Thought for the day: Balance

Just came upon this while washing dishes (thank you to the dish-washing thought fairy).

"Balanced" does not always mean "equal".

(You could replace "always" with "have to" for a subtle variation.)

My thought process: Each of us are unique. We each have our own set of qualities, skills, virtues, faults, challenges, goals, etc... Therefore, in relationships (friends, lovers, familial, partnered dancing, whatever), we each bring our own set of qualities into the mix - some of us are more patient, some more enthusiastic, some more affluent, some more grounded, some more playful, some more imaginative, some more knowledgeable about this topic or another, etc. I realized just now (though I know I've realized this before) that the key to a healthy and sustainable relationship is not to match each other equally, but instead to maintain a balance in whatever each of you brings into the relationship.

I often find myself lured into believing that I need to match whatever someone else has to offer to maintain equality in a relationship, but that isn't realistic (and is therefore inherently unsustainable). I need to remember instead that the qualities that I possess only need to be in balance within the relationship, and that what I have to offer is more than enough to do exactly that.

(Especially when combined with the awareness that I'm not the only one making choices and carrying responsibility for that balance.)

:)