Reflections on an ordinary life
School goes back this week – my son today and my daughters on Wednesday. Life will slowly get back into the old routine of early mornings, appointments, dance classes after school, keeping the show on the road…
My son attends a church school in Zürich. He just started the first year of Secondary school this morning. One of the things I really like about the school is their focus on values. This morning started with a service in the Grossmünster in Zurich. The Grossmünster would be a cathedral if it was anywhere else – it’s a beautiful double-towered church right in the middle of the city – one of the best-known landmarks. The theme of the service was balance and movement. In a nutshell, the need for us to have balance in our lives before movement can take place…and of course stressing for the kids that sitting infront of the computer playing games for hours and hours does not give you a balanced life.
It got me thinking. All the more so because for once – and it really probably is the first time – I am not starting the new school year with a long list of resolutions and ways I’m going to change my life.
Balance has a lot to do with peace and happiness in my book. Somehow over the past couple of years I have slowly got my ordinary little life into a state of balance. I work enough, but not too much, my household pretty much functions most of the time, my health is back on track after a blip a couple of years ago, I get out and do the sport I want to do and I can usually find an hour now and then to sew or knit. My children have their ups and downs at school, but then who doesn’t have the odd down?, and I think I’m getting to the point where I can deal with whatever comes with a measure of equanimity.
I think the fact that I don’t have a burning desire to change anything much is a clue that I’m more or less in a state of balance. I’m not setting the world on fire, but then I don’t really have any desire to do that anymore. My novel is in a state of hiatus and has been for a while. I guess if it’s meant to ever get finished then it will, but who knows…
I think I’ve finally learned the hard lesson of saying no to things that I don’t want to do and which I know are going to take a lot of time I don’t have and ultimately be a burden. That’s been a difficult one for me, but I’ve finally got it and for those of you who haven’t yet – it’s made a massive difference!
More to the point, I’m content with what I have and how my life is. I actually feel very lucky to be able to say that. I know it won’t always be the case, but for now I’m very thankful.
Helen
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:45 pm
great post and thought provoking! Thanks
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:45 pm
This photo expresses the peace and contentment I hear in your voice as I read this piece. I know how you feel and have adjusted to my life as it is without wanting to change too much of it. I’d like to have more energy for exercise and less back and foot pain, but other than that, when my #2 son gets a job, life will be perfect. As perfect as we humans can be! Nice post and thanks for sharing.
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Well written. Content is the word I used to describe my life to someone recently. It’s a good feeling.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:55 pm
I read an excellent post recently which really made me think. It talked about how people are always looking forward or backward but never enjoying `now`and living in the moment. I think you probably are Helen having read this post. It`s certainly something I am trying to be more conscious of.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:37 am
Nice post, Helen. The older I get the more I think contentment is the real wealth that almost no one has anymore. Have a great week…
August 24th, 2011 at 1:06 am
Very thought provoking!
August 26th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Lovely, thought provoking post. But you’re far from ordinary. I think you are an extraordinary person achieving an enormous amount.
August 27th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
What a lovely post to begin my day. I have been thinking a lot about balance since my return from Uganda. It is something you must attend to all the time – at least for me it is easy to find that I have gone off balance without even knowing.