Reclaiming Balance
We published a new article on Kindervibe today exploring one of the trendy words in our culture today: Balance. For now, we will share an excerpt with you:
Reclaiming balance
Balance is one of those words we hear a lot, and it’s in good company with words such as empowerment, sustainability, and green. The more they’re used, perhaps the less we understand them – more lofty ideals than attainable goals. We hear the word and think, oh yes, balance – that would be nice – and we move on.
What does balance mean for us as mothers? The pictures accompanying articles about balance always seem to include a woman in yoga gear with a serene face and a bubbling fountain nearby. How do we translate this image of balance into our daily reality of children, laundry, work, relationship, exercise . . . and the list goes on.
The true definition of balance has nothing to do with standing on one leg with our hands in prayer position and soft glow of contentment. In fact, balance is defined as a “harmonious distribution of parts within the whole.” Such a rich definition of balance opens the room for us to redefine this image for ourselves as mothers.
Intrigued? Continue reading our musings on Kindervibe.
[...] can’t change how full my life is, but I can have both compassion for myself in this delicate balance I strive to maintain, and I can give my whole self to the moments I share with [...]
[...] unique children’s needs, work & school schedules, our home space – and strives to find a balance that will [...]
[...] needs are not being met, it seems we are even more prone to conflict with those around us. Balance in our lives takes many forms, and when one need is out of center, others too are [...]
I used to think balance was something like that guy on Ed Sullivan with a million plates on the go all spinning wildly.
Now I’ll settle for just not tipping over!
[Reply]
sarah Reply:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Thanks for the great image, Beth! It does feel like that sometimes.
[Reply]
My friend Jill talks about balance with the imagery of a bowling pin. Sometimes we accept that we are leaning drastically to one side. As we do so, we see that there is a tenuous balance involved. But we also look to see what it will take to move closer to that straight balance. Then at some point, we may be tipping the other way and we work again back to that central stance. Are we ever silently standing erect? I hope not. Living life seems to about grooving from side to side like a bowling pin!
[Reply]