The Seesaw

by Tania Tyler

Let’s take a moment to remember the seesaw from our childhood. Some of us may have very vivid images… all the coats of paint on the seats, usually the primaries; blue, red and yellow. A fresh coat every year. The feel of the metal handle in our little hands. Holding on tight. Think back to the thrill of the ups and downs. Perfect balance was what we thought we were supposed to achieve, suspended, stuck, balanced in the middle. Or, to be left hanging on the high end or slammed to the ground, the exhilaration getting to either was fun but being trapped at the top or bottom wasn’t a good feeling either. The ups and downs, that’s why we enjoyed the seesaw.

Now, let’s move to the present. Still the same, isn’t it? Life, the metaphorical seesaw.

If we haven’t experienced the lows, we can’t appreciate the highs. The sunny days without the rain. Light without the dark. Happiness without disappointment.

Appreciation.

Living in the present, experiencing life and all that it has to offer. Lessons to be learned, gratitude to be shown. Finding the safe balance between the extremes without stagnation. A place to grow and experience life.

“So quite often, the easiest way to get rid of a Minus is to change it into a Plus. Sometimes you will find that characteristics you try hard to eliminate eventually come back, anyway. But if you do the right things, they will come back in the right ways. And sometimes those very tendencies that you dislike the most can show up in the right way at the right time to save your life, somehow. If that’s ever happened to you, you’ll think twice before setting out to completely Unbounce yourself.”

Wu Wei.

“Water flowing over and around the rocks in it’s path – not the mechanical, straight-line approach that usually ends up short-circuiting natural laws, but one that evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things.”

Going with the flow. Minimal effort. “Doing without doing.”

Quotes from the “Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff