F-ck Balance

These were the words spoken to me by a famous aging researcher.

I was a newly minted MD, PhD, after my post-doc, in my first 3 years of playing assistant professor. 

I had a colleague who was interested in aging research and we started a scientific collaboration. 

This led me to some science meetings where I ran into this aging doyen of aging research. 

I asked him about successful aging, and having balance in life… 

He said “F-ck balance, grab life by the balls and enjoy the sh-t out of life.”

I noted he was drinking a single malt scotch at the time. 

I believe he was also on his third or fourth wife… 

But, I took his words to heart. 

Sometimes, trying to live a “balanced-life,” has risks of blandness. 

How do we fully live this one life we are given? 

Each of us are so much the same, and also, so different.

How do we find the best way to live our own lives fully.  

This one life… 

Embracing this very moment, which is all we have…  

Yet, also investing in our future selves. 

Tough stuff! 

The answers for me have always come from contemplation and meditation, along with journaling. 

For important questions, my need is to deeply consider my next steps. 

Not relying on only simple intuition, nor only with rational thought. 

There is good information all around us. 

Focusing on the feelings in the body. 

And, writing out tables of pros and cons of any big decision… 

Yet, in the end, there is a clear feeling of what is the correct move. 

That is a grace bestowed by the universe… 

We spoke this past Sunday about living a life where we consider our attachments and our authenticity. 

Perhaps, letting go of unhealthy attachments, yet, preserving the interdependence with others that may enrich our lives. 

Spending time with those who support our deepest authenticity. 

 

We spoke of how we can get lost in rehashing the past and rehearsals for the future. 

Yet, a certain amount of rehashing the past can allow us to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. 

And, rehearsing for the future can help us to be more confident when things unfold for us. 

The key is to know when our rehashing and rehearsals are a waste of our precious time. 

Is that a balance? 

Perhaps… 

The lesson I took away those many years ago, is that we can life our lives with a ferocious energy… 

Source is the same Source looking out from behind each of our eyes. 

And, we receivers of Consciousness translate our given lives as individuals. 

We can walk in the world knowing we wear our Ego Overcoats… 

Enjoying that we are the embodiments and sensory organs of Source… 

And, we have the opportunity to live this one life fully and completely… 

There is that ole Paradox again… 

Sometimes we live this life with Balance… 

Sometimes crashing and screaming over the edge… 

Ferociously… 

Saying, “F-ck Balance…”  

Namaste