“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity. And youre keeping all of them in the air. But one day, you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls – family, health, friends, integrity – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.” James Patterson
Lately I’ve been feeling like my life is resembling more and more a juggling act where I am trying to keep numerous balls in the air. And to be honest I’m not doing the best at keeping them all up there. I have been worrying about this, but thankfully I have realised that it is okay to drop the not so important ones now and then. I don’t have to keep everything going perfectly all at once. It is just not possible.
I find the above quote from James Patterson beautiful. I’m not sure that everything can be simplified down into just five balls, but it is a great reminder that it is okay to let the unimportant stuff drop now and then, that it will bounce back. I think it is in my nature to keep on trying to do everything, so this is just something that I am going to have to keep on reminding myself.
Do you ever feel like you have too many balls in the air at once?
October 6, 2011 at 8:08 am
Great quote Kate. I feel like all my balls are up there, but I’m getting tired and shaky, and sooner or later I’m going to drop them all. Failing makes me feel guilty. This is something I’m working on this week, I am going to beat mother guilt!
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October 11, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Mother guilt is something we all struggle with I think! I have realised that I had to give myself permission to put my less important balls down. Good luck with putting the mother guilt to rest xx
October 6, 2011 at 8:39 am
Thankyou for sharing. I totally agree and feel like this often, though wonder just how many balls I’m juggling. Think I’m goign to have to have a think about whether my ‘balls’ fit into those categories in his quote (which is very cool!), or whether I’ve got others. I do find that if I keep pushing myself though I drop more than just one ball!
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October 11, 2011 at 1:52 pm
That is me too! I keep pushing myself by adding more and more balls until I’m dropping them all. I am learning (very slowly) to put some down
October 6, 2011 at 8:44 am
Yes, yes, yes!!! It is so nice to know I am not the only one that feels like this! Thanks for sharing!!!
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October 11, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I think we all feel like this from time to time, certainly you and I are not alone in this judging by the other responses
October 6, 2011 at 8:47 am
Absolutely! Especially right now, with so much happening all at once and things needing to be done immediately, if not sooner.
I’m in the process of trying to decide which ‘balls’ can be dropped – for now or permanently. It’s not easy, but it will get there!
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October 6, 2011 at 8:55 am
Great quote… I’ve been feeling like I have far too many balls in the air lately, time to gently put one down for a while. The question is which?
Thanks for linking up Kate
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October 6, 2011 at 10:16 am
Life to me is a little waggon piled high with people I’m pulling along..every now and then someone jumps off..but I keep going..others jump on..all the rest is just routine.
October 6, 2011 at 10:22 am
Oh Kate, I’m so glad that I’m not the only one feeling this. While I am on a work break because of the school holidays, part of me really is not looking forward to going back to work. I do enjoy being at home, and running my blogs and businesses but, work brings in money – money and also the liberty of being me – or does it? I have to re-assess my life again. While the money is nice (not great) to have, I wonder if it’s really worth my time, emotions and family.
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October 6, 2011 at 10:29 am
I’m the same in that I try to keep giving the same amount of time and energy to everything, but sooner or later I feel all squeezed out. As long as the important things (family, health) are maintained, then I usually find that I can manage the other ‘balls’. Great quote.
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October 6, 2011 at 11:31 am
Sometimes I do get the feeling that I’m overwhelmed by everything that is happening and I try to simplify… and maybe lower some expectations of what I need/should do??
Have you heard the one about big balls, small balls and sand in a pail?
I like that analogy of life too
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October 6, 2011 at 11:54 am
I love the quote. So true. And yet so hard to achieve that balance! A lovely reminder.. thank you!
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October 6, 2011 at 2:55 pm
What a brilliant post. I love the quote you’ve included too.
I’m a terrible juggler- always have been. Although I taught myself to juggle (the internet was my teacher) when I was reading ‘Juggling with Mandarins’ with my Year 7 students. 3 was my limit though. My students were still impressed with that.
I can never get that balance with all 5 balls. I find I work too hard on MLB and my house falls apart around me. I stop to take hold of my family and my home and the work for MLB builds up. A vicious cycle and I get no where.
It’s really nice to read posts like this to remind you of what is important. For me this afternoon it’s playdough play with my daughter.
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October 6, 2011 at 3:39 pm
I was juggling too many balls and then life took over and landed me flat on my back, bedridden with a chest infection! Much better to take preventative action next time, I think :/
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October 6, 2011 at 3:42 pm
every day I drop the balls but most of mine bounce … love the quote Kate.
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October 6, 2011 at 6:32 pm
most defiantly Im becoming professional at the juggling act haha not really but it would be nice!
I’ve defiantly learnt to drop the unimportant ones because they seem to be able to bounce back when I am able to juggle some more again
xx
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October 6, 2011 at 7:37 pm
In my twitter bio I joke that I am a juggler of chainsaws and am not good at cleaning up the mess (when I inevitably drop one of them). I love the quote you have used here – I always feel I’ve taken on too much but I do somehow keep it all going, but for how much longer, who knows?
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October 6, 2011 at 8:34 pm
I love that quote and am going to bookmark it! I feel like this at least once or twice a week. But that said, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a saying that the only people who aren’t stressed are dead… and whilst very blunt, I’d much rather take on a bit too much and be having a crack at making the most of what I can.
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October 6, 2011 at 10:18 pm
I think it is so easy to find yourself juggling all the balls before you even realise it. It isn’t that I set out to intentionally be busy, it is just that life happens, and I am not good at saying no. I am getting better though! It’s essential to let yourself drop the unimportant balls so you can just keep up what is important. If they bounce even better. Wow I am probably over extending the metaphor. What I mean to say is it is good to focus only on the important things and get rid of the rest. Does any of this make sense??? I hope so.
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October 7, 2011 at 7:46 am
what a great quote that is so poignant. Totally get it and totally relate! FOr us women i think it comes naturally to juggle many balls… i guess we just have to take note of taking care of ourselves and not be too hard on ourselves when we drop one.
x
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October 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Love that quote, Kate. I’m juggling too many balls right now and I know that if I’m not careful, they’re all going to come crashing down on me.
October 7, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Thats such a great quote Kate! I’m always juggling so many things at once, I’m always worried that if I drop something, i’ll never get it back up there!!
October 7, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Lovely quote, Kate! Work as rubber ball that bounces back at you – amazing description I must say.
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November 29, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I regularly feel like this. Regularly. I question if I’m doing too much, and therefore neglecting the kids in some way. I question if I’m not doing enough, and therefore neglecting the entire family in some way. I question if I’m doing too much as a result of the previous questioning, and therefore neglecting me and the the entire family in some way, by letting things slip on account of trying to do everything and be everything to everyone.
Being a mother is tough work!
I’m probably doing just the right amount of everything, except feel like I’m juggling too much because of the amount of time I spent obsessing over if I’m doing too much.
Yes, my head really does operate like this, heh.