Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Balance

We walk the balance beam,
juggling days,
as if they were not numbered.
The rat race,they say.
When did life become a race?
And when did we become rats?
The spirit asleep to reflection,
the spirit numb to the moment.
When did happiness become something
that we need to learn?
Multitasking,
one eye open,
mental fatigue.
Technology affords us play,
instant gratification,
we are seduced by it.
We fail to breathe in our moment,
lost and gone,
our moment wasted.

86 comments:

  1. "We fail to breathe in our moment."

    That is so true. I'm lucky if I remember to breathe at all! Balance is the HARDEST thing for me to find. I'm always either doing too much or too little. Right now I'm stuck in the too little stage.

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  2. so much lost in those moments we dont take the time to savor...this is probably the 5th post this morning on time...synchronicity

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  3. yes - the balance beam is not that easy to walk...When did happiness become something
    that we need to learn?...this hit!

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  4. This is lovely, Ayala. Lovely and powerful.

    I wish I had read this before taking my 3 year old to the store this morning. I was rushing us around, tugging on his little arm, trying to hurry him. But why? "When did life become a race?"

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  5. I'm always running... even to yoga. The flowers whiz by and I think, "I'll stop and smell ya later." Speaking of which I gotta run and get my kids so we can hurry up and spend some relaxing time together :P

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  6. SMART words! Seriously... when did happiness become something we had to learn?! :o)

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  7. To live in the moment...a true necessity. How simple joy is when we let it occur, like here with your piece. Thank you for the moment ~ Rose

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  8. Beautifully put.

    We fail to breathe in our moment,

    ^ love this line

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  9. Balancing life is an art I have come to believe...your remind us here...bkm

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  10. Wise words, very well put. When, indeed, did we become so intent on getting through the day that we lost sight of the life?

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  11. oh, yes, truth in every word here, and it's scary. i feel like things are spinning so far in this direction that they'll have to come around in a drastic way to wake us all.

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  12. So true...every word packs a punch. Everyone is in such a rush that no one has the time to appreciate the finer things in life any more.

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  13. "juggling days,
    as if they were not numbered."

    love this line. i think there is a theme appearing in this one shot...

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  14. In days past, one had to make something of the moment...now we dwell in the moment on facebook applications. Makes one cringe a bit. Gratificaton maybe but...how much long term joy does Farmville give a person? Oy. Focusing on the end bit, I know, but a strong piece throughout, with very strong points about life today. Very unfortunate...

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  15. Not only excellent as a poem but as a statement. the simple life is so over looked yet a healthy alternative to the commotion of regular living.

    Nice submission to One Shot - thank you

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  16. oh yes! very nice contemplative piece!

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  17. So many gifts and blessings leads to so many choices and options. Great treatise on modern life.

    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2011/05/16/as-i-am-meant-to-be/

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  18. I feel like this sometimes. Life takes over and we need to remember taht we only get the one life so we should enjoy it.

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  19. I only recently became able to understand, or slowed down enough to enjoy, a poem like this. Yours is a universal message well-told in heartfelt terms that so few recognize or embrace. Maybe if more read this, they might. Thank you, Ayala.

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  20. Well written observation of the human condition...staying in the moment is one of the hardest things to do. Vb

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  21. I needed to read this tonight. You know, when I'm tired but refuse to quit trying to catch up on blogs, and watch Glee, and design a Facebook landing page for a client. Yeah, needed to read this tonight.

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  22. A very profound write... how often we become seduced by the gadget and miss the sunrise....

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  23. every day feels like
    a music video and
    the dance never ends

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  24. We became rats as soon as we forgot to live because of all the runnin and the mental fatigue..nice one shot Ayala.

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  25. I can't relate to the question about when happiness became something we needed to learn - when did it become something that was automatically guaranteed?

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  26. Oh I needed this today. Thank you. I'm not sure when life became a race but I'm racing, can't seem to stop. I feel scattered and unclear. I keep thinking things will slow and they don't. Ah.

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  27. A very insightful poem, Ayala.

    Lady Nyo

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  28. It tool me a long time to realize/admit that I didn't like multitasking...too bad I had become really good at it! You write from a still and centered place ~ I know that coming to visit you will be refreshing. Thanks.

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  29. So much truth, ayala. We can split ourselves into so many pieces, we're unrecognizable. I loved this.

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  30. Some hard questions in this, and much wisdom. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. So true, very insightful piece. I have to say the picture of the dog put a huge smile on my face, I just love their adorable happy faces. Both dogs and children know the real meaning of life, we forget as we get older.

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  32. "When did happiness become something that we need to learn?" Great question!

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  33. Life is not a race, we are not rats, and, when, indeed, did happiness become a textbook lesson? So much truth and wisdom in this, Ayala. Thank you.

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  34. beautiful Ayala...and it is true, technology can pull us out of the "moment" very true...but it can also pull us closer...connecting us deeply to souls we otherwise would never have met. It is all in how we use it I suppose. We can choose to allow it to open our hearts as we slow down to read precious words, feelings, thoughts and view images that touch us deeply.

    Thank you for your thoughtful poem and for leaving so many loving comments on my blog.

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  35. Powerful and wise. When did life become a race? And whose rules determined it to be that way?

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  36. Caroline, it's a juggle,isn't it?

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  37. Brian...smiles..here's to savoring the moment :)

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  38. Thank you, Claudia :) It hit me when I was writing it..it wrote itself!

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  39. Thank you, Kristen. I hope you savor the moment...

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  40. Randy, I see it everyday with family and friends...

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  41. Thank you, Rose. That's sweet of you :)

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  42. Thank you, Barbara. It is an art that is simply hard to achieve....

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  43. Lori, it is scary and hard....

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  44. Thank you,Mystic Margarita. That's a lovely comment :)

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  45. Leslie, it does seem like everyone thinks it's going to last forever....

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  46. Chris, that's the point that if we balance it then it's great but on most days I am not sure if we achieve that balance :)

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  47. Thank you, Moondustwriter :)

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  48. Thank you, Hope. I hope all is well with you :)

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  49. KB, you are right we should take the time to enjoy our life :)

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  50. VB, it's true ....so hard to be in the moment :)

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  51. Thank you, Kelly. I know you've had your plate full. I am thinking of you and your community...wishing you well!

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  52. Matt, good way to express it :)

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  53. Anton, good point...nothing is ever guaranteed.

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  54. Lauren, sigh...the race continues...I tell myself all the time to slow down and enjoy the moment fully ...I hope you find some clarity and rest soon :)

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  55. Thank you, Adrienne. I love your visits here :)

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  56. Mindlovemisery, I am happy that my dog put a huge smile on your face...I hope you enjoyed that moment :) You are right children and dogs have so much wisdom that we need to recapture.

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  57. Thank you, Belinda. For your beautiful spirit that always shines :)

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  58. Laura, you make a valid point here. That's why balance is so important to enjoy our life and to also connect with those that make our life richer with their open hearts.

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  59. You touch a nerve that plagues our society. Even retired, it's so easy to become so busy that we forget to live in the now. Nicely written.

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  60. ...as if they were not numbered! Now that's a wake up call! Excellent!

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  61. So true. I love the line "when is happiness something we need to learn?" There's a seminar for everything now!

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  62. "The spirit asleep to reflection"

    this made me so sad.

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  63. So much truth in your words. I make sure I take a walk in the world around me often, if I didn't I wouldn't function. The simplicity of nature brings me back into balance.

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  64. Thank you, Pandamoniumcat :)

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  65. thanks for the wisdom



    Aloha from Waikiki

    Comfort Spiral

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  66. When did life become a race and we become rats?! I ask myself the same question each day, without answer.. Beautiful poem Ayala.

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