Make Like a Flamingo

Balance. That’s the key. Stand on one foot and be still. Stay on that foot and wave your arms around. Bend your torso forward; lift your leg behind you. Touch the floor then return upright, still on one foot. Balance and movement; shifting, accommodating.

That’s what we do in life: We make choices and compromises, we send a little more effort in one direction and a bit more awareness somewhere else; and with practice, we fall less often. Aha, you thought I’d say we learn to remain in balance, didn’t you? Well, everyone falls now and again, and that’s part of the game. Picking yourself back up is as important as standing steady on one foot.

To keep our balance, sometimes we need a little assistance. A fingertip on the wall might be enough, but some days we need to grip the back of a chair before we even think of lifting one foot. Like falling, knowing when and what to hold on to is part of wisdom.

Today, whether you’re in touch with your inner flamingo or flailing your arms trying not to tumble, you are doing just fine. Hold steady or grab a chair. As my daughter would say, “Whatevs”.

Balance.