When I was a kid, there was a playground just down the street from where I lived – McCormick Park. I remember the park well. The park and recreation centre of the same name was my home away from home.
Every day after school, I’d run down to the park and hang out with friends and classmates (My elementary school, St. Veronica, was just across the street from the park).
One of my favorite things to do there was to ride the seesaw. Most of the time, I could find a friend or another kid who was roughly the same weight or height as me to sit on the other side of the seesaw.
It always made for a fun ride when both riders were relatively the same weight. When I would hit the ground, it was easy to push off and get high into the air, while the other kid would do the same on their end.
But I also remember those moments when the person on the other side was bigger than me. I never enjoyed the seesaw during those times. To be mean or show how much stronger he was, the other kid would stay on the ground while I got stuck in the air.
I hated that.
I was never able to push down hard enough with my weight. And on the odd occasion, someone played “dirty totter”: a prankster on the bottom who unexpectedly jumped off and watched me free fall to the ground. Ouch.
Seesaws and Balanced Relationships
When I look back at it now, that seesaw was my first lesson in balanced relationships.
When I rode the seesaw with another kid similar to me, we balanced each other out. We complemented each other. As a result, the ride was effortless and fun.
In the same way, having the right people in your life – having relationships with people who can balance you out – can make life more positive, memorable, and fun.
Going through life with balanced people requires little effort to keep the ride going. They understand you and you understand them.
When you have a healthy relationship with a balanced person – a significant other, relative, or friend – that person will support and accompany you wherever the ride takes you, whether you are “up” in life or “down” in life.
But unhealthy relationships with the wrong people can leave you stuck in a place you don’t want to be, just like when I got stuck at the top of the seesaw. Those relationships can result in you crashing down to the ground without warning.
Summary
Just as there were some kids I couldn’t trust to get on the seesaw with me, certain people can be too burdensome for you, and you need to be cautious about how long you ride with them.
When I was on the seesaw with imbalanced kids, I had to keep my guard up. I could never tell when they might just jump off and abandon me, causing me to crash down hard.
But when you find people who complement you, people who understand and appreciate you, your journey through life and balanced living will be easier and more fun. Their journey will inspire yours. Life becomes more satisfying and rewarding.
So, be selective about the people you invite to sit on the seesaw of your life.
Richard
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