Friday, July 13, 2012

Keeping the Balance


I hope I’m not boring you with the quotes found on the Internet. Personally I like them. They help me focus on the basics. That keeps me in touch with the now and balanced. It keeps me on the right path. Here are a few new finds:

  • “Surround yourself with people who know your worth. You don’t need too many people to be happy, just a few REAL ones who appreciate you for exactly who you are.” – Author unknown

Not everyone can do this for you. Only the ones you become truly transparent with, very, very honest with. They see you up and down and through and through. They know your thoughts and where they came from. These are rare individuals in your life. Keep them close to you at all times. Savor them.

  • “I can’t promise you a perfect relationship without arguments over our differences and trust issues. However, I can promise you that as long as you’re trying, I’m staying.” – Author unknown

This is one way to become transparent with each other. Let your efforts to understand be quite apparent. It’s hard to hide these things, but it is natural to do so, to attempt to do so; we fear looking flawed before those we care about. But they need to know we are being honest with each other. And with myself.

  • “Want to know something?  What?                                                                                    Loving you was the second best thing I ever did.   What  was the first?                        Finding you.”

Zowie. No further comment necessary!

  • “We have flown the air like birds
and swum the sea like fishes,
but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers…”
~Martin Luther King Jr.

How did this man become so wise? So attuned to the human condition? Maybe because he suffered so much as a minority? How do we loosen up enough to be human, to be flexible, be vulnerable? To be honest? Isn’t this what allows our authenticity to shine through? No make believe or posturing?

Knowing who I am takes time and effort. Coming to a conclusion in its own time, not rushed or faked, but nurtured and explored, this is a process that takes time to get right. And getting it right means we are accurate in our conclusions. We can be more certain about our understanding. Reality is a demanding tutor. This is authentic. We can be more fully known by others, but also we learn to know them more fully.  It works both ways. The knowing and being known. The relationship. It soars. It breathes.

Elie Wiesel has so many good thoughts to share with the world. Here’s one:
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

When injustice is observed, say something. When women are wronged or objectified, take action. When minorities are subjugated or marginalized, refuse to be a part of it. Sound an alarm that this is taking place and won’t be tolerated. When any group is set apart as above or below others, question why this is being done. Question it. Question the assumptions. Make the other party work for their opinion. If it is good and right, it will become apparent. If it is not, it will crumble in the face of logic and justice.

Balance. Focus. How hard it is to maintain, let alone find. But it is worth the effort. As Americans it is part of our DNA.

July 13, 2012


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