Life seems to be a constant juggling act in our fast-paced 21st century world. We all seem to be wearing many hats nowadays, and this can prove to be a delicate balancing act, where we fear one huff or one puff might blow the whole thing down.
Right now, I feel like my worlds are colliding and I’m definitely feeling off-balanced. There is so much to do with the marketing of the book, and then, I still have an entertainment company to run. It’s not unusual for me to do Tarot card readings in the morning, several kids shows in the afternoon, and a workshop based on the book in the evenings. And, I do feel at times like I’m walking a tightrope, and I just pray I don’t slip and fall…
I’m sure all of you are juggling the demands of your family and jobs as well, so you know how difficult it can be …
For the most part, habit is my navigator as I make my way through the children’s shows, and thank God for that, because I really don’t have much time to think about them, before I rush out to do one. But, this weekend the wisdom of the children touched my heart and brought peace to my weary soul.
Waking dreams are experiences and people that come into our lives just at the right moment to reveal what we need to know or to give us some kind of much needed confirmation. This weekend, the universe provided me with two opportunities to see the world with fresh eyes.
Reading Tarot cards can be draining, and let’s face it, no one comes to me when their life is going great. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the sorrow and heartbreak that I hear. I can only hope that I bring some solace and comfort to my clients. On the other side of the spectrum, the children’s parties serve as a balancing force that momentarily allows me to forget about the dark forces of the world, as I join others in celebrations of life and joy.
On Sunday afternoon, I was doing a party for the most beautiful group of Chinese-American children. These children have to be responsible at a young age, as they need to help their first generation parents and grandparents learn English and the American way of life. They are polite children, warm and friendly, and highly intelligent as well. For a long time, they waited patiently to have their faces painted — tigers on the faces of those children born in the year of the tiger and still old enough to remember the old ways, and princesses and the usual host of superheroes and pirates for those already assimiliated into the American pop culture via the television set. Then they all decided it was time to jump on the trampoline. The eight-year-old birthday girl insisted that I not be left out and asked me to join them. When I first stepped upon the trampoline, I was feeling awkward and unsure. The birthday girl looked deeply into my eyes and said, “It is because you have not yet found your balance. Find your balance and relax.” As I tried to center myself and relax, I told her, “Ah, all the wisdom of Buddha is in you.” She, in humility and with graciousness, bowed toward me and said, “It is in you as well.” A moment later, I jumped for joy higher and higher, momentarily defying gravity and the weight of my insecurites, becoming one with my inner natural child — fearless and blissful.
Later, her grandparents and parents insisted I join them for the magnificient feast they had prepared for all their guests. As a rule, and it is a hard and fast one I have followed all these years — I never eat at the parties I am hired to perform at. First of all, I do five hundred of them a year, and if I ate cake at every party I would be the fattest entertainer and clown in town, and secondly, I am not a guest. I am fully aware of the fact that I am hired help, well-paid for sure. They looked at me with the most questioning eyes as I declined their offers of food. The grandmother bowed to me and pointed toward the food once again. One of the little children said, “You have been working hard for a long time to make us all happy, and now you must allow us to make you happy in return. Please sit and eat. ” I then realized that it would be a terrible insult to not enjoy their hospitality, and so I joined them, realizing some rules are made for breaking.
When the time came to leave, hugs were exchanged between the children and me. It was getting dark and the grandmother rushed to open the gate for me and watched like a mother hawk, until I was safely inside my car.
We are blessed to live in this melting pot of a country where different cultures blend with ours. We must remember that these people have as much to offer us, as we have to offer them. Their peaceful, gentle, gracious, and balanced way of living is something we fast-paced, stressed out Americans need to learn.
I was moved by all the kindness, concern, and care that they showed for me, and I was touched deeply by the experience. I was filled with peace and joy as I left, and realized Cindi had not only found her balance but was back in the groove again.
Saturday , the children were equally as wonderful. First birthdays are always a pleasure to be at, but the large age range of children that are there always calls for another balancing act. A puppet show featuring the likes of Elmo, Barney, and Dora the Explorer to please the pre-school set, followed by the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana to entertain the Tween set. I was dressed like a clown, and mind you, my clown makeup is one part clown and two parts geisha girl meets the Spice girls — lots of gold and glitter. In the middle of doing the puppet show, one four-year-old boy jumped up and put my face in his hands and said, “You’re beautiful.” Of course, the mothers made jokes about how you’ve got to dress like a clown to get a compliment out of a guy.
When I went to leave, the children were sure to tell me what a great time they had and how much they loved me. Then another little boy shouted to me, “I had a great time with you. When will I see you again?”
I left wondering, what happened to us that we grew up to forget how nice it feels to wear our heart on our sleeve? How willingly children tell others they’ve just met how great it was to be with them, and how readily they share their heartfelt desire to see you again.
As you go through your day, I hope you find your balance, and please, relax. And if you’re so blessed to meet someone that you blend your energies with, don’t hesitate to say, “I had a great time with you. When will I see you again?”