It all balances out

I'm doing a bit of reflecting at the moment, I suppose it's inevitable given the time of the year. Off with the old and on with the new, and all that. It's been a good year, so lets make it better for 2011.

I've been reading a book I got from the library, thank goodness for libraries, long may they continue to provide free nourishment for the mind. The book is called The pH Miracle', written by Robert O. Young Ph.D, and Shelly Redford Young. The sub title is 'Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health'. Oh no, not another self help, you are what you eat, kind of book. Well, a bit of it is, but there is so much more in it.

It focuses on 'balance'. A quote from page four......

'The universe operates by keeping opposites in balance, and the universe contained in your body is no exception. When imbalance occurs we get the signs of disease, low energy, fatigue, poor digestion, excess weight, foggy thinking, aches and pains, as well as major disorders. This book is about reclaiming balance, energy, mental clarity, smooth operation of all body systems, clear bright eyes and skin, and a lean trim body'.

Although it primarily focuses on the balance of acid and alkaline within our bodies, and the need for balance in our diets to achieve this, it has prompted me to think about all the other aspects of our lives which would benefit from the idea of balance.

When you think about it imbalance is everywhere. The worlds population is not spread evenly, so we have people who are starving and people who throw away excess food. How much fairer it would be if there was a better balance and everyone had enough. It would solve everything. Countries wouldn't have to compete against each other on price, we could do swaps instead. Go back to bartering, come to think about it we could do away with money altogether.

For some, the work/leisure balance becomes intolerable. Working full time from the age of 16 to 65, then finding you have nothing to do untill you die, is very much out of balance. Wouldn't it be a good idea if everyone could work part time for most of their lives, but work for longer untill they wanted to stop. Spread the load so to speak, so you are not tired out when you reach your fifties and sixties. Save a bit of energy for later.

Looking back at my working life I have managed to vary my jobs to make it more interesting and not so much a chore. I think I have struck a very good balance. For several years I had a winter job and a summer job, this kept my enthusiasm fresh, knowing that I had a change of scenery coming up. I have also juggled several part time jobs. This was not at all stressfull as you might imagine, but rather fun as I changed my hats. Even when I had full time jobs, I changed them frequently so as not to become bored. Most of the time I got the balance just right.

There's a lot of truth in the saying 'Everything in moderation', and 'A Little bit of what you fancy does you good'. Get the balance wrong and a lot of what you fancy can do you a lot of harm. Like the television thing I mentioned. Sit in front of it for weeks and months on end and you become a social recluse, as well as losing the power to think for yourself.

Recently I read about a man who ate nothing but potatoes for a few months, he survived but think how such an experiment like that might affect your life if you became obsessed with only eating one type of food. You could never meet up with friends and eat out, your social life would take a dive, and your body would pack up in protest. Did you read about the guy who only ate in McDonalds every day for weeks. It cost him a fortune and he almost wrecked his body. Proof that a balanced diet, providing it is healthy food, is the only way to sustain a healthy body.

Think about what you think about. Is a good balance necessary there as well. I would say yes. It would not do to be forever angry, or forever sad, or forever dominant, or forever passive. You would not have a good life if you continually felt bitter about things, or always felt sorry for yourself, or always blamed others for your predicament.

A good balance for me is to listen to my head as well as my heart, when weighing a situation up. Mixing practicality with emotion, and seeing things from all angles makes a balanced life. It is maybe easier for me because I have no one to balance with, couples have to work harder at it , especially if one is out of balance and the other is not.

I try and balance my life at the moment, that's why I have a calendar on the wall. I have to balance my time indoors with my time outdoors, too much of one and not enough of the other and I become irritable. Of course the biggest challenge I have is balancing my finances, and I can honestly say I am an expert at that. I also balance my commitments to other people. If they demand too much of me I become resentfull of their encroachment on my time. If my calendar is empty I become sad because it means no one has thought about me. So sometimes I am happy to do things for others and sometimes I want 'me' time, alone to do what I like.

Think about your life in 2011, is there anything you need a better balance with? It's not something that happens naturally you have to work at it. I love the start of a new year, all fresh and squeaky clean, I can't wait to get to grips with it. Lets all meet back here in one years time, and we'll talk about how we all did in 2011.

A very Happy New Year to all my blogger friends.