Balance

Hi friends,

On Saturday night I finally watched the movie Soul with my family, and wow, it hit a nerve. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. The gist is that in order to live a fulfilling life, you need to find a healthy balance between your passions and, well, everything else.

If you’re a writer or have a passion of any kind and you’re anything like me, you probably spend a bit too much time obssessing over it. I’m not talking about the actual writing or passion itself — it’s impossible to spend too much time obssessing over that! — but all those adjacent activities, like waiting for the next bit of good news to arrive in your email inbox, researching how to write a query letter or grant application, looking up agents and publishers, Googling yourself to see how your book is doing compared to others (or is that just me?), talking incessantly about writing to your family and friends and anyone you’ve managed to trap in a corner at your office holiday party.

This is the nerve that Soul hit. The truth is that lately I’ve been feeling out of balance, spending too much energy not writing, but chasing a feeling of accomplishment, which can only come from inside, and letting all things writing take up way too much real estate in my head and heart, to the sacrifice of so many other wonderful things. To the point where, if I’m being honest, I don’t feel good about it. The movie showed me that I can’t continue to ignore it.

So I’m making a few changes. Yesterday was cold and gray, but I went for a walk outside and paid attention to the shape of the snow on the tree branches and the lovely contrast between the bright snow on the ground and the dark water trickling through the culverts. I slowed down while folding laundry so I could enjoy a radio show. I made a conscious effort to stop whatever I was doing when someone spoke to me so that I could look them in the eye. Did I write? Yes. But I also focused with renewed attention on the other important things and people in my life. It felt good.

A few days ago, when I dared to look up from my computer

With the holidays approaching, I always have to recalibrate my priorities so that I can enjoy the beautiful (and not-so-beautiful) chaos of cooking and cleaning and traveling and gathering with family. So it’s a perfect time for this reminder. This week I wish you balance too, whatever that means for you.

Yours,

Jen