometimes we walk the line. And I love that illustration.
well said and true. love the picture. i'm the mouse on the right. Clearly that's bewick driving the tricycle. Must be you on his head.
Donny, are you on Bewick's right, or on the right as you look at the picture? This could be important information.
Bewick, I love the streamers. Thanks for letting me stand on your head. Now pedal faster!
Okay, I have some questions:
1. Why does Donny have to do all the juggling and the other gymnast just balance on one paw, or the opposite depending on one's point of view. Either way it's unfair.
2. What are you and Bewick looking at?
3. Is the assemblage moving forward, backward, or not at all?
4. Did any of you have parts in any of the Mad Max movies?
Please respond via SASE as much hangs in the balance.
Albert <obligatory smiley face with enigmatic look>
I can't speak for the others, but I'm looking at the future from a just beginning to move position. A small part in Mad Max: Beyond The Thunderdome.
Albert:
1. Whichever one Donny actually is, he just has to try harder than anyone else. Either way, it's fair.
2. Bewick and I are staring directly into the future of civilization as we know it. Mad Max is staring back at us.
3. Yes.
4. You didn't recognize me????
Well, that explains some things. I, for one, am riding a unicycle and am staring directly into the future of civilization as I don't know it. Kind of like looking at Mt. Fuji in a snowstorm.
I'm just doing hip opening exercises every hour on the hour as a break from hunching over the computer keyboard. HIp openers are supposed to help you be less afraid of the unknown and more able to waltz, swagger or stagger into the unknown of the future with more confidence.
It was unicycling in 2004 for me, now it's hip openers and backbends (yoga), who the heck knows what's next?
oh yeah– I read through all the comments because I wanted to ask you if you've ever stood on one leg with your eyes closed. if you do, you can feel all the muscles from your feet, ankles, legs, glutes– working to keep balanced – it's kinda cool. they don't stop working, but the workings get finer and finer until you don't notice the different muslces firing as much. I had to do this as physical therapy because I kept breaking and spraining my ankles and the physical therapist said I need to teach my feet to know where they were in space. I don't know if they know yet,. but I love to stand on one leg with my eyes closed.
and – I want to learn to juggle with my eyes closed too. that would be crazy cool. so, when I learn, can I be an understudy mouse in the above pic?
You can be anyone you want in that image, right away. In fact, I think you might be all of them, dog, cat, mice, maybe even the tricycle and the balance bar. And I'm positive that you are the streamers.
Eyes open or shut is your option.