Why you should stop trying to live a balanced life

Yesterday an Art Education student from Messiah College interviewed me about being a teacher and an artist. One of the questions that she asked was how I balance teaching, making art, and life. My gut response was, ” I don’t”. She looked at me a bit confused. I continued, people that want to make an impact aren’t living “balanced lives.” They’re going, full force ahead into their mission, dream, business. When we think of people living balanced lives we seem to have a picture in our minds of someone successfully juggling work, kids, marriage, free time, hobbies, exercise, and who knows what else.

Their arms and legs are doing a dance trying to keep everything moving and in the air.

To me balance looks like someone standing on two feet. Standing firm, knowing who you are, where you’re going and what balls you want to drop. Knowing what things you need to let others do, and what doesn’t need to be perfect.

My bed is never made, my laundry rarely put away, and I’m okay with that.

How balance is looked at and understood, needs to change. Right now people are chasing after something that doesn’t exist.

A balanced life needs to be about standing up. Standing Firm, Standing for the things that keep you up at night, that get your heart pounding. Do those things, and let the rest drop.

Stand Firm. Stand Tall. Stand up. Balance works best with two feet on the ground.

Leave a comment letting me know what balance means to you.

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