Balance is a Process

One year or so ago in a cafe, Bak Chew, XT and I had this conversation about striking a balance in our lives. All of us had our different opinions...I can't remember the exact details but somehow we came to a conclusion that balance need not always have to be a 50-50 thing. It can be a 60-40 or even a 30-70 kind of balance, as long as the person is comfortable with it. Balance in that context is a destination or a goal that we seek to achieve.

Last night, I was listening to a phone interview between T. Harv Eker and Keith Cunningham and they talked about balance too. Balance, according to them, is a PROCESS. A process we all go through, juggling our various roles and responsibilities, and prioritising them in our lives. More important, there is no such thing as being PERFECT. In other words, no perfect balance; nothing's perfect in this world. Period.

All this while, I thought it would be nice to have balance in life and it's something that I am trying to move towards to. Suddenly, balance is no longer a "state" to arrive at...but rather, it's a "state of being" I am always at. No point in pursuing balance when life itself is already a balancing act!

Mum's the word

Weeks ago, I was in my shop's kitchen working with my mum. It was a Sunday and there were only 2 of us. Whenever the kitchen is short-staffed, extra hours are put in. It's the same situation again and so we worked. In a matter-of-factly manner which we are both alike (or I resemble my mum).

Suddenly, it dawned upon me that my mum has been my very good kitchen partner for the past one year. Recounting the number of times we worked together, it has always been this routine: first list down the tasks, split the workload, and then we go off to accomplish what we need to. No squabbling, no complaining...simply focus and do. At work, we are partners.

Interestingly, that's not the case if we were in our home kitchen...well (& not surprising), she often has her final say. If I intend to prepare or cook anything, my recipe needs approval from her, making sure that the kitchen is not messed up, condiments/sauces and other ingredients or cookery not to be misplaced. At home, she's the boss.

I think I am going to miss that partnership at my shop's kitchen because I seriously enjoy cooking with my mum more at work than at home! Perhaps the dynamics may change in the coming new year...hmm... :)

(This picture reminds me of her...after the mad hours of kitchen work, she likes to sit down with a good cup of cappuccino )

Frame of mind

This very much sums it up for me.

"Outliers are those who have been given opportunities -- and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them." Malcolm Gladwell

Whether or not I agree with how the author defines the success of outliers...to me, the latter part of the above statement is the key. Even if the opportunity presents itself to me or I am the one who create the opportunity, the question is can I handle it? Do I have the strength and presence of mind to grasp and use it?

Resurrected!

Yeah, I'm back (: