Recently all I've heard around me, is the importance of Balance!

I must admit that I am a 'driven' person. I drive myself to succeed and have to force myself to take a break.

I have, however, learnt the importance of adding balance to one's life.

The toll that is taken on not only your physical but emotional and spiritual well-being, is not good. It is the one thing that 'forced' me to re-consider. The fact that my business was suffering because I wasn't holding it together, was the catalyst for change.

I took a class in Primordial Sound Meditation and learnt to consciously relax for 20 minutes twice a day. I took time to read books and rediscovered the absolute wealth of information a book holds. I took weekends off and just chilled, took time to walk every morning and marvel at the wonders of Nature and learnt to 'belly-laugh' again.

Being with Nature has always been a wonderful way to fix your woes. Taking a walk in the fresh morning air, or just as the sun is getting ready to go to sleep. Wondering at the beauty of a newly spun spiders web, closing your eyes and listening to the chorus of birdsong as the community prepares for another day. Watching the clouds as they scamper across the sky. The multitude of shapes they form and the array of beautiful colors portrayed as the sun sets behind them.

I have never much fancied fishing, but the other day I heard a description of a fisherman's desires and he said it was just wonderful to sit quietly in Nature, for a couple of hours and come back refreshed and renewed. (I think I may take up fishing now)

Meditation is a wonderful way of calming the multitude of thoughts we have every day. It never stops the voices (who would want to, with the score of brilliant ideas they come up with), but it helps them take a nap for a while. I feel so connected to the Universe and to God, when I meditate and I come out of it, with a deep feeling of peace.

Reading inspires, motivates, teaches, mitigates and soothes. I have an absolute fascination for information. Books have helped people I know, to learn to speak English; taught them lessons that have helped them to turn their lives around; motivated them to aspire to desired heights. Books impart stories that show us we are surrounded by wonder, every day; heal our hearts; teach us compassion and help us see others in a new light.

Laughing is truly 'the best medicine'. Whatever your sense of humor, there's nothing like laughing until you're breathless and your stomach hurts. Laughing gives you character creases around your eyes; it soothes hurts; it lifts your spirit and it connects you to those who laugh with you. Laughing at yourself relieves the pressure; shows up your weaknesses in a way that allows you to accept them without having to put up a defensive barrier and connects you to those who were intimidated by you. It is the ultimate icebreaker and so, forges unbreakable friendships.

So, learn to 'chill' and you will find your Life is so much the richer for learning to relax and take Life 'not so seriously'.