“Too much work, too much vacation, too much of any one thing is unsound.” -Walter Annenberg
I know people that take a great vacation at least quarterly, whether they have earned it or not. And I know people that work like a dog for 70 hours a week, week after month, unable to slow down.
Neither is optimal nor even truly sustainable.
The Buddhists have the Middle Path, where extremes are eschewed because either end of the spectrum is rarely functional other than in those rare extreme moments. Balancing desire and indifference to achieve harmony in your little world is the secret.
Stoics lived for a balance, an appreciation of the good things but not a dependence in them. They would often choose difficulty like voluntarily fasting or exposing themselves to the elements to appreciate the good fortune that they had, and balancing the enjoyment of life with the demands of politics and the world.
“Balance, Daniel-San. Must have balance!” is one of the greatest lessons of Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid”.
Balance work and play, extreme effort and relaxation and you will find your path in this world.
