Balance... Imbalance... Acceptance.... Peace....

I noticed that in my writing I talk a lot about opposing forces. Life is a constant stream of ups and downs. For some of us these ups and downs are mountains and for others they are merely speed bumps. Highs and lows, love and hate, fear and courage, disappointment and satisfaction, excitement and dread, celebration and grief. I suppose I talk about opposites a lot because of the importance of balance. We all know the importance of balance and what it feels like to be out of balance in our lives. It is crucial to understand this dance for extreme imbalance will lead to serious dis-ease in our lives. An example that many can relate with is the balance of give and take. The exhaustion and resentment we can feel when we are giving too much of ourselves and the the lack of satisfaction and security when we take too much from others. I have studied "balance" for the past few years and how to obtain balance in my body, my thoughts, my relationships, my work and my actions. There is no doubt balance is important. But balance can be thrown off simply by the changing winds and is momentary. It is much like in meditation when for that one moment you don't have a thought.... then you think "I am not thinking" and instantly you are indeed thinking. The thing is we can not be in perfect balance all the time, not in this world, not in this body, that is why this search for balance is a constant. But we can savor those dear moments of balance in our lives. 

Today in passing a friend said to me something that made me view balance in a whole new light. He said that things are neither good nor bad they just are.... they are just ingredients. This statement seemed to fill a gap in my thoughts that linked a whole new perspective that had been waiting for that one statement. One force cannot exist without the other opposing force and we must respect the highs and the lows for what they are. I understand the importance of striving for balance but have I been disrespecting and disregarding the times of even the smallest imbalance in my life? Have I not been seeing the imbalances for the great lessons they are because I have been labeling them and myself as wrong or bad? This non-judgement on the ups and downs of life gave me a sense of freedom to just be who I am now. I must stop pretending that what is happening now is just in passing, waiting for that moment of balance. I must appreciate this moment, this ingredient in the recipe of my life. Balance will come and balance will go. But can we savor those dear moments of imbalance as well? How will this shift bring more peace to your life? How will this shift effect everyone around you?

Encouraging balance while widening our limited definitions and embracing the ride, mountains, speed bumps and all can open up a whole new resolution....

"Imagine there is no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky, imagine all the people living for today. Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too. Imagine all the people living in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one." -John Lennon