@acowboyswife and @momdot take over CarMD

So, I’m relaxing in a Portland, Oregon Hotel catching up on some work emails when I notice that my entire stream on Facebook is overrun by people who are “liking” CarMD.

Why CarMD?

Well – apparently they are running a giveaway. If you “Like” their Facebook page – they will give you an iPad. Even better – they will give an iPad to the person that referred you.

So why was my personal stream overrun with this?

Because my two friends Lori Falcon and Trisha Haas basically referred the last 300 people to the site – with more on the way.

It’s actually kind of funny to see the page. I kept hitting “more” and kept seeing more referrals. The page has become the Lori and Trisha show. If you click on the page, “Like” them and become a fan. Don’t tell them I sent you though – you might as well say Lori or Trisha did.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

About a year ago, I was sitting at The Cup in Boulder Colorado with my new friend Jess. We were people watching, just hanging out, and getting to know each other. At the time, I probably didn’t even contemplate leaving Colorado. I was happy. A year later, I’ve been in New York for over six months. It’s kind of stunning to see how non-absolute mindsets are.

Last night, I was discussing with Sarah about age and mindsets. Sarah is turning 25 on Thursday. She said she realizes that age doesn’t mean anything and with that, we started to discuss age v. experience, conversations with our “past self” and growing older. This blog is sometimes nice to use as a reference, to have conversations with my “past self.” For instance, slightly over a year ago on May 12, 2009, I wrote about my future wife, a friend of mine who I wasn’t dating. A year later, I am dating Alana and the idea that that post could be prophetic excites me. Then, when you examine the very next post about clearing clutter from my life, I realize I did NONE of those things – my DVD collection actually making the voyage out to New York City.

As I plan my future, I realize that none of it can be predicated. Even when things turn out to be prophetic, it’s more a mixture of luck and circumstance than actual foresight. I know that a year from now, I will probably not be in the same spot as I am today. Even if I happen to be sitting in the same corner table, in the back of The Bean Coffee shop in the East Village, I won’t be in the same spot. A year older. A year more experienced. I’ll look back on this blog post and probably laugh and how incorrect I really am….

Finding Balance

All of life is a balancing act. I was recently at Cirque du Soleil and saw extraordinary acts of balance. Underneath this beautiful circus tent, in front of hundreds of spectators who are expecting a slip, a fall – each performer had perfect balance. Precision in their every movement. How does one achieve such perfection in balance?

What I realized is that the performers aren’t perfectly balanced. What they are actually doing is adapting quicker than most people. They feel the shifting of weight and the shift their bodies to compensate. These subtle and swift manuevers ensure that they do not fall and, even to the most judging eye, may seem like they are perfectly still. But they are not – they are merely adapting to the constantly changing situation that they have put their bodies in.

I’ve been in New York approaching six months. How have I adapted my life to my changing environment? So much has occured in the past half year. New friendships have been born. Old ones extinguished. I’ve lived in two apartments. My jobs roles and responsibilities have changed. I’ve grown. I’ve regressed. The only consistent thing is change – the weight of my life continually shifting with each passing moment.

Finding balance is always tricky. But it’s something we always need to work on.

I’m attempting to find the infamous work/life balance.

I’m trying to balance what is posted here on my personal blog and what goes on GeorgeGSmithJr.com

I’m trying to find balance financially – using tools like Mint.com

I’m trying to balance who I want to be to the man I am becoming.

….with each moment, I hope I am adapting right. I hope I don’t lose balance. I hope I don’t fall down.