The Act of Balance

The excitement was building!

My physical act of balance.

I did it! I ran through Hero Rush (my 5 mile, 18 obstacle course) after days of rain and mud up to our ankles, and oh what a rush it was!  The photo above reveals the excitement we were all feeling before the race, and to be honest, my excitement was mixed with nerves as I had no idea what I was in for.  As it turns out, it was one big wet muddy blast!  Psychology Today recently published an article about people who are consistently curious, and present challenges in their lives, as happier than those who remain complacent.  All I can say is that I felt ecstatic for days after this last curious challenge, for many reasons.  I pushed my body to reach to the outer limits, I laughed a boatload as we slipped through the muddy ravines, and most of all, I felt joy in my heart.  When the race was over, and they pulled out the last hose to wash us all down, I danced through the water with a smile on my face and a light in my soul.  Yes, I was a giddy girl.

Horses were always my mom’s great act of curiosity. Here she is on Noble Savage in 1966.

With that being said, some recent events have forced me to remember the importance of balance in our lives. The photo of me up on that high wire may be an example of a physical balancing act, but life, well, it’s one great big act of balance. We must choose what is to be a priority at any given moment.  Sometimes, it won’t be what you planned but it will be what you know in your soul is right.  Just a few days ago, we lost our beloved family dog, Ollie, and on the heels of that, my mother was in need of increased care in her assisted living facility.  Between grieving and caring for my mom, certain things have to take their place on the back burner.  I have a swim meet coming up, which I should be training for, but more important things happened to pop up on my priority scale.  After spending hours with my mom, and organizing changes for her, I was just getting ready to leave and head to swim practice when her nurse’s aide walked into the room and reported that mom had a last minute doctor’s appointment. Her aide offered to take her but I knew in my heart the right thing was for me to take her.  In setting my outer goals aside (and missing swim practice), I nurtured my inner sanctum by aligning with love.  Not to be a martyr, simply to listen to the silence of my soul and believe in my knowing.  It turned out to be a great day with mom, ending with a lovely lunch in her room.  She will be 86 years young in a couple of weeks, and I must say, it’s been a life well lived.  A woman who was extremely curious and challenged herself constantly.

Louise and I at our last swim meet together in Skaneateles, NY

And so it goes, I have my swim meet next week.  Am I physically prepared to swim my best?  Nope.  Am I okay with that?  Yep.  There’s so much in life to love and be grateful for.  Trophies and accolades are nice but the icing on the cake is giving and feeling the love that surrounds.  I plan on having a great weekend with my high school swimming bestie, Louise.  We don’t take swimming as seriously as we did in high school but we sure have a ton of fun with it.  I’m certain it will be a wonder~full weekend at her lake house this time, enjoying the views of New Hampshire, sipping a little wine, reminiscing and laughing. Lots of laughs.