This evening, after a good workout in the gym with Channy and then a light dinner with Lita, I spent about an hour in my room, alone.  For the first time in months I pulled out a few of the letters that my dad wrote to me before he died.  It’s still tough to read them without crying, but as time goes by I’m finding that I’m able to see through the tears a little bit better, and I’m able to understand more of the messages that he shared.

One letter in particular stood out tonight.  Dad mentioned life balance, and I’m sure that when I read it a long time ago it didn’t sink in.  This time, it did.

So I’ve been thinking about what it means.  At first it seems rather simple, and that’s probably how I took it the first time around.  If you work hard, find time to do other things, right?  Work hard, play hard, etc.

But the more I’ve thought about it, the more it seems to resonate on a different level.  Balance is not just about devoting time to different activities; it’s about finding ways to shuffle emotional energy, as well. I tend to focus to the extreme, which Dr. Zimmer claimed was a strength.  At the same time, dad is trying to teach me to expand my energy, whether it’s emotional, intellectual, or spiritual.  Our brains are amazing machines, with so much potential at our disposal.  Too often,

I think, we only work them in one area of our lives.  That’s not healthy.  It’s a lot like one of Channy’s workout lectures: don’t always work the same muscle.  Vary your workout in order to get the most benefit.

Well, we need to vary the workout of our minds, too.  Find balance in work, relationships, creative outlets, and spiritual growth, whatever that looks like for each individual person.  Dad’s lesson has finally sunk in for me, and it’s good advice for all.

(Okay, Galahad bloggers…thoughts?  Are you taking the time to find that balance in your life?  Are you laser-focused on one or two things, and ignoring many other areas that could use some of that awesome brain energy?  Post your thoughts.)