Balance isn’t hard. It takes coordination. It takes focus. It takes determination. It takes persistence. Fall to the left, fall to the right, it doesn’t matter just get back up on the log you’re balancing on. Strong, linear, balance is balance. Lots of things surround you that can throw you off balance but just keep your eyes focused and you can stay on, in balance.

Wooded areas, light green, dark green leaves, peaceful and quiet. It’s easy to balance, focus, concentrate, find balance when it’s peaceful, quiet. When you’re in the woods by yourself doing nothing but focusing on balancing. I don’t always get peace like that. I like the woods as long as they’re not too deep or too scary. I think I can find balance if I’m there.

What’s the trick to still being able to balance if I’m not in the woods (like I am now), when I’m not alone, when I’m not surrounded by fallen leaves, green trees, green leaves, yellow leaves, the Fall?

I fall down off my log often. Balance doesn’t always come easy to me but I’m attracted to the word. It jumped out to me. I long for blue jeans balancing quietly, walking on a log. I long for Fall. I can find balance there. It’s hot now. Summer does not feel like balance at all though I’m fighting for it this year by preparing better and using more schedules. But even when I try to be prepared, like today for instance with Asad’s 5th grade promotion ceremony, things don’t always go as planned. Nosebleed, cold, sleepless night. All that threw off the day’s plans. It threw me off my mental balance. It took me/It’s taken me hours to get back into balance back on the log. If it was quiet maybe I’d get there faster.

But such is life.

Things don’t always go as planned. Certainly not in my life. Dark days. Lots of Fall. Lots of fallen leaves, broken limbs, broken trees. Dreams.

But the log is long. If I misstep to the left or stumble to the right, I can get back on. I can balance. My legs are strong. I don’t mind getting my feet dirty. Balance doesn’t have to be hard.

I like it here alone in the land of balance although I know it doesn’t last for long.

Balance - image 1 - student project

Tawanna B. Smith

Self-care Coach, Video marketer

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