Balance, Perseverance and Beyoncé.

I've been musing a lot lately about balance - physical, mental, emotional, relational, all of it. 

Of course, no one is perfect...but we always seem to find idealistic "perfection" in others who posses qualities we believe that we lack. Well, I can only speak for myself, so I'll say that I do that. Comparison is probably my most self-destructive impulse, and one I've been concentrating on ridding myself of.  "They" always say that recognizing you have a problem is the first step, right? ;)

Last night, as I (and countless others) watched the the halftime show of the Super Bowl, I saw one such "perfect" person that I have always admired, the great and powerful Queen Beyoncé, stumble. She recovered and still came out looking flawless, of course. But it got me to thinking: she's not perfect. She falls, just like I do. But she NEVER gives up - and that is why she is as successful as she is. Yes, jealous women everywhere will claim the "unfairness" of her God-given beauty and talent  as the basis for all the seemingly effortless achievements she has had, but we all have God given beauty and talent - WAY more than skin deep. And possessing that in and of itself will not get us there. It's having the courage to find it, use it, and work tirelessly at sharing it, that makes for our success.

Nevertheless, it's still a good reminder that even the "best" fail. Fall. Stumble. 

In my own practice of running towards my fears, I started my second round today of a fitness program that's proved extremely challenging to me. The first day in the schedule is a balance-based workout. I screamed at the tv, welled up with tears, tripped, stumbled, dropped weights, and fell. But I remembered that determination through this particular challenge is just a small example of overcoming the larger obstacles in my life. It's a compound effect. So resolutely, I press on. I don't give up. And I record it to share with the world - take it as entertainment, empowerment or both. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/mj8d4l85GvQ 

But please, take it as a message: YOU are capable of doing the things you think you can't. You just have to get out of your own damn way. Do just a little bit more than yesterday. And never, ever, give up on yourself. I won't.