Achieving Balance

If any of us have had a spill while biking, you’ll know that it literally stops you in your tracks. You lie there for a moment contemplating life, then start taking an inventory of what hurts and what doesn’t. The important thing however, is to get back on as soon as possible, so the confidence in your sense of balance is restored, as on a bike, balance can only be achieved if you are moving forward.

Imagine a tightrope walker in a circus. He is on a rope suspended a few feet above the straw-covered floor. His purpose is to walk the rope from one end to the other. He holds a long bar in his hands to help him maintain his balance. But he must do more than simply walk. On his shoulders, he balances a chair. And in that chair sits a young woman who is balancing a rod on her forehead, and on top of that rod is a plate.

If at any time one of the items should start to drift off balance, he must stop until he can get all of them in perfect alignment again-for the tightrope artist doesn’t begin until all the elements above him are aligned. Only then does he move forward, carefully, slowly, across the rope.

Life is very much a balancing act, and we are always just a step away from a fall. We are constantly trying to move forward with our purpose, to achieve our goals, all the while trying to keep in balance the various elements of our lives. However, it’s important to always pay attention to where you’re leaning. You need balance. If you lean too far to one side, you’ll fall off.

So what can we learn from the cyclist and the tightrope walker?

If you fall, get back up again. It’s not falling down that determines your worth; it’s whether or not you get back up.

In the beginning, you stumble, but with more experience, you can really get far. Life is a series of learning from your mistakes. That’s how you learned to walk and talk. And it’s how you grow in life.

If you look at the ground instead of looking up ahead, you’ll lose your balance and crash. In life, it’s easy to live in your own little bubble, consumed with yourself. You not only disconnect from the world, you ultimately disconnect from yourself. Look up and outside yourself. Connect to the world outside of you and only then can you flourish.

When a turn is coming up, you lean with the curve. You don’t fight it and go the other way.

When you get really good, you can do tricks! After you’ve been riding a bike for so long, you can start doing the special stuff. Life is like that also. Once you get the hang of who you are and where you’re going, you can pop some big miracles too!

The important thing is that you enjoy the ride, and you get to where you need to go.

Bonus Content: Best Biking Trails in Springfield, Missouri

In a previous blog post, we reviewed our list of the best hiking trails in Springfield, Missouri. Today, given the topic, we figured it’d be great to suggest a few of our favorite local biking trails.

Galloway Creek Greenway : Galloway Creek Greenway holds the distinction of being the first trail in Missouri to be designated a National Recreation Trail. The trail officially begins at Pershing Middle School, and runs through historic Sequiota Park and Galloway Village, then to the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, concluding at the scenic James River bridge. The trail never strays far from the city and features plenty of pit stop opportunities, including 4 By 4 Brewing Company, Galloway Grill or Great Escape Beer Works farther south or Bambino’s Italian Cafe near Lone Pine and Battlefield Road.

Table Rock Lackshore Trail: The Table Rock Lakeshore Trail is a 4.4-mile trail that runs along Table Rock Lake, with plenty of stunning views and scenery along the way. The trail is very well-paved and relatively flat, which makes it great for bicyclists. Plus, there are plenty of trails down to the lake at all points along the main walkway, if you feel like cooling off, or dropping in a fishing line.

Two Rivers Mountain Bike Park: Located in the Ozarks, you’ll need a mountain bike to ride this 15-mile trail system, which is considered one of the best in the entire Midwest! Bordering the James River, this park offers a combination of scenic river views and some great views over the valleys in the area. The trail system borders the James River and offers a combination of scenic river views and some great views over the valleys in the area.

As always, please contact Brian directly with any questions you may have about anything related to Payroll or our service to you. brian@apluspayroll.com.