If any concept screams blissful ambiguity and has ceaseless shift in boundaries, than it would be this one - striking a balance. In how we choose to live our lives to how we choose to decorate our homes, and how we choose to conduct our relationships - in public and private, with people, shopping, food, gym - striking the right balance is always a thought never far away from our minds - yet sometimes just as ignored as we give in to pressures of existence in our social spheres.
I had heard people talk about changed perceptions when faced with a terminal illness and I had always wondered what would it take to have the right balance to begin with, where possibility of looming death would not be a reminder of how you need to adjust your life and priorities. Lets just say, I had been on a soul-searching quest for a while on how to have some "measurable" for a balanced and well adjusted life, relationships and homes. And being a Libra sign, I really was looking to find an answer and soon!
And the breakthrough came last week, during my work orientation (who knew those could be actually useful!) when I heard this talk from a lady, an educationalist with an impressive track record, who had spent the last thirty years of her life as a Special Needs teacher doing "what made her heart sing" in the classroom, not caring two hoots for the education authorities and the specialists who were always telling her she was going about it all wrong. That she was setting unrealistic expectations of herself and the children she was working with was a thought that had crossed her mind once or twice before being totally blown away by yet another unachievable milestone annihilated by one or another of her disadvantaged students. And that was my "aha" moment - I had finally found my strike-a-balace-measure - I will decorate my home, conduct my relationships with people, food, gym and shopping on "what makes my heart sing!!"
Let me explain - using "what makes my heart sing" logic, I would know where to draw the line in home decor, because a Rembrandt that "doesn't make my heart sing" will be forgone in favour of an unknown artist on my home walls. But of-course if its the Rembrandt that makes my heart sing, and I can afford one, then I will purchase it guiltlessly - because the worth of the painting is in the value it adds to my life not its price tag. I will also make a conscious effort to keep up with friends and family that make my heart sing. Even if what we have to share is tears and pain, they would still make my heart lighter and my days brighter - because that is the power of good friends and close family ties. I will wake everyday to "what makes my heart sing" and shamelessly and guiltlessly pursue my hearts desire - because my heart will know what I need to do, where I need to be to be happy and content - unlike my mind that leads me astray with what I want to do, where I want to be. Wants are dispensable and irk your conscience when faced with impeding death, needs are not. Need I say more!
