Commentary: Resolve to be balanced and harmonious this year and next

By John W. PeelerDecember 18, 2013

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 18, 2013) -- Since this week's paper is the final paper of 2013, it is appropriate to think about 2014 and what each of us resolve to do in the new year that will make our lives more fulfilling.

I hope my life will be more balanced and harmonious and I resolve to do my best to make it that way. How? I believe the best way to do that can be found through the symbolism of an age-old symbol -- the scales of justice.

It is said, "justice is blind." It's the theory that law should be viewed objectively and the determination of innocence or guilt should be made without bias or prejudice.

Most identify with this idea when they see the statue of the blindfolded woman with a sword in her right hand, a set of scales in her left.

Although the concept is applied toward law, there are similarities in the icon that represents blind justice, which can be applied to everyday living as well.

The one aspect of the statue I relate to is the set of scales.

The scales are said to hang in the perfect balance and at some point along the way tilt to innocence or guilt.

Life is about balance, as well. We are all forced to deal with balancing our personal life with our professional life, but what hangs in the scales' balance? Self-fulfillment and happiness.

If a pebble was dropped onto one side of the scale it tips slightly -- to balance it, a pebble must be dropped onto the other side of the scale.

It sounds easy, doesn't it? In theory it is -- as long as the pebbles weigh the same. This is where the balancing act of our everyday life can tend to keep the scales out of balance.

While we think we are balancing the scales by creating a one-on-one trade-off, the question is, is the trade-off of equal value, or weight?

The answer is often "no."

We try to be good providers, good husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, children, co-workers and friends and it seems most can never quite balance the scales of life.

It happens to me from to time. So, how to do you fix a life that is not in balance with everything around you?

I believe the first step is setting your priorities -- figure out what is most important in your life and go from there.

While many may proclaim their Families are their number one priority, many times the facts bear out quite the opposite. Again, it is not the size of the pebble on the scale; it is the weight that balances the scale.

If Family is your priority, it is impossible to buy balance with money or try to level the scales with material things -- piece of mind and love cannot be bought, it can only be given of oneself.

Many may list work as their number one priority, and that is fine for those driven by accomplishment, money or status, but somewhere the scale must be balanced with other priorities to create harmony.

And there are many who are at a point in their lives where they just haven't figured out what their priorities are and constantly struggle with balancing the scales, and like the statue are walking through life blindfolded.

From time to time I fall out of balance, but I figure out quickly I must take the blindfold off and find the equal measure of weight to put on the other side of the scale.

Life is about continually balancing the scales, living happily and in tune with our surroundings.

If you find yourself wobbling through life, try taking off the blindfold and taking a look at the scales -- are they balanced and harmonious?

If you wobbled through 2013, take off the blindfold and look to 2014 to find your balance and harmony.