"Balance"

Apropos of nothing, I want to share a line I came across in Anna Karenina, because it creates such a beautiful image: “...and the conversation began to crackle merrily, like a blazing bonfire.” Is it any wonder that Tolstoy ranks among the best writers of fiction?

 

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In case you are wondering (though I am sure you are not), that is not me in the photo hand-standing on the chair. Nor is that me with a cigarette.

 

Sydney M. Williams

 

More Essays from Essex

“Balance”

October 4, 2025

 

“life is a balance between holding on and letting go.”

                                                                                                                                Attributed

                                                                                                                                Jalāl al-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī

                                                                                                                                13^th Century Persian Sufi mystic

 

“Don’t fall!” Those words are heard every day by older people. And for good reason. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury, and deaths from injury, among adults over 65. Balance is critical. At Essex Meadows there are a dozen exercise classes, all with the goal of improving balance. 

 

In law, balance is symbolized by Lady Justice – the rights of the accused weighed against the rights of society. For most, balance extends beyond the physical, to work, the mind and the soul. Over the past few years there has been an emphasis on life-work-balance, a revival, if you will, of the 17^th Century proverb: “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” However, to some there is worry that young people are less interested in hard work. The “Pepper...And Salt” cartoon in last Thursday’s Wall Street Journal (drawn by Tobias Schülert) addressed that concern. It depicted an older man behind a desk, speaking to a younger man seated before him: “It turns out that your great work-life balance is not that great for our company.”

 

But to blame the young is unfair. One has only to look at self-made young billionaires like Scale AI founders Alexander Wang (28) and Lucy Guo (30) and cryptocurrency pioneer Ed Craven (29), sports stars like Simone Biles (28) and Carlos Alcarez (22), or Taylor Swift (35). These people are singularly focused – interested in realizing the fruit of their talents.  None adhere to the maxim that each day should be divided equally between eight hours of work, eight hours of family and fun, and eight hours of sleep.

 

But for the majority, a happy life entails weighing financial needs against the love of family, the desires of our intellect, and the needs of our soul. Human Resource people speak of the “four pillars” of work-life balance: mental, physical, social, and financial, but no two people find happiness in the same way. With all due respect to Leo Tolstoy, not all happy families are alike. Instinctively we seek balance in our lives. We know we need breaks from work – the love that comes from family, food for the soul, challenges to our intellect, and the companionship of friends.

 

Life is a marathon, not a sprint, so options should be kept open; for the future is over the next rise, where the road disappears into the mist. The last few miles of one’s life should be run (or walked) with the same enthusiasm as the start. To do that, a personally-tailored life-balance is important. Thomas Edison is quoted: “Time is the only capital that any human has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.” So, weigh your choices. Take sensible risks. Be not afraid to fail. Question. Love. And when opportunity comes, grab it.

 

As for me, my family comes first. I revel in friends, read books, worry about financial markets, think of God, and devote some time to writing these silly essays. But I take my ski pole when walking through the woods and fields.