Comments on: Why is it so Difficult to Find Happiness and Balance? http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/ Thrive Between Trips Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:28:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3926 Leigh Shulman Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:42:52 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3926 "It's all always ok, isn't it?" I think that needs to become my new mantra in life. (or Life?) “It’s all always ok, isn’t it?”

I think that needs to become my new mantra in life. (or Life?)

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3879 Leigh Shulman Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:07:27 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3879 That is a really lovely piece, Dee. Very useful and helpful. I totally agree that the Spanish (or Latin) way of slowing down, manana, take a nap after a long lunch are really lovely. And it amazes me how difficult it's been getting used to it. I will say, though, that lately, I've actually learned how to take a nap in the afternoon. Just an hour after lunch. Everything is closed anyway so there's nothing I can do. It most definitely helps me put the rest of my day into focus. That is a really lovely piece, Dee. Very useful and helpful.

I totally agree that the Spanish (or Latin) way of slowing down, manana, take a nap after a long lunch are really lovely. And it amazes me how difficult it’s been getting used to it.

I will say, though, that lately, I’ve actually learned how to take a nap in the afternoon. Just an hour after lunch. Everything is closed anyway so there’s nothing I can do. It most definitely helps me put the rest of my day into focus.

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3878 Leigh Shulman Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:04:27 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3878 That reminds me of something I read in a book on Kundalini Tantra. It talked about how disruption and discomfort are often a sign of moving onto another stage. So it may not always be pleasant, but it is good to be reminded that the friction is a sign of coming back into balance. Thanks for your comment, Sher. It's always good to hear from you. That reminds me of something I read in a book on Kundalini Tantra. It talked about how disruption and discomfort are often a sign of moving onto another stage.

So it may not always be pleasant, but it is good to be reminded that the friction is a sign of coming back into balance.

Thanks for your comment, Sher. It’s always good to hear from you.

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]]> By: elasticfate http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3877 elasticfate Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:01:43 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3877 I feel you, sister - I feel you. Having just spent the last year floating from place to place meandering, living on natural time, following synchronicities along the way, I loved my lifestyle & the people I met, but in the last few months I craved to be back home in Cali and having some stability. Instead of short-term experiences, I wanted to build community in one place, see things take root for a long time & be able to see things develop over time instead of moving on to project after project. I craved for intimate connections to people, to my work, to a home again. I was so excited to get home & pick up on some things I left off, and I got here with such high expectations of settling in & then sunk into a depression for a few weeks. There was no picking back up because I am not the same person I was when I left. I expected to ease right back into my "old life" & forgot that I would be creating an entirely new one again. And I freaked out & resisted the friction for a bit, but once I acknowledged the truth of my feelings & the struggle to re-adjust, things slowly began to slide into a beautiful new formation... Thank you for this insightful piece. It helped put me even more at ease with being ok with exactly what is happening right now - it's all always ok, isn't it? ;) I feel you, sister – I feel you.

Having just spent the last year floating from place to place meandering, living on natural time, following synchronicities along the way, I loved my lifestyle & the people I met, but in the last few months I craved to be back home in Cali and having some stability. Instead of short-term experiences, I wanted to build community in one place, see things take root for a long time & be able to see things develop over time instead of moving on to project after project. I craved for intimate connections to people, to my work, to a home again. I was so excited to get home & pick up on some things I left off, and I got here with such high expectations of settling in & then sunk into a depression for a few weeks. There was no picking back up because I am not the same person I was when I left. I expected to ease right back into my “old life” & forgot that I would be creating an entirely new one again. And I freaked out & resisted the friction for a bit, but once I acknowledged the truth of my feelings & the struggle to re-adjust, things slowly began to slide into a beautiful new formation…

Thank you for this insightful piece. It helped put me even more at ease with being ok with exactly what is happening right now – it’s all always ok, isn’t it? ;)

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3876 Leigh Shulman Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:56:05 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3876 I'm lucky in that I work with people who are fun, funny and interesting. When we discuss work, it often feels like just a fun chat with a friend. :) That said, I don't really agree that work always comes first. Friends, family, the things that recharge and revive us are of equal importance. Work is to pay for roof, food, clothes, travel, etc. I think it's important to recognize that anything beyond basics is extra. Last year I had a choice to go to TBEX or join Lila for a princess tea party to celebrate her cousin's birthday. I chose the tea party. I figured TBEX would be there another year, but a 4yo birthday only comes once. Of course, I wish I could have come to Chicago to meet many of the travel bloggers I've read, twittered and FBed. It would have also been great to be part of TBEX when it was still on the smaller side. I think it will be HUGE this coming year and will continue to grow. But I'm also very happy with my memories of 5 little girls sitting around the table at the Ritz Carlton drinking tea in their princess dresses with tiaras on their heads. I’m lucky in that I work with people who are fun, funny and interesting. When we discuss work, it often feels like just a fun chat with a friend. :)

That said, I don’t really agree that work always comes first. Friends, family, the things that recharge and revive us are of equal importance. Work is to pay for roof, food, clothes, travel, etc. I think it’s important to recognize that anything beyond basics is extra.

Last year I had a choice to go to TBEX or join Lila for a princess tea party to celebrate her cousin’s birthday. I chose the tea party. I figured TBEX would be there another year, but a 4yo birthday only comes once.

Of course, I wish I could have come to Chicago to meet many of the travel bloggers I’ve read, twittered and FBed. It would have also been great to be part of TBEX when it was still on the smaller side. I think it will be HUGE this coming year and will continue to grow. But I’m also very happy with my memories of 5 little girls sitting around the table at the Ritz Carlton drinking tea in their princess dresses with tiaras on their heads.

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3875 Leigh Shulman Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:42:14 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3875 So true, Simone. Because I work online, it's difficult for me to stay offline for more than a day or so. The last time I did was this past summer at Burning Man. We recently moved into a new house where we don't have internet. It can be stressful in some ways, because it drastically cuts down on the hours in a day I have to work. On the other hand, I relax as soon as I walk in the door because I know there's nothing for me to do at home but just live my life. So true, Simone.

Because I work online, it’s difficult for me to stay offline for more than a day or so. The last time I did was this past summer at Burning Man.

We recently moved into a new house where we don’t have internet. It can be stressful in some ways, because it drastically cuts down on the hours in a day I have to work. On the other hand, I relax as soon as I walk in the door because I know there’s nothing for me to do at home but just live my life.

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]]> By: Dee Andrews http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3874 Dee Andrews Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:23:38 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3874 You are so right with your points on the elusive life balance. The grass is always greener. I remind myself it's about living in the moment as much as I can with two kids, writing, traveling, school, activities and all of the planning and routine that finds its way into life. I just wrote about taking time off "clock time," http://travelandtravails.com/opinions/time-off-clock-time/. I think that's why I love summer vacation and extended travel, it's time away from the clock and activities and routines. The challenge is how to find that in one's day to day life. Good luck with finding your balance! You are so right with your points on the elusive life balance. The grass is always greener.

I remind myself it’s about living in the moment as much as I can with two kids, writing, traveling, school, activities and all of the planning and routine that finds its way into life.

I just wrote about taking time off “clock time,” http://travelandtravails.com/opinions/time-off-clock-time/. I think that’s why I love summer vacation and extended travel, it’s time away from the clock and activities and routines. The challenge is how to find that in one’s day to day life.

Good luck with finding your balance!

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]]> By: Sher http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3846 Sher Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:22:47 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3846 Hi Leigh, This is a very insightful post--and one I can very much relate to! The quote from Paul Coelho, "Change is part of life. Friction is part of change. Get used to it." sounds just like something my Dad would say :) Any direction can cause friction, but it's how we deal with the situation. I'm not the most flexible person in the world, and finding balance is quite challenging at times. I guess the most important thing is to be aware and when we have that feeling of friction or that we're out of balance, look to see what needs to be changed and do it to bring as much balance into our lives as possible. Have a great day, Sher :0) Hi Leigh,
This is a very insightful post–and one I can very much relate to! The quote from Paul Coelho, “Change is part of life. Friction is part of change. Get used to it.” sounds just like something my Dad would say :) Any direction can cause friction, but it’s how we deal with the situation. I’m not the most flexible person in the world, and finding balance is quite challenging at times. I guess the most important thing is to be aware and when we have that feeling of friction or that we’re out of balance, look to see what needs to be changed and do it to bring as much balance into our lives as possible.

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

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]]> By: Xpat http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3841 Xpat Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:42:48 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3841 i think most of us are in trap in this limbo.. a struggle we constantly want to win.. i think most of us are in trap in this limbo.. a struggle we constantly want to win..

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]]> By: Candice http://matadorlife.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-find-happiness-and-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-3824 Candice Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:50:12 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3245#comment-3824 Leigh, when I read this, I realized again how much we have in common! This is a constant struggle with me...two different workloads plus a social life. I know work is always supposed to "come first" but I look at how we're all growing up so quickly and I feel I should enjoy this reckless part of my 20s as much as possible. Ya know what I mean? It's so hard to balance all three. Leigh, when I read this, I realized again how much we have in common! This is a constant struggle with me…two different workloads plus a social life. I know work is always supposed to “come first” but I look at how we’re all growing up so quickly and I feel I should enjoy this reckless part of my 20s as much as possible. Ya know what I mean? It’s so hard to balance all three.

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