It’s come to my attention that I live a life of extremes. Granted, they are the extremes of a young, white woman living in the United States of America. (Important to take all things into context.) But, the fact remains that I am a pendulum of emotion. Not necessarily swaying between sad and happy (though there is that). Most of the time, it’s swinging between tranquil and ecstatic. Or calm, pensive and…karaoke-singing-bourbon-drinking-all-out-thrilled-about-life.
Both are part of me. Neither of which I feel inclined to sacrifice. But recently, I’ve found myself reflecting on where I am in the swing of things. Longing for a better balance. Somewhere between Bhutan and the bar down the street. Life between savasana and the seventh glass of wine.
It comes down to the Middle Path. As Buddha taught, it’s finding the balance between seclusion and extravagance, austerity and indulgence. Ironic actually, considering how I’ve avoided being in the middle most of my life. The middle is plain, boring, uneventful. I aspire to bold taste, strong opinions, dynamic existence. I am not a middle person. Which explains the pendulum, I guess.
It’s not so easy to find the center of the swing. Physics doesn’t cater to a pendulum set in motion. But so long as we have momentum, we can continue to strive for the balance. It is not a thing of passive acceptance but of active achievement. Here goes.
It’s not so easy to find the center of the swing. Physics doesn’t cater to a pendulum set in motion. But so long as we have momentum, we can continue to strive for the balance. It is not a thing of passive acceptance but of active achievement. Here goes.
Read Hermann Hesse's 'Narzis and Goldmund' ... various spelling. Spellbinding work of your duality... its fun and easy / fast to read.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work with the blog by the way ... finally I get to find out what you are up to.