I drove by a park the other day and saw this toy out there hanging by the slide, swings, and jungle gym. I remember this wooden plank with handles as a child. Up and Down. Up and Down. It was usually accompanied by child laughter and bruised bottoms. Still driving I thought how much this requisite for a park is like our life. Up and Down. Up and Down. I do think our lives aren't as chaotic or dynamic as this wooden board dictates. I think life is more neutral with these moments. Just like being on this piece of playground equipment we hope for more times being up. Life is a balance. There is a constant battle between our needs and wants. Life is filled with sacrifices. That's ok. In fact it's probably for the better. We learn from them and somehow someday we realize these sacrifices were self fulfilling. On a see saw it’s much easier to go in the opposite directions. However to level the plank meant coordination with other. It meant active effort. Life to be balanced requires a lot more than steadying of the knees and a few words said between you and another. Life is also very much like a playground and is meant to be enjoyed. It's meant to be used. It's not there to gather dust and to slowly erode due to nature. In the end hopefully we were had more ups. The view, sense of weightlessness, and freedom felt are far better.