I was just reading about finding balance. We are often so very busy that we don’t even think about trying to obtain it. We must work, clean, shop, teach . . . you fill in the blanks for your life . . . so does it really matter that we would like to live a balanced life?

Yes, it does matter, and will increasingly more as we continue through life. If we don’t take the time to “stop and smell the roses” we really aren’t living life to the fullest.

As the bodies we live in clearly let us know, we can only live a highly stressful life for so long. Betty Mahalik shares in her book, Living a Five Star Life, of a time when her body informed her that it needed rest, thankfully before the symptoms were life-threatening. However, she shares that, “Burnout, depression, anxiety, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart ailments and autoimmune disorders have all been linked to improperly caring for our bodies, minds and spirits.

Betty recommends taking a quick survey of how you feel daily. She states, “Just as muscles need time between workouts to get stronger, your ‘human being muscle’ does better with periods of rest interspersed with activity.” In fact, if I don’t allow myself some downtime during the weekend, it is difficult to be physically and mentally prepared for the next work week.

To further share from Betty Mahalik, “Remember, you want your life to be a marathon not a hundred-yard-dash, so pace yourself. And, if your body truly is a temple, make this the week you start treating it as such!”

Assess the way you feel daily and begin to live! . . . life to the fullest.