Balance

I always thought balance, and the practice of obtaining it, was a see-saw.  trying to find a middle.  Keep the marble from rolling too far one way or the other.  My weekend shed a new perspective on balance.

I had a hot rock massage and my first sugar scrub (and my first thought was "I'm never leaving this place.") this weekend at the Salish Lodge and Spa.  

The place itself was so beautiful.  So serene and, when enveloped in fog, a perfect fall retreat.  We dined in a cloud for breakfast.  You were supposed to be able to see the impressive Snoqualmie Falls out the large windows but we couldn't see a foot from the glass.  It was incredible, spooky and blinding.  

Our room had a real fireplace that was a real pain in the ass to light.  We tried, the guest services guy tried, no one had success.  But it's fun to play with fire.  

We drove (got lost, whatever) to the Snoqualmie Casino and had dinner at their reasonably priced, pretty darn good food and excellent dessert countered buffet.  

Then came home and got into beds with yarn and wine and chocolate, watched crap TV (until SOMEone couldn't handle the commercials anymore) and shut the light off by what, Maya, 10?  In our defense, we did stay up until midnight-thirty.  Big spenders, party all night.

The next day, waking to brightly colored trees and the sound of falls in the blanket of fog, we headed to the spa where my world and skin was forever changed by this thing called a sugar scrub.  Just exfoliation and massage but crap was it lovely.  I'm going to attempt to make my own now that I know how amazeballs it can be. 

In between the scrub and my massage they sat us in this relaxation room with tea, water, nuts (weird?) and magazines.  I sat there for about 15 minutes with my empty (except for one small blob of water) cup.  I held it in my hand and slowly tilted it until the bead of water was in the very middle.  I attempted to keep it there, or move it around the edge to gather tiny droplets or get it as close to the edge without touching it, or shaking the cup to scatter the water and start again.  

In that moment it just hit me; this is what finding balance is.  It's not just halfway between two extremes like elation and misery.  It's not just middle ground.  It's finding a center, a stronghold, a place you feel peaceful and focused without excessive exertion.  It's doing what feels good for the individual.  We all find balance in different ways, but the concept is the same.  It's harmony.  

Anywho, I came home with a new appreciation, if not a new perspective, on sugar scrubs, therapeutic pools and balance.  I still anticipate falling down and accidentally running my limbs into walls on frequent occasions, but that's to be expected.  I found balance, not bubble wrap.