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.

So Lucky

How lucky am I? I still remember when TVs became available with color, and now we have huge, high-definition sets that can hang on the wall. (Or, my friends do, as I don’t actually own a flat screen yet . . .) At my first job out of college I used a word processor that was shared by the department, and it was a big deal to be awarded your own voicemail box. A few years later everyone had a computer on their desk and we were able to, gasp, send typed messages to co-workers within the building. Now the only limit is the world!

Happy Buddha can't get over the wonders
of his smart phone either!

I remember buying my first personal computer. I didn’t really need it and we couldn’t really afford it, but I couldn’t keep my hands off it. Even the constant rebooting didn’t scare me away. Then came the internet and I haven’t stopped since. You might not know it to look at me, but I love computers and smart phones and Kindles and iPads, and I happen to own and use one of each. Sure I love the feel and smell of a “real” book, but a book is the sum of its words, and touch isn’t as necessary as imagination when it comes to enjoying a good novel. Yes it was fun getting a letter in the mail, but being able to instantly communicate with friends far and wide is a treasure as well. I know some folks are bemoaning the loss of handwriting skills, but I rejoice, as that was a skill I never mastered anyway. Through the magic of technology, people can now actually read and understand what I write!

And don’t get me started on smart phones. It’s true, they really are smart! They track my calendar, my phone numbers, and my email addresses. They help me get where I’m going without getting lost (and with my sense of direction I’ve spent a lot of time lost!). They keep me in touch with my kids as they grow up and start to move away: I can SnapChat a photo of my sad, sad face when one of them tells me they’ve chosen time with a friend over time with their mother. Much more effective than a snippy text!

It’s very exciting, all this techno stuff. And although I have no clue how it all works, and I’m not half as adept at using it as my kids are, I love it all the same, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. How lucky am I?

March On!

Is it still Winter? Isn't Spring here yet? This morning I woke to a white world, yet word on the street is that tomorrow, it will be 50 degrees outside. Green shoots have pushed through the earth and in some spots, delicate blossoms have appeared . . . now hidden under the snow, poor things.

But like I said, tomorrow it will be warm and the snow will melt and the blossoms will perk back up and the green shoots will sprout taller. And next week we’ll have more snow, or torrential rains, or a sunny spell. Who knows; it’s March.

March is a time of transition. As the weather outside moves from one extreme to the next, it is a good idea to watch your own, internal weather. Is there a crabby front moving in from the south? Do you forecast a sunny disposition for the weekend? Having your emotions run up, down and around for no reason you can discern can be dizzying, not to mention annoying (to you and to your friends and loved ones!). Here are some things you can use in an attempt to bring yourself some internal fair weather.

Sit and breathe. (Yes, I mean meditate, but that word scares people. Sitting and breathing sounds easier and accomplishes the same goal.)

Watch what you eat. (Sorry, no “comfort food”. We use that term to rationalize our desire for vast quantities of fat, salt and carbs all on one plate. Think about past comfort meals; I bet you felt “comforted” while you were munching, but about an hour later you felt heavy, cranky, and tired. Be honest. Make soup.)

Take a stroll. (Put on your boots if you have to, but don’t make it about exercise. Just meander around outside.)

Exercise. (Try yoga!)

Read a book, watch a movie, get a pedicure. (Paint a picture, listen to music, write a story. Pet your dog, change your sheets, visit a friend. Roast a chicken, dance in your kitchen, balance on one foot.)

Be compassionate. (To yourself first! The kinder you are to yourself, the more forgiving of your own ups and downs, the better you can share that kindness and forgiveness with others.)

There’s no need to beware the Ides of March! You’ve got it all under control.