Penny’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

We’ve known each other for a while now but our relationship was long strained.  The more I tried to lock you down the more distant you became. Society led me to believe that you were all about everything in my life existing in equilibrium which left me setting unrealistic expectations of myself and feeling like I was never enough. That was until I made an intentional choice to redefine our relationship and I opted not to use you as the guide for how I want to live my life. Instead, I chose harmony.  I realised that focusing on injecting micro-moments of harmony into my days allowed me to feel more grounded even when uncertainty threw a spanner in the works.

Letting you go has provided me with so much more freedom and flexibility to live my life in alignment with the impact I seek to have. 

I’m so grateful that I chose to do the work, to pay attention to the tension that you were creating in my life. I’m grateful that I chose to redefine you on my terms and how that choice allowed me to show as the woman and mother I long to be. I’m not perfect but I am committed to the practice of injecting more harmony into the day before me. Without you and the unrealistic expectations of myself you were driving this would not have been possible, so I say thank you.

With Gratitude Penny

Mattea’s Letter to Balance

Hello Balance,

We meet again at this turning point in my life. This time I’m 33 and we have been dancing together on and off for many years. The thought of possibly attaining and wanting you first made an appearance in my life about 5 years ago.

The idea of you sat idle at arms reach for a few years as I packed my life full; trying to achieve and bury the pain.

I decided the first step to changing you was moving away from the rat race. Fear arrived as I faced the challenges of going against society norms. Balance, you are so foreign to so many people. Balance you are not the norm.

As I’ve moved closer to reaching you I’ve seen how amazing you can be. My definition of you has changed as I’ve changed and I’ve realised how much more I can achieve with having you.

The concrete steps to you at this point in my life have been built. I am so close to reaching the top. I thought I had you one year ago, but now, at this point, I realise I was only sitting on the second to last step. There is one more change I need to make to get to you balance.  

Today, as I write this letter, I know what I need to do to reach you and I hope that once I find you, I can hold onto you forever and we can continue to dance together moving forward. 

Love Mattea

Andrea’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

You elusive Master of Disguise…I found you! 

For so many years I misunderstood you, mistook you for other forms of assumed goals and values. Some of which were not mine to pursue… I was so distracted, I was too fearful not be the perfect, daughter, wife, mother, friend, employee, work colleague…

Balance my dear friend, long have I searched for you, taking up more and more, so sure that I would find you. In searching for you, I lost myself… in losing myself, I broke. 

It was only when I was forced to pick up the pieces of “us” did I realize that you were not with me. There was no us… there was no me. I was a fragmented mess of everything and nothing… The pieces I thought were me, were pieces from 100 different puzzles, that I did not recognise. 

I had been carrying expectation, the expectations of others, my assumptions of who I was supposed to be to everyone. What was I thinking? I guess I wasn’t… I was just surviving, there was no time to think, there was no time to self-reflect. 

It wasn’t until I was sitting in the stillness of heartbreak and despair… That showed yourself and in turn you showed me there was still joy, there was still purpose, there was still love to be had, you were there the whole time, I had just put everything else in front of you. I was blinded by expectation. 

Thank you, Balance, for your patience, compassion and trust in me… I know now that you have been patiently waiting for me to see myself… and here I am, I found the pieces of my puzzle and in putting these pieces together I see “us”, I see you how you have stepped in to carry me through this next phase of honoring myself. 

I forgive myself for being burnt out and never being able to achieve all that I thought I had to.
I forgive myself for all the foolish decisions and well-intentioned broken promises.

I forgive myself for being scared to put my needs above those of others. 

Balance, by letting go of the guilt, I have given us space to grow, and boy we are flying now…

I honor your compassion and dedication to holding me to account, to sit with me as I refine my purpose and find my cup fillers. 

My dear friend, I have your hand in mine and now I that I have found you, l am ready to face what is over the horizon. 

Andrea

Stephanie’s Letter to Balance

Balance, my dear, let’s be honest, you & I have never really been friends. You have always been so elusive to me. So much so that you have not been part of my vocabulary for many years. You & I both know that whilst I longed for you, I never thought you were really achievable. You were always the reward at the bottom of my never ending to do list. 

That’s the reason why I elected to replace you by the term juggle. It seemed a fairer representation to me. I could visualise all the things up in the air and it served as a clear reminder to me that these things were never all at the same place, nor equal, at any given time. 

More recently, thanks to my work with Penny, I finally realised that less is more. That without space, there is no room for change. And I’ve learnt to put myself at the top of my priority list. Not as a reward for achieving my goals at the end of the day but to help me be the best version of myself for the day ahead. 

These days, at the first opportunity I get, I take a few minutes for me to stretch, take some deep breaths, connect with myself & appreciate the nature around me, meditate, reflect and set my intentions for the day. In the space of a few short weeks, this may have become my favourite part of the day. I can’t wait to see the long term benefits. 

With love & compassion, Steph x

Kim’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

We need to talk. We've not always been great mates and our relationship lately has been up and down. 

But I want us to work it out because we can build a beautiful, loving, respectful and rewarding relationship. I know we can because we've done it before. I want you in my life.

What you mean to me is I get to have time that I can dedicate just to me, to no one else. And this is what allows me to move closer to who I really am, while still allowing me to fulfil my responsibilities to other people. 

This is so important and I know our relationship will continue to evolve.

But I need you to show up for me best. And I need you to show up without any guilt or resentment. Because when you and I can dance freely, when you and I can be together in flow, that's when we do our best work together. 

When you give me guilt free space to meditate, to journal, to dance, to read, to play sport, to  walk in nature or along the beach, to take time out to just be me and to do it when the energy feels right. 

Let's get it clear, right? I'm not great with structure. And I need you just to be ready and willing when my energy tells me, to show up when I need you to show up for me, because that makes me a better human. 

It makes me a better mom. It makes me a better family member, a better worker, a better business owner, and I'm a better person overall. 

I love all the roles I play in my life but I play them better when our relationship is flowing divinely. I love you dearly and I want to continue our relationship and I want it to keep flourishing. You fill me up and you give me joy when we're together. And I want to continue that for all time. I'm all in with this.

I know our relationship is evolving and it has over time as things change. But please don't cold shoulder me or be absent or silent. Be there when I call and tap me on the shoulder should I be silent or ignoring you. Don't let me do that. Always hold me accountable and be there and keep me in the groove.

You're too important not to. I love you. I adore you and together we're better.

Love Kim

Sophie’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

Well, we've had a time, haven't we? I've spent so much of my life thinking, feeling, and believing that you are bullshit.  

I've got two modes. Two speeds, two personalities.  

The flat out, frantic Wonder Woman, kicking all the goals. Out running on caffeine and ambition. 

But she can't be me all the time.

She wears out, more frequently than I'd like. 

And my other self, the husk, the shell, the ghost, takes over.  

I feel the need to hibernate. 

To withdraw and to dwell on all of my insecurities. For the longest time, I was sure that balance just meant that the ghost time wasn't longer than the Wonder Woman's time on show. 

You really knew how to hit  me over the head with a message, hey. I ignored burnout, seeing busy as a badge of honour, and I heard the messages but I didn't really listen.  

Not until you sent me a messenger in a format that I wouldn't ignore.  

Right time, right place, and the right person.

Thank you for sending Penny to speak my language, challenge my beliefs, and make me be real with myself.

I'm still not sure what you look like long term, but the glimpses that I've seen are things that I want to hold on to. 

I know I'm guilty of giving my best self to the people who matter the least, including myself.  

I'm ready to look after me better. To show up for the people who matter. And to be a person who matters for others.

I don't have to give up my ambitions. And I can still work to change the world. But I can care about me in the process.  

So thank you, your friend, Sophie.

Nessie’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

As a workaholic and sole parent of 4, you mean something different to me. You are for me, standing on one leg whilst I brush my teeth. You are being able to complete my Pilates exercises without falling over. Strong thighs, strong ankles and awesome gluts are how you are important to me. Balance, you are the one holding me up, supporting me when I stumble and when I do fall, you are the one that helps me get back up again.  Thank you, Balance, for always being right by my side.

Balance, some might say that you are an appropriate time between work and personal life. But I love my job, so why should I work less. I love being around my kids, so why should I have me time. I don’t feel guilty for neglecting you when my children needed to be driven around to activities, the house needed to be cleaned and my work was calling out of hours.  

Balance, if you felt neglected over the years then I apologise you felt that way.

As you know, my third child just became an adult and I reflect on the years gone past and am comfortable that I got the level of balance right for me.

Leonie’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

I write this letter to you as I lay on my deck, looking up at the majestic trees and the cloud filled sky. The wind ruffles the leaves in one direction and the clouds above them sail in the other direction; magically unveiling the cloudless blue sky above. It's springtime and the grand eucalypts shed their bark. The trunks are messy in parts and super clean like newborn skin in others. I am delighting in the perfect imperfectness of it all. 

It's at this moment Balance that I reflect on your first letter. The one where you told us it was b.s and that we actually needed harmony. I thank you for that gift. The scene in front of me is in perfect harmony but my life I could not say was in perfect balance. There's dinner to be cooked and the house to be cleaned and twenty other things on the list. But I can't do them all simultaneously and if I look at the definition of balance and look at where the meaning came from it talks about scales and having it equal on both sides. But I can't do that on my own, Balance. 

However, I am in perfect harmony right now because my husband is cooking dinner the chores can wait till later- it's not gonna matter whether they are done right now or not, and I'm enjoying, loving and having so much joy and gratitude for just being in the moment! Embracing nature allows myself to just be. It’s such a wonderful thing!

When I look back 15 years ago Balance, when I was a mum with young children trying to balance everything out, it was definitely a juggling act and at times I did have to be doing multiple things at once. But you know what, you can call on others for help and the balance can still be there. Everything still gets done around me, so it's all harmony in itself; but I don't have to be the one doing it all. 

So, I thank you Balance. I thank you for shining a light on who Harmony is and how I need more of that in my life. Letting go of expectations, allowing others to have their own joyful moments doing something that helps others too, actually helps you as well. 

Do you know Balance, I thought I would just have a few micro minutes on my deck to myself laying out enjoying nature on a beautiful Spring day, but it turned out to be quite different. Other family members came and laid with me. They had their own joyful moments; micro moments of serenity and harmony and appreciation of the beauty we live in. Every family member today has taken the time to come down and lay with me. That is harmony in itself; spending quality time with each family member and them with me. 

The family has left me on my own now, enjoying the birds, the rustle of the leaves, the sun dipping down and setting for the day. The beauty of dusk and the glory of the change of the world as nighttime comes calling. My heart is full, my mind is clear, open, energised, and thoughtful. 

I wish you well Balance. You've helped me juggle things at times and I'm grateful for that, but now I don't need to be playing that never ending game of weighing in on one scale and then trying to balance it out with the other. I'm just gonna enjoy the moments; each one of them in harmony, appreciating each moment for the beauty it beholds. 

Lovingly Yours 
Leonie

Mariah’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance, 

I always saw you as the excuse to drink and party on the weekend and be healthy Monday to Friday. That was what I called "balance". 

Then I came to realise you were more than that. You were going to allow me the freedom to live on my terms, as long as I gave the space for it. As long as it was front of mind. 

Along the journey of finding this freedom, I got lost. I had a few detours. But I have come to realise the balance I seek is not always black and white. 

Some days it looks like working more, others it looks like travelling more, being present more, having more downtime. 

Your consistency in my mind has helped me question my beliefs of you (and so had Penny), which is making me realise you aren't something that is impossible to achieve. 

You are right in front of me. There is no right or wrong with you. It is about honouring where I am at right now. You could mean working late, you could mean Friday lunch in the sun, you could mean flying to Colombia on a Tuesday, you could mean a day of Zoom calls. 

But you also mean the cup of tea and journaling session in the morning. The cuddles in bed with my soul mate when we wanted to "get up early". 

Thank you for being imperfectly perfect. 

Keep reminding me that as long as I am aware, I have balance. 

Love always, 

Mariah.

Stephanie’s Letter to Balance

Balance, my dear, let’s be honest, you & I have never really been friends. You have always been so elusive to me. So much so that you have not been part of my vocabulary for many years. You & I both know that whilst I longed for you, I never thought you were really achievable. You were always the reward at the bottom of my never ending to do list. 

That’s the reason why I elected to replace you by the term juggle. It seemed a fairer representation to me. I could visualise all the things up in the air and it served as a clear reminder to me that these things were never all at the same place, nor equal, at any given time. 

More recently, thanks to my work with Penny, I finally realised that less is more. That without space, there is no room for change. And I’ve learnt to put myself at the top of my priority list. Not as a reward for achieving my goals at the end of the day but to help me be the best version of myself for the day ahead. 

These days, at the first opportunity I get, I take a few minutes for me to stretch, take some deep breaths, connect with myself & appreciate the nature around me, meditate, reflect and set my intentions for the day. In the space of a few short weeks, this may have become my favourite part of the day. I can’t wait to see the long term benefits. 

With love & compassion, Steph x

Francie’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

First of all, thank God for you. I feel so fortunate that I began my relationship with you when I was relatively young. And it's one of the most important relationships that I have in my life. Our relationship has evolved over time in what it looks like, in what it means but the foundations of you have remained pretty constant for me. Taking care of my body, taking care of my joy, ensuring that I exercise and do yoga all the time, several times a week, making sure that I practice joy and connection with my friends every week. 

One of the things that has helped evolve our relationship was the book the Artist's Way. It really helped me to redefine balance and include my inner artist and my inner creator in that hierarchy of what's important in life. Yet even though I practice it, the creator in me, the creative in me, tends to fall by the wayside. It tends to be the thing that I feel is superfluous. Like first I need to do all of my computer work and then playing with that creative side dancing, singing, writing can then come as a gift for effort. But I’ve learnt actually cultivating joy and creativity is such an intrinsic part of my relationship with balance. 

Balance, I am so grateful that you introduced me to this Compassionate Inquiry approach because having discipline in my life is something I've known all along helps me to navigate our relationship. It helps me create so much more flow in my life when I have discipline. But when that discipline is really focused on work with meaning that brings me back into my wholeness. With self-compassion, I feel like our relationship is just becoming richer. It’s the quality of having compassion for myself and letting go of berating myself for not already being successful or as financially free or as accomplished in those kind of societal norms way you know. I'm not married, I don't have kids. I don't have a mortgage. These are things that maybe I was thinking I was meant to have at this stage of my life growing up and they're not what I have, and yet, I feel probably even more balanced than if I did because I'm following my heart, I'm following the yeses of my life. 

So, dear balance, our relationship is ever-evolving, but it's still one of the most powerful and important relationships in my life. One of the most guiding principles in my life. 

Sincerely Francie

Fiona’s Letter to Balance

Dear Balance,

It was so lovely to catch up with you the other day. Its been too long.

As we strolled along the riverbank towards breakfast, it was so comfortable in your presence, appreciating the view and just being me.

Walking away from our time together, I smiled and was consciously aware of just how full my bucket was after our short moment together. And I was left wanting more. Please know that I never have taken you for granted and I've always knew that you'd be there for me. I just needed to call on you.

I also know that you don't judge me for the time that has passed or the things that we do together. Whether it be an adventure in Vietnam or just watching the golden sunrise, these moments are equally rewarding when spent with you.

Although you don't need me to explain my silence over these years, I feel that I owe it to you. And to me. Somewhere on my journey, I welcomed busy into my life. Busy was a whirlwind of activity, all consuming of my time and energy. There is a saying that everything comes into your life for a reason. Busy came in at a time that allowed me to be distracted from bigger things at play in my life.

In my time with busy, I lost time and space for me, and consequently, for things that are important to me, like time with you, Balance. I'm sorry. I don't know when it changed, but there was a moment recently when I realised that it had. In that moment, like Forrest Gump, I started walking without focus or direction. I started walking towards a path that was defined for me, by me.

This path is leading me back to you, Balance.

Thank you for today and all that you are to me.
See you at breakfast next week. Fi.