The Great Balancing Act

Yes, it has happened!  I have indeed bought the third circus print from Collectif and Top Vintage's collaboration of love.  I told you I would as soon as a sale came along and I have kept my word.  I couldn't quite make up my mind on the bag, so I decided to take pics with both a popcorn and a French fries bag.  I love this circus print, and not just because I've always loved the circus.  Everything about this design is just darling!

Life is like a circus in so many ways: dizzying, interesting, hard work, sometimes you take center stage, sometime you just watch in awe, but whatever it is, it's never boring.  I always thought if I ran away to join the circus I'd be a trapeze artist, contortionist, or a tightrope walker.  Little did I know that I didn't have to join the circus, because as it turns out life is a great balancing act all in itself.

You may have read some of my recent posts and noticed an over arching theme that Life, that is to say a meaningful life means that it is not all about You.  Searching for meaning through Your career, Your achievements, Your fulfillment, You, You, You.  And in the end finding you are left alone with just...you.  And it's empty and lonely.  It is a very hard truth to learn at the end of things that it was never about you at all.  So, why not learn it now and make a change?

A life lived in loving service to others--there is no greater purpose than this.  But, in all things there must be balance, and while giving of yourself to others is the highest calling, it can have its failings too if it is not brought into the the proper harmony.  How do you find balance?

Look at it like this, if you made a list of priorities starting with family, friends, community, country, etc.  Your name wouldn't be at the top of that list, it wouldn't even be near the top, but it would be there--it must be there.  Have you ever met those people who don't take care of themselves?  They're utterly exhausted.  In wanting to give so much to others, they haven't stopped to rest and enjoy life at all.  In the end, which comes far sooner than if they had cared for themselves, they have nothing left to give.

What does a balanced life look like?  It starts with honesty.  You have to step back from the busy schedule and be honest with yourself.  It means recognizing that you need time to exercise, prepare and enjoy healthy meals, a quiet time of reflection and rest.  It means remembering that you need clothes that fit properly, yes, even if you aren't the size you'd like to be right now.  It means getting new shoes or new underwear (if you've been wearing things with holes or which have ceased to be supportive for more than a few weeks, you haven't been taking care of yourself!)  It means the laundry can wait an hour if you need a nap.  Taking this sort of time for yourself makes you better able to care for the ones you love and the things that matter.

Once you've been honest with yourself, it's time to be honest with others.  It means saying, "Thank you so much for considering me, I know this promotion is a great opportunity, but the increase in hours and responsibility is something that I would not be able to commit to at this point."  Could you handle it, yes.  Would it cost you too much in terms of taking time away from family or your personal life?  If yes, then maybe this promotion is right for you right now.  Or perhaps, "I'm so sorry, but you know I have agreed to be on three committees this year and I don't have time for more."  Do you actually have time in your schedule?  Maybe in the sense of sheer numbers, but do you have the energy to give your best anywhere else or would joining this committee mean a shoddy effort from you because you are over worked, over stressed, and underwhelmed by being a part of this group?

While you will never find meaning if life is all about you, your life will be a lot shorter and you (and likely the people close to you) will enjoy it less if you never take a moment for yourself.  It's a matter of falling off one side of the tightrope or the other.  The idea, the real goal is to be balanced.  Recognize that you have so much to give in a dark and weary world, but remember you're worth love and care too.

Shopping Info: COLLECTIF LOVES TOP VINTAGE FRANCES CIRCUS SWING DRESS, or Collectif ♥ TopVintage 50s Frances Circus Swing Dress in Blue, Natuloth Fresh water pearl Earrings 18K Gold Plated, Nila Anthony bag is old, as are Blue Heels from ModCloth