Walking on A Tight Rope, literally

It's that mid semester stress I'm sure. 

I have had tests to study for and concerts to perform in with extra rehearsals and the daily practicing and homework on top of that! My emotions have been all over the place. I keep telling myself "balance! Balance and time management is key!" I guess it's one thing to manage your time and plan out your days/weeks, but it's another thing to manage your thoughts. Sure, maybe I planned on doing my science homework right now, but my mind is totally not focused on it. Why can't my focus coordinate with the plan?! AGH. 

Tonight I attended a slack lining activity, which is walking a tight rope. I generally have pretty good physical balance (thanks to surfing those Hawaiian waves!) and I picked it up pretty fast. There were different lengths and tightnesses of ropes. The looser ones were harder, especially as you moved toward the middle. Once you get past that middle part, though, the end becomes tighter again and it's easier to walk. I feel like this semester is like that tightrope....right now I'm right in the middle and it's wobbling back and forth and if I don't control my balance with my core and keep my eyes focused on one spot, I will fall off. Of course I can always get back on, though! Luckily there's not lava underneath this rope. It's just the gym floor. (Also, it's not that high off the ground at all. No worries!) 

I noticed tonight that I always fell off just about instantly when someone was talking to me as I tried to walk, or if my mind was racing and thinking too hard. I had to really zone out and completely empty my mind in order to walk across the whole length of the rope. When it comes to things like this, sometimes I just have to tell myself "Don't think, just do." (This does NOT apply to everything so be careful with that phrase, haha!) what I mean, though, is to not think of every complicated detail... think simply. 

Reaching the end of the longest length of the longest tightrope felt so fulfilling. It was the perfect way to end this crazy week (tests, concerts, Halloween craze). I wasn't leaving that gym until I did it, either. The feeling of relief is one of the best feelings after so much hard work, and you realize that the hard work really is worth it in the end. 

This semester does not end until mid-December, but I am determined that it will end nicely! And, in the long run, I hope all this hard work somehow leads me onstage with Josh Groban! :D

On the bright side, I am LOVING the fall leaves here in Rexburg! 

Happy Fall, everyone! But, don't fall.