finding that balance

This blog is to be of my choice, and originally my choice would have been to have completed this on time, however I spaced it out and didn't obviously, and so now I am going to write about finding balance while juggling the many different angles of life. 

My plate has always been pretty full for as far back as I can recall.  I always had a full schedule of school, clubs, sports and then work once I turned 15.  It is only on a more complicated scale now that I find myself trying to balance my life out. 

The hardest part about it for me is remembering to leave time for myself when all is said and done.  I end up working seventy hours a week to pay to go to school full time and commute at that, I babysit my nephews for a day on a mostly weekly basis (which I love), and then I fill in the extra time often found in small chunks at weird times of day with homework, family time and sleep (in the correctly descending order).  Needless to say my guitar has felt very neglected these days and I have run myself almost to edges of exhaustion, barely teetering in and out of balance.

So I try to slow myself down to counteract the inbalance.  I take a day off to catch up on sleep but I generally will overcompensate by picking more shifts up, sometimes out of guilt.   I remember to turn the radio off or to something completely soothing.  I play some of my old songs when I get stuck on some writing or algebra.  I take the longer more scenic route home on the back roads over the new bridge.  I light candles and take longer showers just because it feels good.

I've found that life is a cycle of feeling balance and unbalance by many different things, and the key is to keep adapting and finding new ways to balance things out.  Whether it be a coping mechanism, means of meditation, stress relief, or organizational time management tools (among lots of other options) there really are alot of pursuable avenues to help get the balance under control.

I think next semester, I am going to try yoga.  Also, as part of finding my balance I wrote down every week when to work on my blog so that next time I can blog with my original intent :)

blog-a-sized

Here's how to blogasize:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post these rules on your blog
3. Tell about your six quirks, see below.
4. Tag three bloggers to do the same
5. Leave them a comment to let them know you’ve tagged them

My six quirks:

1. I spend a lot of time in my car driving alone for various reasons and typically when I am on my way somewhere I love to listen to music and sing along, like get to a place of solitary jamming where I probably look ridiculous to passers-by.  However, on the way back I search and switch to npr radio and listen to news broadcasts and public programs . . .which bothers most of my friends, quarter century club, ought to pay attention :)

2. I am busy almost all the time.   My plate is usually full, my life an endlessly revolving balancing act.  I work about 65 hours a week, go to school full time and still find some time for friends, family, and music.  If only I could find the time to sleep more regularly.

3. I am a hopless romantic to the core, to some I am hopelessly cheesy.  It depends on your perception I guess, but I pay attention to the little things I love the effect of small surprises out of the blue.  I am a big fan of the serenade by guitar . . .but not in a jack johnson, move pen move, kinda way haha.  Also I clearly like to laugh alot.

4. I suppose you could say I have a thing for water.  I love the rain and the way if dances with the senses.  All of my favorite places have running water (not like plumbing) such as creeks, waterfalls, rivers, streams, and of course the lake!  I find it very calming and creatively inspiring.  I'm able to clear my head best at these places of sanctuary.

5. I often drive with the window cracked, no matter the weather or season, because I like the fresh air and the way it feels brisk and slightly breezy.

6.I tell super cheesy jokes, particularly universal joke that comes in handy in several circumstance, including making me smile and/or giggle every time I hear it or tell it.

why I write

The first piece I can recall writing was titled "Fito" and fittingly it was about a dog who was run over by a car . . .I was seven years old, and obviously my dog had just been run over by a car.  Before I knew what a creative outlet was, I used writing as a tool to better understand my emotions. 

My writing preferences have changed through the years as my life and interests have evolved.  I began with prose and storytelling which easily transcended into poetry and finally landing with lyrics. 

I write as a form of expression.  The ability to take feelings, emotions and thoughts and translate them into words is invaluable to me. 

I also write as a form of entertainment.  I enjoy the process of taking an idea and watching it come to life by the words I choose to emphasize the imagery and make the piece come alive.

I write as a form of communication.  Both internally and externally.  Sometimes I find that I can truly understand the way I feel and think if I just write it down. 

 A lot of times, my best writing combines all of these aspects together.  I enjoy academic writing, however that doesn't typically come from the heart.  My poetry, stories, songs, lyrics, and prose are all extensions of my heart and mind and that is where the beauty of being able to write really has the opportunity to shine . . .at least for me.