Achieving Balance in Life.

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some fiveballs in the air. You name them – Work – Family – Health – Friends -Spirit, and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soonunderstand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounceback. But the other four balls-family, health, friends and spirit aremade of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed,marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.How?

  1. Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself withothers. It is because we are different that each of us isspecial.
  2. Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.Only you know what is best for you.
  3. Don't take for granted thethings closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, forwithout them, life is meaningless.
  4. Don't let your life slipthrough your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By livingyour life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of yourlife.
  5. Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothingis really over until the moment you stop trying.
  6. Don't be afraidto admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread thatbinds us together.
  7. Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is bytaking chances that we learn how to be brave.
  8. Don't shut love outof your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way toreceive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it tootightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
  9. Don'trun through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, butalso where you are going.
  10. Don't forget that a person's greatestemotional need is to feel appreciated.
  11. Don't be afraid to learn.Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carryeasily.
  12. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can beretrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step ofthe way. Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a gift:that's why we call it – The Present.
Brian G. Dyson, CEOof Coca-Cola for his Georgia Tech Commencement Address; via eMail 25January 2000