Finding balance in a chaotic world

Archive for May, 2008

Balance in Friendships

I’ve been blessed with a good number of friends in my life. The bulk of them I meFriendst in high school and twenty years later I’m still friends with them. The group of us has stayed in touch over the years and still continues to do various activities together. In talking with other people, I’ve learned that this is actually rare both in number and longevity but to me it is just natural. But maintaining friendships takes a lot of effort and can easily overwhelm you if they get out of balance.

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The Lottery is a Tax

lotto ticketI often quote a joke I heard one: “The lottery is a tax on people bad at math.” The odds of winning more money than you spend on the lottery are so low that the government is the only institution allowed to do it. We’re talking odds of millions to one depending on which game you like. The fact is that for every winner there needs to be tens of thousands of losers in order to finance the payouts. Yet every day people pay their money and play. So why do people play? Why am I tempted? Clearly something is out of balance. The desire to win millions of dollars overrides rational thought. Read more »

Formula for Success

ledger sheetThe very first formula you learn in Accounting class is the one for profit. It is a simple one and yet it is what every company in America chases after.

 

Profit = Income – Expenses

 

See, it’s not rocket science. Logically, to increase profit (i.e., left over money) you need to have greater income, less expenses or a combination thereof. So what does this have to do with balancing your life?

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The Comfort Zone

There is a lot of talk about your comfort zone and reaching outside of it. Everyone can agree that Targetoccasionally stretching of your zone is a good thing for you but very few people want to do it. Let’s face it, it is stressful and sometimes a little scary to set out of it, heck it is called a comfort zone for a reason. I’m comfortable there, it is safe and cozy and I know exactly what is expected of me. Outside of it is dark and scary and worst of all, I might fail.

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Acting Like a Child

CryingSo my youngest one just turned three. It is amazing how much changes in such a short time for him and how independent he is growing. It is also funny to see what happens when something doesn’t go his way. He immediately gets frustrated and starts yelling “No!” I tell him to calm down and either solve it or show him how to solve it. It still takes him a few moments to reign his emotions back in, however. He is only three and that is how most three year-olds are. Read more »