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Trish (my roommate) and I were talking last night about how important (and rewarding) it is to live a balanced life. We talk about balance all the time in RS and other church settings, but rarely do we ever honestly live with everything in balance. I'll admit, it is very difficult to cut even slices of life's pie when you have work, school, extra work, callings, exercise, social life, family, and personal/enjoyment time. Sometimes one area must dominate the others depending on your personal phase in life. But this week I remembered what it feels like when all my demands are prioritized and handled appropriately. Instead of fulfilling my tasks compulsively, I'm attempting to take the time to complete my duties with purpose and heart. Sometimes I even get lucky enough to see the joy of the moment. For example, normally I hate doing the readings for my classes. It feels tedious, boring, and like a waste of time. I struggle sometimes to focus on the words. However, this week I have loved reading my HIST 202 material. Currently I'm reading about the history and philosophy of Mind-Body medicine. It's actually very interesting. The book discusses the evolution of what we refer to today as "health and wellness". I'll spare you my analysis, but feel free to check out "The Cure Within" by Anne Harrington.
(Finding balance as a mother is going to be very difficult, I've decided. I guess that's why it's important to practice now).
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Now, let's be honest. It's not easy to "properly prioritize"; especially when you're familiar with living frantically. Finding balance takes time, and you must labor diligently for it. I always wonder why balance can't be obtained instantly. I suppose it's partly because we have to take the time to recognize poor habits, abandon them, and then replace said habits with better behavior. We also have to recognize that change/improvement takes time. Even simple changes like going to bed before midnight each night (one of my current goals for the summer) require patience and second (or possibly 4th) tries. For us end-result-focused type of people, it's hard to appreciate the fact that slow, steady progression is the best kind of change. But how sweet it is once the change is internally noticeable. When good transformation has been embedded in our hearts, suddenly we see the world as a beautiful place: there are no insurmountable trials, no feelings of intimidation, and no signs of pessimistic perspectives. Basically, no fear.
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As mentioned above, I've been studying the history of health and wellness. I've officially decided that music plays a vital role in the process of becoming "healthy" and "well". Granted, I played the violin for 10 years, so automatically I'm biased. But that fact aside, just remember a time when you listened to your favorite song. If you haven't done so in a while, I encourage you to do so. It's interesting how meditating along with a familiar melody can resurface old feelings and memories. It's almost like you've been placed back in time to the place you were when you first heard the song. While some of us might not want to remember that part of our past, it is rewarding to be blessed with retrospect. It always feels good when we can see how far we've progressed.
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I played my violin last night, and boy did I love it! In high school I dreaded practicing my instrument. Now, three years later, the pressures of performing have faded, and I can truly enjoy the resonance of horse hair on iron strings. I felt like I could play just as I once had. Naturally, my skills are certainly in need of fine tuning, but last night I was reminded of how much I love music. It's a substantial part of me; even a sacred part of me I hardly expose to others. Music is one of the few creative outlets I enjoy. I would like to explore it again.
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Life is good. He is good. Change is good.
Happy Thursday!
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