Niki Anderson ~ Author & Speaker

After 10 months of blogging once monthly on topics ranging from “Reality Book Signings” to “Plucking Peaches,” I’m yearning to share with you my pursuit of God-centered balance.

       Always confronting my own imbalance as I manage the bits and chunks of life, in coming blogs I’ll share solutions I’ve proved reliable. Like recognizing where I’m headed.

       At Christmas I gave my son and daughter-in-law the gift of 10 ethnic dinners. This month, we rendezvous to France via Boeuf Bourguignon, Provencal side dishes, Perrier, and bread, followed by a dessert of poached pears and chocolate sauce that would make Julia Child proud. Did I mention? I'm the cook!

       If that’s not enough, my resistance to mediocrity insisted I offer background music from Maurice Chevalier, buy my husband a beret, and seat my guests at a café table, and….and…and.

       Check! I realized where my enthusiasm was headed. Just how much time did I have for this soirée? Researching for recipes and conducting taste-trials were a sensible limit.

       I recovered my balance by returning where I started—in the kitchen with the beef and the pears and the original plan to host only an authentic meal.

       A survey by national teacher and author, Beth Moore, reveals that the sticky-wicket of balance persists as one among the top challenges for women. Facing the truth of lifestyle imbalance causes guilt, frustration, and even stagnation. How do we get beyond that trio of defeat?

       Balance is NOT a little of this and a little of that, with not too much of anything focused in only one place. Balance IS a sufficient amount of emphasis in a variety of the places where God has you assigned for the season.

       Balance your life. Caveat for the fervent; reduce your overload or fall under its weight. Caution for the fearful; increase your load or fall short of life’s best.

       If you hear the beckoning call to balance, stay with me this year as we lessen our teetering on the balance beam of life and even gain some grace while walking it.

       In my next post, we’ll answer the frustrations of the overloaded. Below are eight common replies from those struggling to shrink their commitments.

       In following posts, we’ll discuss the fears of the UN-committed. In the meantime, decide where you identify in the list below, and tune in for the next blog. I'll address each objection quoted.

“But I’ve already cut out a lot of things!”

“I do nothing unnecessary yet I’m still overrun!”

“I ought to be able to do as much as I see others doing.”

“My organizations expect its members to participate?”

“If I bypass opportunities in business or ministry, I’m a fool!”

“Despite my exhaustion, I enjoy all my activities!”

“My church always needs more volunteers.”

“My family depends on me; I can’t let them down.”

February site content: MEOW-cellaneous page with pictures of your cats. About Cats page – “The Cats of Venice” and “Stickers that Save Your Cat’s Life.”

Where I'm speaking: Waterford on south hill, 2929 S. Waterford Dr. (one block south of 29th Ave.) in the lobby at 2:00 pm on Monday, Feb. 8.

Harvard Park Retirement Residence, 3616 E. 30th Ave. at 3:30 pm on Wed., Feb. 10.

Cat Art: French impressionist, Auguste-Pierre Renoir, painted “Woman with a Cat” in 1875. I own a cherished print from a big-box-store which hangs in my living room. The cat looks remarkably like Claw-dia, our Maine Coon, and the woman resembles my daughter. Even others have noticed.

Copyright 2010, Niki Anderson; request permission