Life is like juggling five balls, while riding a unicycle, with a sloth stuck to your back and balancing a sword on your nose at the same time…

For everyone, it’s different, yet the same in its variety of form. Kids and those that do not have crucial responsibilities to deal with, are allowed a greater freedom of choice between the actions possible. That does not free them though, from the juggling essential to the process of life. Their stakes may be lower than those of the responsible “adult” life, but the decision-making and constant action-taking play a crucial part of life for everyone. When one becomes of age or is put in a situation that calls for accountability, the stakes shoot up, and ask for a response, which, chosen consciously or unconsciously (sometimes through habitual behaviour) must have an impact on the present as well as the future of the individual’s experience. 

In this scenario, juggled balls represent our primal needs, which are of grand significance to the existence of the juggler. The need for safety, nutrition, self-esteem, and belonging are the balls, which at all times require a part of the performers’ attention. The unicycle itself represents staying on track, which provides self-validation, pursuit of one’s dreams and active living to the best of one’s ability. Our rider is the Higher Self that through introspection, spirit and healthy (both physically and mentally) living, attempts to perform the trick. This part can be seen both as the key and the obstacle on the way to self-fulfilment due to a passenger, whose presence one can feel on their back at all times. The exemplary sloth is the fearful small self, which is commonly referred to as the ego of the individual. This safe-loving, all-dreading entity likes quick pay-outs, long breaks and comfortable space without any trouble or grind. Filled with anxiety towards action-taking and risk of any kind, this passenger can be juggler’s biggest opponent in this tricky performance of life. Last, but far from the least, the sword represents the idea of The Goal, which, different for everyone holds the key to one’s development, success and fulfilment in life. It is both a blessing and a burden to ones’ existence. While holding a great value of joy and fulfilment, it is also the source of the mightiest pains and troubles. Be it the love to a person, ambition for a successful career or beating one’s personal best, the sword encompasses all the possible wishes of the greatest value to individual’s life at any point in time. Possible to be changed with or without the initiative of the juggler, the sword is what their existence is summoned for in the present; it is what makes their life worth living. It is also that, which (not so bluntly) highlights whenever one ‘misses the mark’. And as it can be different to everyone, it is true to all that such personalised sword exists and is present in the performance of the trick of life. And so the act continues unstoppably through the force of change, chased by time and cheered for by the Unknown. 

Remember to keep juggling whatever the weather… the Show must go on after all…