In the world of nature there are two known familiar states. Balance and imbalance. We humans are a part of this, teetering back and forth. Even if you just look at the last few hundred years, you can see how trends are on or off. Long hair is in style. No, long hair is out of style. Expansion and regression. Destruction, regrowth, and calm.
The other night I decided it was time to give my cat a bath. I got the comb and cat brush out and started brushing her and rubbing her head. She likes this. Then I get more serious, getting to the areas that really need some work. Before I wet and shampoo her, I try to remove as much fur as I can, so I brush her hair against the growth. Suddenly all of this attention is not fun for her. She protests and glares at me, like I should already know not to brush her like that. Don’t rub the cat the wrong way.
With everything going for us, all green lights, regular paychecks, no sickness, no cavities and all of those things, you would think we would be happy, like my cat. And maybe some people are. It does seem though that it’s not the case for most people. With all the drama in the government and all the drama on the job, I’ve come to believe that people get bored when things are smooth. When people get bored they stir up drama. Like a dirt devil in Australia, the dirt starts swirling and soon everyone forgets what started it all. The cat’s hair was rubbed the wrong way.
Life is about balance. Every so often a whirlwind needs to come along and stir things around just so we know we’re alive. It also has a cleansing effect. After the stirring, when things resettle, we can easily make the changes we want to make to our lives. Does that make sense? When things are in a pattern, if you start changing your normal way, people notice. They will protest and demand you fall back in line. When the cat’s hair and the dirt is flying around, if you change, no one notices. You’re not the drama.
The easiest time to make changes in your life is when everything is changing. Grab your chance. Freebie here – also, boredom is a sign to change your pattern in any little way. Do a different hobby. Change something in your routine. Change your hair. We need the balance and we need the imbalance.
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janetkwest.com 
What a wonderful way to frame the upsets in our lives! I am commenting to underscore one point you did NOT overtly cover – even though your cat story brings it to mind.
We don’t always create our own imbalances – out of boredom or for any other reason (unless we want to go straight to a metaphysical discussion ::grin::) Sometimes the “drama” in our lives is the direct result of the actions of another.
Your cat, for example, didn’t quite appreciate the value of a thorough grooming – and did NOT create its unhappy reaction to shaking things up “out of the blue.”
While I’m big on the value of “taking responsibility” – sometimes we all need a little empathy to be ABLE to move on, **especially** when our emotional upsets come in reaction to the actions of another.
In any case, those of us who serve as sounding boards for our frustrated friends and loved ones are well advised to respond with some version of “That sucks!” rather than ANY version of “don’t be a victim” – a SO much more loving and powerful way for us to be of service in our communities.
In my experience, as soon as they feel heard and validated emotionally, they’ll step up to the “higher” ground without us.
It’s a TIMING thing, as much as anything. Articles like yours help remind us all of the value of balance and offer a frame in which to look for some, primarily BECAUSE they do not come as a direct response to a complaint from a friend.
Always LOVE your stuff!
~~~~~
Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CMC, SCAC, MCC
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
(blogs: ADDandSoMuchMore, ADDerWorld & ethosconsultancynz – dot com)
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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Oh yes, I absolutely agree. We don’t have control over everything in life. Sometimes life just happens. Thanks Madelyn.
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