Look  at how this Galapagos blue boobie balances gracefully on one leg even on the uneven rock! This seems so natural to this bird and other birds! For man, balancing on one leg requires strong core muscles and strong quads. This means practicing daily and rigorously to achieve this balanced pose. We are entertained by an acrobat’s balancing act especially on the high wire! Ballet dancers pirouette “en pointe” across the stage creating a sinuous rhythmical flow.

I have not ridden a bicycle for more than 20 years! I had a bicycle and also a small motorcycle while I was at the university so it was a surprise when I was unstable balancing myself on a bicycle after all these years! When I was in San Diego at my daughter’s place, I tried to ride her bicycle on the boardwalk by the beach but was so wobbly that I decided to stop because I would hurt myself in my fall and definitely would have broken a bone! And I certainly cannot visualize myself in a cast unable to move for several months, not to mention the possible hospitalization. You may say that I was thinking too much (maybe negatively) but when one takes risks, it is very important to evaluate and analyze the consequences of one’s decisions. For me, safety is a priority and if I listened to my “pride”, I would have continued trying to ride the bicycle and very likely would not just hurt myself but also someone else. So it is necessary to recognize your weakness  and accept the fact that you need to relearn some skills again.

I learned how to ride a bicycle when I was just ten years old in the province while vacationing at my grandmother’s place. I already knew how to balance using a foot-powered scooter which I could do even while releasing my hands. I could even put my feet on the handlebar. One morning, my cousin gave me his bike and I just mounted it and sped on to the market about a mile away. Everything went well along the road and I was unafraid at all! As I came to a major crossroad, I had to speed up in order to cross before the big trucks caught up with me. But it was downhill from where I was to a crowded marketplace! Then I realized that I did not know how to brake since my cousin did not instruct me how so I just released the pedal and ran into a man! That was the only way I could stop the bicycle. I was so apologetic and afraid because I hurt someone. Luckily, he did not break a bone but he reported me to my cousin’s mother who then reported me to my grandmother. Ah, the joys of childhood and the memories they teach us!

Lately, a friend told me to ride the mountain trail at a park nearby and told me not to think too much. She said that I can do it! For how can one forget to ride a bike? I checked out the bikes for rent, mounted one then asked the guide if it was alright for me to ride the trail. His response was “No.”  That made my decision. I knew that disaster would just befall me if I listened to my ego in the belief that I could ride a bike, much less ride the mountain trail! I may have landed my head right smack into a tree, fallen into the ravine or in the lake, or maybe would have walked the bicycle back to the rental place. Negative thoughts, you may say but it is a positive assessment of what I can and cannot do!

Did I really fail? No, because it was definitely the right decision to do! That afternoon, I purchased an 18 speed mountain bike and since then, I have practiced almost daily in my neighborhood. The  first time I tried, I was so wobbly and I gripped the handlebar so tightly. I biked just a short distance in a cul-de-sac on an even road without too much slope and I got really tired. Everyday, I increased the number of times around this short cul-de-sac. On the seventh day, I went further adding another cul-de-sac, with a little bit more slope. On the tenth day, I decided to try biking all around the neighborhood. There were two roads that had a long downward slope and at my first attempt, I put on some brakes so as not to go down too fast. It has now been one month since and I can go downhill with more fun. The best is that I never fell down at all! I have gained back my confidence in riding a bicycle. The lesson is to take risks but know your strengths and weaknesses and realize you may fall yet also know that you do not need to fall at all if you plan right and take the challenge one step at a time! Maintain your balance to avoid falling, to avoid failure. Overestimating yourself will just lead you to failure after failure. Success will be an illusion and you will always be frustrated because you always fall and fail.

I have been taking yoga now for two years and I also take fitness classes. My core is now stronger but I still cannot stay long on the yoga tree pose. Perhaps it is the focus. Perhaps my core is still not strong enough. I do not like the tree pose at all yet I try to do it and slowly, I am able to stay longer in the pose. Am I frustrated at this “failure”? Am I frustrated every time I fall? No, I am not frustrated because I know that it takes time to achieve this goal. I have placed myself on a five year plan with this pose. If I am conscientiously practicing, I know that I will be able to balance very well and hold the pose for more than thirty seconds! Meanwhile, every time I fall while doing the tree pose, I accept falling as I know I will be able to rise again. So manage your expectations with your capabilities and do not despair if you cannot do something quickly.

BALANCE is so critical in our lives. without this, you will succumb to falling a lot, to many failures. Have a goal with a plan that takes you in baby steps. In order to get to the top, you need to take the stairs one step at a time. Otherwise, you may miss your step and fall backwards two more steps and hurt yourself along  the way. Your plan must take into consideration your strengths and weaknesses, allowing to accept any help you can get. Let ego aside. Let honor and honesty prevail. Attaining balance is pursuing positive thoughts.

BALANCE also means enjoying work and enjoying play with your family and friends.

• Allow time for work and time for play.
• Allow time to exercise to maintain your health.
• Allow time to get enough sleep so that your body is nourished.
• Allow time to eat well and have a good healthy meal.
• Allow time to be alone in your thoughts to restore yourself.
• Allow time to breathe deeply and relax with each breath!
• Allow time to plan well to achieve your goals with less failures.
• Allow time to take a vacation.
• Allow time to explore new avenues, new horizons!

BALANCE means being independent and interdependent on others, avoiding co-dependence.

•         Acknowledge your mistakes.
•         Apologize honorably.
•         Accept challenges positively with an open mind.

BALANCE means acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses and improving your talents.

BALANCE means discarding negative thoughts and only thinking positively.

BALANCE yourself on the BALANCE BEAM OF LIFE! Make your backward flips and turns and stand on one leg steadily and confidently like a gymnast!

BALANCE YOUR ACT TO ATTAIN BALANCED POWER POSITIVELY! Reap your gains without falling too many times.

BALANCE YOUR POWER!