Growing up, I was always close to my family. I was born in Peoria, Illinois surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, my parents, and lifelong friends of my parents. There was never a shortage of people to hold me and show affection to me. Although I don’t remember the love being offered to me by my family, there was a strong connection to my family instilled me at a very early age. The connection to my family still informs my spiritual life today. Therefore, keeping a healthy balance with work and home life is something I work very hard at maintaining. One way I currently maintain balance is by being aware of the relationships I have with my family. Currently, in my home, it is just my wife, my daughter, and me. With both my wife and daughter I have different relationships.
As a father, I want to make sure I am available to my daughter. I do want to be supportive and open to the potential of life she will bring not only to me, but to the rest of the family as well. Since she is so young, she has A LOT to learn, and I have something to teach her. Everyday we have made it a point to go outside and explore the yard. There are all kinds of bugs, flowers, and objects in the sky that she has not seen before. She is very enthusiastic about showing me these new things. As I walk with her, I help her with the names of the new experiences. It is a time I look forward to very much.
As a husband, I want to be available to my wife. Like my daughter, I want to be supportive of my wife and open to the potential of life she offers to me. My wife is a very special person in my life. With her, I am able to share intimate thoughts. I am able to expose my vulnerable side. I trust her and feel safe being vulnerable with her. We have been through much suffering in our 7 years of marriage, but we have walked together and learned how to transform the suffering. We have learned from our mistakes and continue to make an effort to rise to the challenges of life together.
I have similar experiences when I am with my grandmother, mother, father, and aunts and uncles. With all of them, I have different relationships. They each bring out a different part of my spiritual life. They each inform me to a greater extent of my needs, desires, pleasures, dislikes etc….
Keeping myself informed and aware of the different relationships I am involved with is one way to maintain balance between family and work. My effort to engage in relationship is a way in which I actively keep my spirit healthy. I have learned and experienced the benefits of community. With the help of others, all helping me to explore different aspects of myself, I have found strength and energy to continue to explore ways to balance my family and work.
Another medium for maintaining balance with my family and work is through awareness of my emotions. For further discussion, read Spirituality & Our Emotions and Finding Balance Through Relationship.
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