Balance

Whomever coined the term "work-life balance" must have seen the world through different eyes. A quick check of Webster's returns the following definition: balance - stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis. Now, this gives the impression that both "work" and "life" are given equal weighting that allows neither one to overpower the other. Not exactly the way things work for most of us 30-somethings in the professional world.

Interestingly, a second look at the Webster's listing produces the following: balance - a means of judging or deciding. Much more appropriate, I think.

For me, it's not so much about work-life balance as it is about making choices. And in making those choices somehow finding an equilibrium. The very use of the term "choice" indicates that one thing take precedence over the other, therefore creating an imbalance between the two. I've come to learn that as long as I make choices I can live with beyond today, the balance resides not in the amount of time that I'm spending on either one, but rather in my heart.