Fear

A message by the local Sheriff's department about an armed man went out over the emergency alert system today. In a matter of minutes a fun evening with the family was tainted with fear. I was trying frantically to forward the text to friends in the area. Unknowingly I communicated the fear to my seven tear old. His pensive look, huddled posture made me realize how fragile he is and how fragile our lives are. But should we live in fear each day or live life like its an ice-cream- if you don't go for it now, it will be gone, melted, dissolved never to return.

But maybe there is a time to live it up and a time to fear. After all fear is a critical emergency response programmed into us for survival.

Balance

So much more than just a word! I struggle to achieve it every day. Not just between work and life but also in reactions to people and situations, in eating, clothing choices. I often wonder if balance is really a skill and maybe even a gift- I am amazed at people who just know instinctively how to put together an outfit that has just the right amount of oomph with understatement, who can communicate with few words and who can make their presence felt without being overpowering.