![tightrope-walker](http://emhawker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/tightrope-walker.jpg)
Image source (used with permission)
I don’t want to be over;
Then I’ve too much on my plate.
I don’t want to be under;
Then I’ve too much time to wait.
I’ve got to find the balance,
Got to walk the tightrope straight.
That balance isn’t easy;
What suits you may not suit me.
I need alone time to regroup
And charge my battery.
What might make you feel boredom,
Makes me feel refreshed and free.
Spontaneity makes me anxious;
I don’t deal well with stress.
I prefer routine and structure,
And cannot abide a mess.
I don’t like to live life saying NO!,
But can’t deal with too much yes.
I know these things about myself;
They help me pave my way.
I have me-time – I focus within,
Before it’s time to play.
I hold the ultimate power,
To make and shape each day.
I am the one who makes my fate,
I’m the queen of this here realm.
I must know that I steer this ship,
That I am at the helm.
My final destination?
The balanced state of whelm.
—
(This is the fourth post using a writing prompt I received from a writing group last December. The prompt ‘moving’ became an ode to bovine boot camp in Hoof camp. The prompt ‘summer’ became a love poem (of sorts) in I knew a love. The prompt ‘if only’ became a song in If I Only Had Some Grace. And now, the prompt ‘tightrope’ has become a poem about balance.)
What would you do with the writing prompt ‘tightrope’? And how do you maintain balance in your life?
Great words Em. I can relate to then. x
Thanks Jodi. Means a lot. x
I love this and can so relate! I’m not good at maintaining balance. I’ve compensated for this by reassessing my balance every couple of months and fine tuning. #TeamIBOT
I like that approach. I get caught up in hype and DO ALL THE THINGS then burnout and can’t find energy to DO ANY OF THE THINGS. Getting better, though.
I can relate to this. Beautifully put, Em.
Thanks, Amy. x
Great writing with the prompt. That damn tightrope! Perfectly put.
Thanks Karin. Damn all the tightropes!
Oh yes. I struggle with the whelm. Often!
I WILL reach (achieve?) perfect whelm one day. I will I will I will!
Beautifully Written. Can totally relate, especially the yes/no bit. Xx
Thanks Shannon. That was my favourite bit. I hate saying no, but really need to do it more often.
I love the word whelm. I didn’t even realise it was a word without the over or under! Can very much relate to what you write.
Confession time: I don’t think it IS a word without the over and under. I just made it one anyway. Writer’s prerogative. x
You’ve just articulated what my husband has been saying to me for many years. But much more eloquently! I showed him your poem and he said “yep, that’ pretty much describes me. I hope you’ve learned something!” Lol. Loved it Em.
Thanks Shauna. Glad to give your husband a voice! x
Oh I could have written this!
I have always wondered though, can you ever be whelmed? Not over, not under just whelmed?
Thanks Jess.
And I think you can in Europe 😉
Beautifully written Em, love the title too!
Thanks Malinda!
I love this and it resonates at the moment as I’m living in a state of overwhelm. Beautifully written. x
Thanks Vicki. Appreciate the comment.
Great poem, Em. I particularly like the last four pars x
Thanks Renee. They were the first ones to burst out. (You always pick them!)
“Welm”, so good. I wanna be welm too, but it’s a toughie. At least you know how you roll and can work within that. I’m yet to quite figure that out!! x
It is a toughie. It took me a very long time to work out – I’m very social and love seeing people, but the interactions do still drain me. More slowly than they do for other introverts, but they still drain me. Need the alone time to recharge.
i just love this, can totally relate.
Thanks Sarah!
Oh yes I can relate to this so much. I don’t think I’ll ever get that balance, but maybe if I did I’d be bored?! x
I have no doubt there are people who read this and cry, “BORING! NUH-HUH, NOT FOR ME!” This is just my journey to whelm. Hoping I get there. x
I don’t maintain balance (not even physically). The prompt “tight-rope” has me immediately thinking about falling.
Loved the poem.