Life-work balance? Not for me. There is no line that separates the two, because I love what I do. But having no line is really a bad thing? It is if your heart is not fully engaged to your ‘work’ and it’s mostly the mind that replaces the passion. We do need both. Warning: if that balance is disturbed where one is more than the other, it tends to gravitate towards the problematic issue.

I’ll give you an example. Although not exactly work-place related, it does serve the purpose of an out-of-balance experience.
A few years back I picked up a hobby: figure skating. I thought why not? It seemed very athletic and so artistic! Something different! I vividly remember trying to master the spin. Well, not even master; just to make a darn single revolution. It seemed humanly impossible until one day I did it. Good testament to never giving up.
After a couple of years of all kinds of spins and one-rotational jumps I transitioned into ice dancing. I am not sure how that exactly happened, but wow! This thing clicked instantly! My music background and passion for dance connected seamlessly. I felt myself in total control! Well, at least for the first month.

I had a world-class coach and was so inspired by his skating that in no time I passed the easy dances and soon found myself in a new unchartered territory. It actually was getting difficult. I was doing tests every month with several dances at a time the standard (harder non-adult) level. I had an unwavering belief that everything was possible. Through countless hours of grueling work, I eventually conquered footwork, the speed, and then the dance.

As I was getting better fast, one thing escaped me: my passion was taking on a new shape. It was becoming a game, a game of time and…addiction. How much faster I could learn and pass this dance? I was still in love with figure skating, but that newness has started to slightly wear on me. One year and a half passed with 19 dances tested. I stumbled only once: on a Viennese Waltz, which I didn’t pass. This, and Argentinian Tango would be my last dances, but I didn’t know that yet.

I was still skating a lot and coming to ice rink almost every day, but something was not right. I felt drained most of the time and lacking the desire to skate. My last competition was Adult Nationals where I placed. After that it was emptiness.
I came a few more times to the ice rink, but felt no joy. Eventually, I stopped all together. I was never back. I know what I achieved was a gargantuan effort, but at what cost?
Balance in life is essential to mental and physical wellbeing. Uncontrolled passion can spiral out of control. Know when to stop.