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!

When I am old

WH sent this to me recently. Am deeply touched by it...

I would like to share this with you...as a reminder for ourselves. And, I hope it tugs at your heartstrings as much as it did to mine.

《当我老了》 ——写给孩子的一封信
当我老了，不再是原来的我。
请理解我，对我有一点耐心。

当我把菜汤洒到自己的衣服上时，
当我忘记怎样系鞋带时，
请想一想当初我是如何手把手地教你。

当我一遍又一遍地重复你早已听腻的话语，
请耐心地听我说，不要打断我。
你从小的时候，我不得不重复那个讲过千百遍的故事，
直到你进入梦乡。

当我需要你帮我洗澡时，请不要责备我。
还记得小时候我千方百计哄你洗澡的情形吗？

当我对新科技和新事物不知所措时，请不要嘲笑我。
想一想当初我怎样耐心地回答你的每一个“为什么”。

当我由于双脚疲劳而无法行走时，
请伸出你年轻有力的手搀扶我。
就像你小时候学习走路时，我扶你那样。

当我忽然忘记我们谈话的主题，请给我一些时间让我回想。
其实对我来说，谈论什么并不重要，
只要你能在一旁听我说，我就很满足。

当你看着老去的我，请不要悲伤。
理解我，支持我，就像你刚开始
学习如何生活时我对你那样。

当初我引导你走上人生的路，
如今请陪我走完最后的路。
给我你的爱和耐心，我会报以感激的微笑。
这微笑中凝结着我对你无限的爱。

文章择选自墨西哥《数字家庭》2004年11月号

Simple profoundness

Find this highly resonating at the moment…

(Hanging on to myself - Framed A4 papercut)

(close-up)

About Peter Callesen’s work

“…I find the A4 sheet of paper interesting to work with, because it probably still is the most common and consumed media and format for carrying information today, and in that sense it is something very loaded. This means that we rarely notice the actual materiality of the A4 paper. By removing all the information and starting from scratch using the blank white 80gsm A4 paper as a base for my creations, I feel that I have found a material which, on one hand, we all are able to relate to, and which on the other hand is non-loaded and neutral and therefore easier to fill with different meanings. The thin white paper also gives the paper sculptures a fragility which underlines the tragic and romantic theme of the works.”

∆ Meets the Big O

I was sitting in Mr. J’s office a few weeks ago for a debrief session and something caught my eye. It was ‘The Missing Piece Meets the Big O’ book stacked against other MR reading materials on his shelf. I can’t help but asked him about it (of cos, after discussing the biz matters).

Looks like I am not the only one who have a fondness for that book =) It’s actually categorized as a children’s book. Has very simple illustration (in black and white; un-coloured), yet carries a succinct message. Both J and I are quite intrigued and impressed with how the author brings out the essence of life by condensing all-that-is-happening-in-our-lives using simple sketches.

Well, apparently not many people see it in that light. Mr. J did a random survey amongst his friends and it seems that most reacted with “Hmm, so…what? Am I supposed to see something? Isn’t that what life is all about?”

Only some (I suspect likely to be the Qualis) feel something for this book.

Whether or not we share the same sentiments, here’s an online version which you may like to drop by. And I hope you have a happy-rolling good time!