Balance....The Eternal Quest

Michael (my hub) walks the line. Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Thailand 3/09

I have a confession.

I seem to have accidentally slipped and fallen in love.

In fact, slipping and falling is literally what I've been doing for the past two weeks and I don't think it'd be a stretch to say that I'm borderline obsessed. You see, I'm learning to slackline.

Slackline, the art of dynamic balance. It is akin to tight rope and high wire but uses tubular nylon webbing. Rope walking of one form or another has been around for at least a couple thousand years but has always been the realm of acrobats and daredevils. This is no longer the case. A slackline revolution is brewing and I'm joining the ranks!

Clearly, finding balance is the eternal quest.

Andy and Bron admire Jenny's aptitude for pregnant-slacking in Tonsai

Google "finding balance" and you'll become exhausted by the number of pages that come up. We practice yoga to balance our stress from living in a society which places too much importance on work and not enough importance on play. We take primrose oil to balance our hormones. Women resist motherhood because finding a healthy balance of career and family seem so unfathomable (ahem, not mentioning any names here...)

We all have our own forms of meditation. Things to quiet the chatter in our minds. Look within. Slow the breath and heart rate. A vehicle for non-negotiable concentration and absolute focus.

Bron hitting her stride (peanut gallery on sidelines, sipping Singha and critiquing)

Slacklining is a challenge that will never cease to humble you and
simultaneously make you feel like you own the world.


It's been a long time since I discovered something that makes me feel quite like I do when I'm walking the line. Slacklining brings me one wobbly step closer to that seemingly elusive thing we call balance.
Bronwen