Looking for Balance

One of the nicest things my daughter, Mary Jo ever said to me is that she thought I had achieved a nice balance in my life. At the time, she was right and I continue to strive for that balance, but it becomes elusive at times.

As the family grows bigger with new grandchildren and new outlaws (affectionate term for in-laws), It's harder to maintain contact and stay up to date with the crowd. Thankfully we live in the Internet age were greetings and photo's fly back and forth easily. But having those precious few moments with loved ones a difficult experience when the people you love are miles away.

The other challenge is the ability to stay in the moment. Enjoying today for what it brings instead of wishing it were the weekend or next month when supposedly better things will be happening is a difficult.

All of this is not out of the womb genetic code, although I note that some have an easier time than others. I think it's learned behaviour and some of us need to learn more. The tales of the career driven spouse that literally abandons the family to make money or achieve success in one area is the stuff of the Sunday Night Disease of the Week Movie. But stereotyping the role doesn't make it any less true. Many of us become absorbed in events to the extent that we lose a grip on the reality of our lives and become a myth in our own family.

Many a conquering hero ends up on the pillar of success and looks around to find he is alone.