Balance,
by Leonor Henríquez

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I recently had an appointment at the bank.

A gentleman greeted me, and we started talking.

I asked him to please check my balance.

To my surprise, the bank employee asked me to stand up and then, he walked to me and pushed me.

I stumbled a little and quickly regained my balance.

If this were not a joke that I was desperate to tell, the employee who took my request literally would probably have been fired from the bank.

Excuse my bad sense of humor, but in the end, I was left thinking about the concept of balance.

Undoubtedly, financial stability contributes to general harmony, and certainly money, although it does not lead to happiness, leaves you half a block away and calms the nerves. But there is also a saying that is very current these days: “there are very poor people who only have money.”

I declare myself totally ignorant on financial topics and the less I have to think about it, the better.

Researching about the concept of balance, I came across that symbol so well known in Eastern philosophies, the Yin Yang. A simple image that invites emotional, physical, mental balance.

Biblically, the concept of balance is associated with temperance, that virtue so difficult to practice in front of a good chocolate cake.

I also learned that the duck is the animal that symbolizes balance, grace, adaptability, intuition. I will keep this in mind when I greet them every day on my walks.

Anyway, all of the above is easy to say.

I declare myself shaky and with chaotic balance.

I think that this introspective anarchy is what moves me, disconcerts me, knocks me down, makes me stand up again, disturbs my spirit, teaches me, keeps me inspired and full.

At least I try.

As an example of this process of personal balance, it could be said that, even from the bad jokes with which I sometimes torment my readers, something is learned.

The bank employee should be decorated, sometimes we need to be shaken.

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