On Three Kings Day my daughter Jessica received three soft juggling balls in her shoes along with an instruction sheet on the art of juggling. As with any new endeavor, she took to it with great enthusiasm, confidently tossing all three balls in the air expecting to be able to keep them aloft with relative ease. After all, people make it look easy all the time. After a few attempts she got frustrated so we pulled out the instruction sheet which directed her to practice juggling with only two balls and to add the third only when two could be consistently kept airborne. Though juggling two balls doesn’t seem overly complex, there is a recommended way to keep the balls moving so as to easily incorporate a third. Without practice with the rhythm it’s hard to smoothly transition to an additional item to juggle.
I have thought a lot about juggling this week as I try to keep myself and my family aloft while tossing a business into the mix. When we’re faced with an unexpected or new endeavor life invites us to practice juggling more than we’re used to. Initially it can feel overwhelming and frustrating, especially if other people seem to have a handle on it and we find ourselves with not one but maybe all three balls falling to the ground despite our frantically flailing arms. I’m a firm believer in practice and respect for growth. I may not be able to juggle those three things proficiently now but with patience and a focus on my established rhythms I think I can get there. You can too, with whatever you’re trying to juggle in your life. In the meantime, if you see me dropping the ball just give me an encouraging smile.