Balance, Blisters, and Being Humbled by an 80-Year-Old

I’ve been walking for a few months now.

Not because I suddenly turned into one of those people who loves exercise.

Nope.

In fact, I used to joke that I was allergic to exercise.
​(Used to… for those of you who know words have power and are currently side-eyeing me.)

A few months ago I felt a push.

You know the kind I’m talking about. That quiet little nudge that shows up out of nowhere and won’t go away.

At first, I questioned it.
Then I ignored it.
Then it kept showing up like, “cute that you think this is merely a suggestion.”

So I listened to it, and here I am with…

  • My stubborn legs, who were perfectly happy with our long-standing agreement of sitting, are now openly rebelling.
  • A blister that has opinions.
  • And me questioning all of my life choices.

Every morning I tell myself that I will not walk today, and every morning I find myself lacing up my sneakers. Why? Mostly because I started to realize something.

You can have a career.
You can have goals.
You can even have success.

But without balance? Something always feels… off.

So I’ve been walking.

The other day, I walked to “my tree” and back.

Yes, I have a tree. Don’t overthink it. It’s cheaper than therapy.

I put my hand on it for a minute, took a breath, and had one of those quiet moments where you just… check in with yourself. And the thought that came through was simple:

You’re better today.

Not perfect.

Just… better.

I’ll take it.

Then, on the way back, an 80-year-old woman BLASTED past me like she was late for a meeting I was not invited to. She had already smiled at me earlier on her way out.

So yes, she lapped me. I’m pretty sure she didn’t even break a sweat.

Meanwhile, I’m negotiating with my legs saying, “Just get me home and we’ll never speak of this again.”

I’m still not over it.

Here’s the thing about balance because it’s not what you think it is.

It’s not waking up at 5am to meditate while sipping something green. It’s not having your entire life color-coded and under control.

Balance is a lot less glamorous.

For me, I can check all the “right” boxes… work, eat well, stay productive, but balance for me personally means that I have to move too.

Balance for me is…

  • Listening to the nudge to take a walk and going anyway, even when your body is filing complaints.
  • Taking a moment to check in with yourself.
  • Laughing when life humbles you with an 80-year-old in sneakers.

That’s balance.

But here’s the thing, balance doesn’t look the same for everyone. For one person, it might be:

  • Working around the clock
  • Playing racquetball.
  • Eating something healthy.
  • Ending the day with meditation.

For someone else? It might look completely different. It might be:

  • Taking a walk when you don’t feel like it.
  • Eating something healthy.
  • Getting your work done (whatever that looks like for you).
  • Having lunch with friends.

There’s no one-size-fits-all version of balance. There’s only what brings you back to yourself.

But here’s the deeper truth most people miss:

You can’t have real balance without intuition because intuition is what tells you:

  • When to move.
  • When to rest.
  • When to push.
  • And when to let something go.

Without it, you’re just reacting to everything around you.

And if you’re carrying guilt, shame, or old emotional baggage? Good luck hearing anything clearly. That noise drowns everything out.

That’s exactly why I teach forgiveness.
Because once you clear that noise, everything else gets easier to hear.

It’s also why self-care isn’t optional. It’s not a luxury. It’s how you clear the clutter so you can actually hear yourself again.

So no, my life isn’t perfectly balanced.

But I’m walking.
I’m listening.
I’m paying attention.

And apparently, I have some catching up to do with the over-80 crowd.

Balance doesn’t mean you’re doing everything right.
It means you’re paying attention… and adjusting.

Until next time,
Katharine

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