Article 27: Finding A Healthy BaLaNcE: A Section of Short Stories

Written By, Cheryl McCormick, M.S.S.

No Time to Read? Listen Instead!

Did I throw you off balance there? The word balance being "BaLaNcEd" out for you by each letter, through consistency in the formatted size among each letter in the word. I can see you now, reading the title over and over, and saying it like this "Finding A Healthy Ba-La-N-cE (sounding out each section as though being back in grade school and learning your blends)." With a question mark on your face and in your mind- like what the heck does she mean!? Is she okay!? And then you re-read it again. But, this is balance. It is finding a way to BaLaNcE each section of your life. It is by Google's definition a distribution of weight or equal proportions, and offsetting or comparing in a steady position with one another. However, I wrote the word balance that way, to show that it is okay to find your balance. Some days are big, while other days, your world might be quiet and small.

So, finding a healthy balance. That is the title. I know, I know, I could have just wrote it that way, right!

Anyway, at this point, you might be wondering what I mean with my title. It can mean many things, and it does not have to mean just one thing in particular. HOWEVER (in bold, because I am saying that loud and clear), for me, finding a healthy balance for this short story blog post means, finding time and energy to close my mind off from what I do for work and replacing it with things that I enjoy. But, before I go any further- those of you that see what I just wrote as, I don't enjoy my work, are incorrect! My love for what I do for work, is why I find it critical to implement BaLaNcE into my life! Since I have cleared that from your thought process, let's move forward.

For as long as I've existed, sports has had a major placement in my life. Although I often write that I started sports at the age of 11, I actually was a very young athlete (age 4) of gymnastics (competitive), ballet (for like, 5 minutes) and tap & jazz. I remember most of my competitions in gymnastics and I vaguely remember a few of my recitals from tap and jazz. And this is why I agree with science. Sports at a young age is just, that. It's hardly remembered until a certain age, and it is meant to be, just for fun! Sure, sure, I know what you are thinking. "But, sports serves a competitive role that develops young athletes, and creates them into these amazing human beings by teaching them the fundamentals of life."

Wrong! So wrong! At that age (and I am talking from 4 years of age until about 7), sports are just for fun. Infact, sports should ALWAYS be about fun. Science and research provides many reasons as to why this is true (within this age group). So, if you have a child who is slightly older, take a deep breath! There are several different age groups that have a specific developmental process that should be focused on and applied in sport performance. This is the reason that when asking older athletes who have engaged in sports from a very young age if they remember much about their sport around the ages of 4-7, most will say, very little. Just playing the sport. But no in-depth information like specific drills, character development, mindset techniques, and more. Let me just stop right here! This is not the purpose of this short story. Let's focus here everyone!

BaLaNcE.

It is so important that I know how and when to implement MY life balance. As I was mentioning a minute ago, sports has always been a part of my life. However, being a sport professional and representing sports, research, and science, has not always existed for me. As a former competitive athlete however (age 11-20), I absolutely loved doing other things. Things like painting artwork, redecorating my room, or clipping out pages in my Vogue magazines to put on my bulletin board. As a young girl, I always found myself creating while sitting in my room with not much to do, which helped me discover my passions in life.

Today, I do similar things. Identifying when I need to take a break from my work life of creating content for class development, creating modules and audio recordings for my athletes, taking phone calls and video meetings with athletes and coaches, researching and writing for school, and teaching my kids in class, have helped me be the best version of myself as a sport professional, mother, wife, and student. Because I have trained myself how to STOP working and know when I need a mental or physical break-I am able to get a lot more done than most! But, let me be honest, this is not the answer or cure for all! Often, there are other outlets that are needed to keep humans mentally and physically functioning well!

Which leads me to my next- For a long time, I've been asked by so many, "How do you do so many things?" I have been asked this very question so many times, t

hat it started making me question, "how do I do it all?" And, I then would find myself wondering, why is it that no one else that I know, is doing the same amount of things? Is it possible that others just like to unwind after a days work? Is it that I value so many different things in life? Is it that others have not found their hobbies, their escape from work life? Who knows, but I am sure all of these can be true for someone out there, and possibly, yourself! The truth for me is, I have always been a busy person. In another short story, I will tell you a little more about my childhood, but for now, I will say this- because of the way I was raised, I learned to keep myself busy. If I hadn't done so, I would have been lonely. Possibly, depressed. Those that know me, understand this.

Today, I thoroughly enjoy being able to put work aside and focus on my or

ganization or creating content for my next journal magazine. Although this is a form of "work," it really is another outlet that I can make a little extra money, but it's a creative outlet. I get to develop sections of content that I find important and beneficial for my readers! And, I get to keep it fun!

This was my first issue (which is still available here). My interactive journal magazine has been a dream of mine since I was a young kid, tearing those pages out of my magazines, and pinning them to my wall and bulletin board.

But today, I get to write about what I am passionate about- in sport. You see, it all serves a purpose. It is my way of giving back to the community that gave me so much when I was growing up. Unlike others who have the time to freely write on a daily basis, my writing is taken up by school and work, which allows me very limited time to peruse things like creating this. And, let me add here, sleep is a very important and much needed aspect in life. Some people can get away with little sleep, meanwhile someone like me who is balancing and raising two young children, while doing all of these other wonderful things in life, has a very limited availability window to freely create, for myself. So, when you hear people say, wake up earlier or go to sleep later, it is not always possible. Some people really need, the sleep. And THAT is okay! Sleep is a vital component to health. So, sleep away!!

BaLaNcE.

What did we do before social media was around? I was thinking about that earlier as I pondered on the idea of writing this for you! Infact, I think about that question, a lot! What did YOU do before there was social media? And, by social media, I mean, MySpace, Facebook, and Pinterest, and BLOGS! I mean, what the heck did we do!?

For me, I was creating artwork. Again, I will talk about that at another time, but in short, I was busy working at an art gallery and creating my own masterpieces that were displayed in an art gallery for sale. I was busy making plans with my friends for the weekend outings. I was busy laying out in my pool, tanning in the 120 degree weather that I once lived in (the desert). I was out running the "bump and grind" in the middle of the day. Okay, I'm sure I just threw you off there... the bump and grind was a mountain trail that most people in the desert ran or walked at my age. I was introduced to it when I ran my first 2 years in college cross country

(18 years old). I would run about 6 miles in 120 degree sun, so far from society, and completely stupid (yes, stupid) to the fact that I could have been mould by a mountain lion. Nevertheless, before social media, these are the things I was doing. I didn't have the need to have my phone stuck to my face, and I certainly didn't care about documenting every little aspect of my life for no one to see.

BaLaNcE.

So my question is this, what do you do outside of your work life? As for myself, depending on which social media platform you follow (if any), you will see that I post a lot of home decor, gardening, my life as a mother, memories and beautiful moments- whether it be through travels or just right in my own home! You see, so many people I follow only post about what they do. I hardly see people in my line of work share their other passions. And, maybe they do not have any, and that is OKAY! But, my goal with this short story is that I motivate you all to find what your gifts are. Find what makes you happy, outside of your day-to-day work. I am a firm believer that my life balance has allowed me to have peace in my everyday life. I could not imagine being without my hobbies, my other passions. Although I love to engage myself in research and assisting others in the sport profession, I also absolutely love gardening, home decor, cooking, painting and creating for myself!

Finding balance in my work life and personal life brings me so much more daily joy. It allows me to be creative, to see outside of my work box, and learn about other aspects to life. I've had the pleasure of meeting very well-known people in the "plant" world, I've met famous artists from around the world, I've also worked with some amazing interior designers. All because I engaged myself in other areas of interests.

Balancing my interests also allows me to take a break. I've learned over the years in creating academic content, modules, podcasts, and other various research or recordings, that when I begin to feel like my work is not 100%, I need a break. Whether that break is for only 1 hour, a day, or a week. I've realized as a sport professional, the content I create through my own knowledge or research studies, the advice that I provide my athletes and coaches, if I am not good for myself, then how will I be good, for them?

Balancing my personal life and work life, has provided me with peace, joy, love, and passion. I encourage you all to do the same!

Cheryl McCormick