juggling (haibun)

Years ago I was a teacher’s assistant for a university course.  It was a six credit, 2 semester course and one of the most challenging courses that was also a pre-requisite to stay in the programme.  It was not difficult due to the academia and theories…the self-discovery and soul searching were the toughest challenges.  I really enjoyed working with this professor. He had such a rich experience, having completed two masters in Thailand where he met his wife.  He asked each student to purchase 3 balls.  At the beginning of each class we spent ten minutes “trying” to juggle while the professor and I were taking attendance.  I had to juggle too and times I missed it at school, I tried it at home.  After Christmas, we were getting better and now we had to pair up with another person to juggle in pairs.  The purpose of the exercise, which he told us only on the last day of classes, was to try something different, to excel outside our comfort level, to be able to laugh at ourselves, make mistakes and see that it will not destroy us.  Lots of things we learned and more.

Juggling with too many things in life is another expression we use when referring to juggling. Doing too many things at the same time; unorganized, some will say if we juggle too many things. Interestingly in the true skill of juggling, you must be organized otherwise the items you juggle will fall. You have to keep your eyes open, move up to a rhythm to increase speed all by paying close attention to the task at hand.  So, actually, when we say you are juggling too many things at the same time, I find we really mean you took on too much…took on more than what we bargained for, etc.

My haiku starts out thinking of my juggling experience and then I added a few thinking of my grandmother, my mother, my daughter and myself…in life in general…raising a family, working, caring for family, sports, volunteering, car pooling, studying and the list goes on. Thank goodness I did not raise my family during the age of the internet…I would have never gotten anything done…(chuckles) I would have added writing and writing poetry.

The photo below shows a street performer at Montreal’s Old Port specially at Place Jacques Cartier where cobblestone streets are lined with shops, terraces, cafés and restaurants. It is a huge tourist attraction spring, summer and fall.

Place Jacques Cartier
street juggler defying
gravity

one two three four
starts the balls rolling…five, six
dazzling boys and girls

single parents
challenging deadlines
juggling day to day

one two three four
begins the week, five, six
call a friend

juggling in pairs
team work achieves so much more
that’s what friends are for.

© Tournesol ’14/11/13

 Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

I came across this cute video and since I love Pharrell Williams…well, it makes me “happy” to share this (grins)  Now tell me you were NOT tapping your foot, bobbing your head and swaying those hips after hearing this and I won’t believe you:)

Pharrell Williams – Happy (juggling)