I have been thinking a lot about balance since Lanelle has arrived, and I suppose often before that to. I'd love to feel like I had a perfectly balanced life. I think that would require double the hours in a day for any of us to feel like we could acheive a balance. I liked an article in Today's Parent called Balance Backlash. I think a great quote was "If your idea of balance is doing as much as you can in a day, then you will never experience the extraordinary moments in your everyday life." It was suggesting that you have to realize that your life isn't going to miraculously going to change, but find a way to live differently to feel joy today. The whole article got me thinking that I won't someday achieve a perfect balanced life if I get organized enough so that I can have a perfectly clean house, organized files, healthy meals planned all ahead of time and always on the table on time, quality time with kids, work outside the home, devotion/Bible reading/prayer time and exercise everday (and not to forget we all need some quality "me time" or self care too) - all without feeling stress. It would never happen and I'd go crazy trying to achieve it.
Then John McMillan spoke at Auntie Vi's funeral and mentioned the idea that has stuck in my head - balance vs. harmony. Balance means there are opposing forces. Harmony is defined as "a pleasing combination of elements in a whole." Pleasing would indicate something that is not stressful. The idea of achieving balance is stressful to me - too many opposing forces and not enough time. I'd like to have a "harmonious life". Whatever exactly that would look like. I didn't say my thoughts would have any great conclusions. Just some themes in my life that seem to be popping up lately and making me think. I'd like to let go of the idea of balance and find harmony.
